Of the entire Greek archipelago, Crete has the largest area, so it is not at all surprising that there are as many as three air ports on it: two with international accreditation and one with domestic. The favorable location, mild climate, picturesque views and many ancient attractions provide the island with a large, constant flow of tourists. Each of the airports serves its own part of the island, but their capacity in the high season is not enough, and often there are long lines of airliners for takeoff or landing.

Interesting fact. If you look at the international airports of Crete on a map, it becomes clear that they are in relative proximity to each other, and the trip between them will take just over two hours.

Heraklion airport

Although the island of Crete is the largest in terms of total area, the main airport is rather modest in size, but at the same time provides tourists with all the mandatory list of services. In addition, the international air port, located 5 kilometers from the city of Heraklion and bearing the name of Nikos Kazantzakis, is the second largest passenger traffic in Greece after the capital in Athens.

Interesting fact. The airport is located on the very coast of the Cretan Sea, and when the plane lands, it feels like it is landing on the water. Only in the last moments is the land and the landing strip visible.

general information

International encodings:

• IATA - HER,
• ICAO - LGIR.

Address: 716 01, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Phone: +30 281 039 7800.

Website - www.hcaa-eleng.gr/irak.htm (under construction).

Flight scoreboard

You can familiarize yourself with the arrival and departure times on the unofficial website of Heraklion Airport at this link https://heraklion-airport.online/ru/onlajn-tablo/.

How to get there

Given that the airport is located on the island, the modes of transport offered to travelers are subject to restrictions. Nevertheless, a well-developed bus network and a huge number of taxis are always ready to take travelers to the desired destination.

Bus

To the city closest to the airport, Heraklion, there are bus routes # 1 and # 78k, the bus stop can be found right at the exit from the passenger terminal. Their paths run through two city bus stations, from where you can get to any corner of the island:

• From the first (station A - the trip from the airport will take 20-25 minutes) - buses go to the south-west coast to Kastelli, Ierapetra, Rethymno and Chania;
• From the second (station B - the journey from the airport will take 25-30 minutes) - buses go to the southern part of the island to Agia Galini, Timbaki, Matalu and Zaros.

According to the information on the official website of the airport, buses leave for the city every half hour from 8 am to 7 pm. The ticket price is 1.5 euros and can be purchased from the driver.

Taxi

The taxi rank is located at the entrance to the terminal. The trip to the center of Heraklion will take 15-20 minutes, and the price is about 15 euros. More can be taken from tourists if they have a lot of luggage.

Important! Passengers need to follow the route map on the GPS device in the taxi, as some drivers behave in bad faith and may take tourists unjustifiably on roundabout roads.

Car rental

There are numerous car rental offices at the airport, but they are open only until 6 pm. You can always book a car in advance via the Internet and then it will be delivered to the terminal by the time your flight arrives or to the hotel entrance. approximate cost for a week with insurance will be 160 euros.

Infrastructure and services

Heraklion Airport consists of passenger and cargo terminals. It is very difficult to get lost in them. But, despite this, signs are everywhere posted, and employees of the internal service department always ready to help tourists with any question or problem.

Heraklion Airport provides passengers with the entire required list services and will pleasantly surprise you with its cordial attitude towards customers. The following services can be found here:

• first-aid post;
• branch of the bank and currency exchange;
• room for mother and child;
• duty free shops;
• lost and found;
• several restaurants and cafes of various cuisines;
• luggage carts in the arrivals hall;
• left-luggage office (average daily price of 12 euros for an average piece of luggage);
• free Wi-Fi is available.

Important! There is no transit zone at the airport and it is strictly forbidden to change flights without a Schengen visa.

Hotels nearby

There are no hotels directly on the territory of Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, but there are many options nearby, and here are just a few of them:

• Sofia Hotel ***. The hotel is located just 1.2 kilometers from the airport and offers guests comfort and excellent service at reasonable prices. There is free parking on the territory of the hotel, free wireless Internet connection is provided in the rooms, and breakfast is already included in the price;
• Ibis Styles Heraklion Central ****. The hotel is 4 kilometers from the airport, but there is a chargeable roundtrip shuttle service. In addition, the room rate includes: Wi-Fi, breakfast, parking services. Within walking distance are the main sights of the city, many cafes and shops;
• Infinity City Boutique Hotel ***. The hotel is located 3.5 kilometers from the airport and offers a roundtrip shuttle service for a fee. The price includes: parking, wireless Internet connection, breakfast and a coffee machine in each room.

Air carriers

The following airlines regularly operate civil flights to Heraklion airport:

• Aeroflot;
• El Al;
• Swiss;
• British Airways;
• Austrian Airlines;
• KLM and many others.

Chania airport

The second most important airport on the island is named after Ioannis Daskalogiannis and serves western regions islands. The air port is ideal for those tourists who are planning to spend their holidays in such resort areas as Platanias, Agia Marina and Georgioupolis.

general information

International encodings:

• IATA - CHQ,
• ICAO - LGSA.

Address: National Road Aerodromiou-Soudas, Chania 731 00, Crete, Greece.

Phone: +30 28210 83800.

Flight scoreboard

You can familiarize yourself with the arrival and departure times on the unofficial website of Chania Airport at this link http://www.chaniaairport.com/chania-airport-arrivals.html.

How to get there

The Chania city limits can be reached in the following ways:

• Bus. There is a bus route to the city closest to the airport, Chania, which stops near the exit from the passenger terminal. Its path lies through the city bus station, from where you can get to any settlement Crete. The ticket price will be 2.5 euros, which can be purchased from the driver, and the trip will take 30-40 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic congestion. Buses leave for the city on a floating schedule, which can be clarified on this website https://rethymnon.com/TheBus-Bus-Service-Crete/timetable.php. From the Chania bus station it is very convenient to get to Vrieses, Omalos, Samaria and Stavros;
• Taxi. The taxi rank is located near the passenger terminal. The trip to the center of Chania will take about half an hour, and the price is about 35 euros. Depending on the time of day, the cost may vary;

Important! Decide in advance what kind of transport you prefer to get to your destination. If you order a taxi in advance via the Internet, it will be much cheaper.

• Car rental. There are several car rental offices on the territory of the airport, the rules are the same as in the Heraklion air port. If you arrive late in the evening and plan to travel by car on your own, you should decide all the formalities in advance and book a car online.

Infrastructure and services

Despite its modest size, Chania Airport offers tourists all the necessary services and passenger services. The following services are located on its territory:

• several duty-free and regular shops;
• a cafe;
• a branch of the Cretan bank where you can change the currency;
• travel agency;
• information desks;
• left-luggage office (from 12 euros per day for luggage);
• wrapping luggage in foil (from 8 euros, depending on the size of the suitcase);
• room for mother and child;
• free Wi-Fi;
• first-aid post;
• paid parking.

Important! Despite the fact that there are other airports in Crete, the airspace of Chania is very busy during the summer months, so it is worth preparing in advance for the long wait for landing and take-off.

Hotels nearby

There are no hotels directly on the territory of the airport, but in comparative proximity there is a wide variety of options, and here are just a few of them:

• Lena Beach Hotel ***. The hotel is 5 kilometers from the airport and offers a roundtrip shuttle service for a fee. The cost of accommodation includes parking, Wi-Fi, refrigerator in each room;
• Rea Resort Hotel ***. The hotel is located 6 kilometers from the airport and provides customers with a roundtrip transfer at a separate cost. Wireless internet is available in public areas and in some rooms, there is open terrace and a pool.

Air carriers

The following airlines regularly operate civil flights to Chania airport:

• EasyJet;
• Condor;
• Nicky;
• Ryanair;
• Scandinavian Airlines;
• Austrian Airlines;
• Transavia and many others.

Of the two Cretan airports, Heraklion is especially fond of Russians. Most likely because convenient direct charter and regular flights fly here from Moscow, and the most popular resorts are just a stone's throw away. But do not write off the air port of Chania, located in a piece of paradise and offering easy accessibility to tourist spots with a more calm relaxed kind of rest.

Greeks are a very warm and hospitable people who have special affection and friendly feelings for Russians. If you are lost or do not know how to get to the next ruins of the ancient period, any resident of Crete will come to your aid, and even if you do not speak English, he will manage to explain the way with gestures. Island Greece is an unforgettable place, the flow of tourists from Russia here every year slowly but surely increases and, knowing local attitude, we will continue to come here.

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Crete airports: how to get to the airports, official websites, telephones, flights, taxis, airport services and services of Crete.

Crete is the largest island in Greece. Its picturesque nature, favorable resort climate, rich choice of entertainment and attractions provide Crete with an ever-growing flow of tourists - about 2.5 million people a year. In the summer, more than 130 planes arrive at the airports of Crete per day, which are served by the island's three airports: one local airport Sitia and two international ones - Heraklion Airport named after Nikos Kazantzakis and Chania Airport named after Ioannis Daskoloiannis.

Heraklion International Airport is located 6 km from the center of the city of the same name. It is located on the very seashore, which makes it feel like it is landing in the sea when the plane lands at the airport. And only immediately before the moment when the chassis should touch the strip, the ground appears. Due to the large number of flights operating from Heraklion airport, there are often long queues and confusion with the flight schedule during the holiday season. In the future, it is planned to create a new Kastelli airport, which will have to take over all the functions of the Heraklion airport.

Of all three Cretan airports, the Heraklion airport is especially popular with our compatriots - it is not only located in close proximity to resorts popular among Russians, but also serves more flights from Russian cities than Chania airport.

Chania International Airport is a small modern airport 14 km from the center of Chania, located on the Akrotiri peninsula. The airport also serves a large number of flights, especially in high season. A kilometer from the city of Sitia there is an airport serving domestic flights, and more recently, charter flights. The development of a tourist center in Iarepatra may lead to the creation of the third international airport of Crete on the basis of Sitia airport. Of all three airports, the Heraklion airport is especially popular with our compatriots - it is not only located in the immediate vicinity of resorts popular among Russians, but also serves more flights from Russian cities than Chania airport.

How to get there

From the buildings of the air terminals of Heraklion and Chania, regular buses leave every few minutes from early morning until late evening, going to the city center. You can also use taxi services.

Services

There is a large duty free shop at Heraklion Airport with a rich selection of traditional Cretan products and souvenirs. At Chania Airport, the duty free shop is a small and cramped space. The rest of the list of services provided at airports is standard: first-aid posts, ATMs, lockers, taxi services, bars and restaurants, travel agencies, and more. dr.

Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport Information Center: +30 281 039 7800.

Ioannis Daskoloiannis Airport Chania Information Center: +30 28210 83800.

• Where to stay: In the most developed in the tourist sense, as well as the most central and numerous archipelago of the Aegean Sea - the blessed Cyclades, a variety of hotels which will satisfy every taste. Tourists will find a remarkable entertainment industry on the islands of the Saronic Gulf, while in the Ionian Islands and the Dodecanese archipelago, nature and beach holiday fun are in perfect balance. In the Eastern Sporades it is very beautiful and secluded, and in the Northern Sporades and the North Aegean archipelago, it is even too secluded - people come here mainly on excursions. Everything there is in Greece can be found in popular Crete.
• What to see: The Greek Islands are a concentration of natural and historical attractions. Among the cozy bays of the rugged coastline are picturesque fishing villages, century-old olive groves hide the ruins of ancient civilizations, snow-white walls of houses shine in the sun's rays, and tiled roofs painted in the evenings in bright crimson shades. And also with Greek islands you can easily get to the mainland - for example, to see firsthand the greatness of Athens, Sparta or Meteor.
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If it was decided to relax on the island of Crete, you should definitely find out what airports are located there and their schedule. Here tourists are waiting for 3 airports, built on different sides islands: in the center - "Heraklion", in the west (10 km from the city of the same name) - airport "Chania Crete", in the east - "Sitia".

The article contains detailed information about these airfields. What is close to them, what are the ways to get there, what services are offered in each building to understand which airport is on the island of Crete fit better everything for travel and route planning.

Heraklion "Nikos Kazantzakis"

Crete International Airports

Heraklion (Heraklion International Airport, "Nikos Kazantzakis", IATA code: HER) - an airport in Greece (Crete), named after the famous Greek writer, was founded during the Second World War, but began to work only in the fifties of the last century. It began its work as an airfield offering commercial flights, but after a while it reached the international level.

The airfield has 15 parking lots for large aircraft; a special additional parking area for small-sized aircraft has been built here. aircraft... Heraklion offers a wide range of direct domestic and international flights, as well as charter flights organized by airlines from all over the world.

Heraklion airport

List of Russian airlines that work with Heraklion:

• Aeroflot;
• S7 Airlines;
• Aegean Airlines;
• Ural Airlines.

There are other companies operating in this direction, there is also an impressive list of companies from all over the world. Most of the above flights fly from Moscow, so if you live in another city, for example, in Yekaterinburg, you should find out if there are any flights from this area.

Contacts

The staff is fluent in Greek, sometimes in English language... There is an option to contact employees by phone, or by e-mail:

• Phone: +30 28210 83800.

Location

It is located at a distance of 14 kilometers from the city of the same name. Located near Souda Bay on the Akrotiri Peninsula.

Latitude: 35.53.

Longitude: 24.15.

How to get there

The city of Chania can be reached from the airfield by public transport, taxi or car rental.

Public transport

The rather convenient location of the stop speaks in favor of taking a bus ride. It is located near the exit from the building, the cost of one ticket in 2018 is 2.30 euros. The bus travels through the Agoras market square and Platia 1866 square directly to the central station. Already from it there is a chance to get to Heraklion, Rethymno, Vriset, Kastelli, Stavros, etc.

Taxi

To order a car, you need to leave the passenger terminal and select any available blue or blue-white car. In 2018, the cost ranges from 30 to 40 euros.

Rent a Car

There are three Greek car rental companies - EUROPCAR: +30 28210 63.553, HERTZ: +30 28210 63.385, KAPPA: +30 28210 68.782.

Sitia Airport "Vitsendzos Kornaros"

Sitia (Airport Sitia "Vitsentzos Kornaros", IATA code: JSH) is a private airport serving domestic flights. If you plan to visit not only the island, but also other places in Greece, you need to know which airport in Crete will offer flights within the country. This is Sitia. However, in 2012, he began serving international charter flights.

Sitia airport

For passengers in the building are available: one terminal, two platforms for aircraft, a cafe-bar, as well as a police station, an office of an organization that offers cars for rent. Outside the building there are 9 parking spaces for buses, as well as about 100 parking spaces for taxis.

There are four companies that organize flights:

• Aegean Airlines.
• Sky Express.
• Scandinavian Air.
• Danish Air Transport.

There are quite a number of hotels near Sitia, the list includes:

• Hotel Matheo Villas;
• Dessole Malia Beach;
• Royal Heights Resort;
• Notos Heights Hotel & Suites, etc.

To find out the flight schedule, you should go to the online scoreboard, which is divided into arrivals and departures.

Contacts

Administration: +30 28430 20151.

Mob .: 0030 6979104268.

Location

Built in the area of ​​Lassithi, in the city of the same name. It is located near the center, at a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers.

Latitude: 35.22.

Longitude: 26.09.

How to get there

The bus goes to the city center, from there it is possible to get to any city on the island of Crete.

Airport bus

It is convenient to order a taxi, since there are more than 100 parking spaces for taxis outside the building, you can choose any free car.

Also inside the building there is an office of a service that offers rental of a vehicle for a certain period.

Whichever airport is chosen for arrival, you should carefully plan your trip, decide on a hotel to stay. Also, it will not be superfluous to find out about the sights that are worth visiting.

Crete can be reached through one of its three airports. But the most popular of them is only one - Heraklion airport. Charters fly from Russia during the tourist season most often here.

The largest airport on the island named after Nikos Kazantzakis

Closest airport to popular resorts in the Heraklio area. I flew here on an EllinAir plane. This is a Greek company operating direct flights from Moscow. Transfer from the airport to the hotel was included in the package tour price.

But if you still need to use public transport, buses run from the terminals to the city. The distance is only 6 kilometers, and the travel time will be no more than 20 minutes.

Ioannis Daskalogiannis - base airport of Aegean Airlines and Ryanair

The second most important airport, located 15 kilometers from the city of Chania.

It is better to fly here for all tourists vacationing in the regions of Chania or Rethymno. Unfortunately, Russian charters rarely set a flight program here. But from any other island or from a mainland resort, you can fly here on the planes of the Greek airline Aegean Airlines or the low-cost airline Ryanair.

Buses run from the airport building to the city. Fortunately, there are stops nearby.

Promising airport of the island - Sitia

It has a very convenient location: just a couple of kilometers from the center of Sitia. This is the best airport for tourists vacationing in the resorts of the Lassithi region. A few years ago, only domestic flights within Greece flew through this airport. But recently it began to accept some planes arriving from other countries. Perhaps someday charters from Russia will also start flying here, then it won't take a long time to get from the airport in Heraklion to the resorts of Lassithi.

Crete is the largest island in terms of area. In addition, it is extremely popular - every year it is visited by about two and a half million tourists and this figure is constantly growing. This is not at all surprising - the island has stunningly picturesque nature, an excellent climate for any organism, a wide range of entertainment for every taste and a huge number of various attractions. All this cannot but attract travelers from all over the world.

All of the above has led to the fact that Crete has become a very popular destination - in the warm season, almost one hundred and fifty planes fly to Crete every day. This huge flow is currently served by three airports:

• Nikos Kazantzakis Heraklion International Airport is the largest and busiest;
• The local airport of Sitia serves the island's domestic flights;
• Chania International Airport named after Ioannis Daskoloiannis;

All three air ports are very convenient for arrivals - from each of them you can quickly and easily get to the nearest popular resorts. Consider details features each of these air ports in sunny Crete.

The largest airport on our list is located about 6 kilometers from the city of Heraklion. It opened in 1939, but underwent a major renovation in the nineties. Today it is one of the largest airports not only in Crete, but throughout Greece. It fully meets all the requirements of international air transportation.

The internal infrastructure of the airport perfectly fulfills all the functions assigned to it. There is absolutely free Wi-Fi throughout the territory, and there are numerous high-comfort waiting rooms. On the second floor, there is a duty-free zone, better known as duty-free. In addition to the standard set of products and other goods, here you can buy souvenirs and Cretan products - for example, the famous olive oil... In addition, passengers can use the ATM and currency exchange services inside.

In summer, confusion often reigns here - due to the sharply increased flow of tourists, airport employees do not have time to update information on flight schedules, and there are huge queues at check-in and baggage registration. if you fly from Russian Federation- then most likely your plane will land at this airport, it serves the largest number of flights from Russia.

An interesting moment! The airport is very picturesque, it is located on the very seashore. Therefore, when landing on the ground, passengers often get the impression that the pilot is landing directly into the sea, the ground can be seen through the windows only just before the landing itself. There are numerous videos of this moment on YouTube.

Chania International Airport named after Ioannis Daskoloiannis

Second international Airport Crete is located fourteen kilometers from the city of Chania, which itself is located on the Akrotiri Peninsula, near the Gulf of Souda. It is named after Ioannis Daskoloyannis.

This airport is the second largest on the island. it receives mainly international flights. The terminal construction was completed in 1974, but since then the complex has been constantly reconstructed - in 1996, 2005 and 2013.

Inside the air port building there is a duty-free zone with a relatively small assortment of goods. Here you can also buy souvenirs and national products of Greece - for example, olive oil.

Sitia local airport

The airport, which receives all domestic flights of the country, is located five kilometers from the city of Sitia, in the eastern part of Crete. The air port is called Vitsendzos Kornaros.

The airport complex was opened in 1984, it is difficult to call it young. But the territory is constantly improving and becoming more technological - this concerns how technical characteristics and services for passengers.

In January 2016, the construction of a new terminal for international flights was completed at Sitia Airport.

How to get from the airports to the cities and resorts of the island?

As mentioned above, Crete is very popular with tourists, so the connection between the airport and the nearest cities is very well developed. The most popular travel options:

• By public transport, using regular buses. You can find out their schedule and stopping place from the airport staff, traffic is carried out almost around the clock and regularly;
• Taxi is the most comfortable and most expensive option. There are many cars waiting for passengers "by the side of the road", but this can cost a lot more than the car that you call yourself. There are “official” carriers at the airport who usually offer the best rates;
• Transfer - golden mean between the above two options. You must agree on this service in advance - choose the capacity and make of the car, as well as approve the arrival time. On the appointed day, the driver of the car will meet you in the arrivals area with a nameplate, guide you to the car and take you to your final destination. The transfer price is fixed and does not change in any way due to traffic jams. It is especially convenient to negotiate a minibus transfer with other passengers who fly to the same hotel or the same resort - the price for each client will be even lower;