How to Get to Heraklion: Flights & Ferries (2026)
Everything you need to know about getting to Heraklion, Crete — flight options, ferry routes from Athens, airport transfers, and local transport.
How to Get to Heraklion
Heraklion is Crete’s main transportation hub, well-connected by air and sea. Here’s everything you need to know about getting there.
By Air
Heraklion International Airport (HER) is the busiest airport in Crete, with direct flights from:
- Athens (year-round, multiple daily flights — Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Sky Express)
- Thessaloniki (year-round, daily)
- Major European cities (seasonal, April-October — Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, and more)
Flight time from Athens is approximately 50 minutes. From European cities, flight times range from 2-4 hours.
Airport to City Center
The airport is just 5km from the city center. Your options:
- Taxi: €15-20, 10-15 minutes. Taxis are available outside arrivals.
- Bus: KTEL Bus #1 runs every 15-20 minutes, €2.20, 20 minutes.
- Rental car: Major companies (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise) have desks at the airport.
- Hotel transfer: Many hotels can arrange private transfers — ask when booking.
By Ferry
Ferries from Piraeus (Athens) to Heraklion run year-round, with increased frequency in summer.
- Operators: Minoan Lines, Anek Lines, Blue Star Ferries
- Duration: 9-10 hours
- Day ferry: Departs Piraeus around 9am, arrives Heraklion around 6pm
- Overnight ferry: Departs Piraeus around 9pm, arrives Heraklion around 6am
- Cabins: Available on overnight ferries — highly recommended for comfort
- Cost: Deck ticket from €30, cabin from €60-120 depending on season
Check Piraeus → Heraklion times, cabins and fares →
Ferry Tips
- Book in advance for July and August — ferries sell out
- Arrive early — boarding starts 1 hour before departure
- Bring snacks — onboard food is expensive and mediocre
- Book a cabin for overnight ferries — deck seats are uncomfortable for sleeping
Getting Around Heraklion
Within the City
Heraklion’s old town is compact and walkable. Most attractions are within a 15-minute walk of each other. For longer distances:
- Buses: KTEL buses are cheap (€1.20 per ride) and cover the city and suburbs
- Taxis: Readily available, metered, and reasonably priced
- Car rental: Not recommended for city use — parking is difficult
Exploring Crete
To explore beyond Heraklion, a rental car is the best option. The National Road (E75) runs along the north coast, connecting Heraklion to Chania (1.5 hours west) and Agios Nikolaos (1 hour east). Mountain roads to the south coast are slower but scenic.
Planning Your Journey
| Route | Method | Duration | Cost from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens → Heraklion | Flight | 50 min | €50 |
| Athens → Heraklion | Ferry | 9-10 hrs | €30 |
| Airport → City | Taxi | 15 min | €15 |
| Airport → City | Bus | 20 min | €2.20 |
Onward: Which Islands You Can Reach From Heraklion
Getting to Heraklion is only half of it. The port is also Crete’s gateway to the rest of the Aegean — around 179 sailings a week in high season, connecting to:
- Cyclades: Santorini (Thira), Ios, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Tinos, Syros, Milos, Serifos, Anafi
- Dodecanese: Kasos, Karpathos (incl. Diafani), Chalki, Rhodes
- Crete & mainland: Sitia, Piraeus (Athens)
Browse every route sailing from Heraklion →
This matters more than it first appears, because it is not true of Crete’s other ports. Souda, serving Chania in the west, runs an overnight service to Piraeus and almost nothing else — there is no Chania-to-Cyclades ferry. Anyone island-hopping from western Crete has to travel east to Heraklion first.
The practical consequence for trip planning: land in the west, sail out of the east. Fly into Chania, work your way across the island, and leave from Heraklion. Our sister site Stay In Chania covers the western end, including whether you can island-hop from Chania and the full Crete island hopping itinerary.
For the terminal itself — check-in windows, luggage lockers, the walk into town — see our Heraklion ferry port guide. For the full route list with durations and fares, see ferries from Heraklion, and for the busiest route out, Heraklion to Santorini by ferry.
Landing at HER? Our airport guide covers bus 78, taxi fares and when a transfer is worth booking, and the car rental guide covers collecting a car there.
Keep reading
Knossos in Winter: The Palace Without the Crowds (2026/27)
Crete's busiest site is quiet in January. Reduced winter hours, the year-round city bus, and why the museum belongs on a separate day.
The Olive Harvest Around Heraklion (2026/27)
Heraklion's hinterland holds two PDO olive appellations a short drive past Knossos. When the harvest runs, how to join one, and which mills take visitors.
Winter in Heraklion: The City That Doesn't Close (2026/27)
A working city of 140,000, not a resort that closes — what is open between November and April, weather by month, and the honest limits of a winter trip.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What airport does Heraklion use? ▾
Heraklion International Airport (HER), also known as Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, is Crete's main airport. It's located 5km east of the city center.
Can you get to Heraklion by ferry? ▾
Yes. Ferries run daily from Piraeus (Athens) to Heraklion port. The journey takes 9-10 hours. Overnight ferries with cabins are the most comfortable option.
How much is a taxi from Heraklion airport to the city center? ▾
A taxi from the airport to the city center costs approximately €15-20 and takes 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.