You can get to the island of Crete, washed by three seas at once, in only two ways - by water or by air. And if the theater starts from the hanger, then a vacation in Crete most often starts from the airport. The airports of Crete, of which there are three on the island, receive the bulk of tourists arriving both from mainland Greece and from all over the world. Thanks to the fact that they are in different parts Crete, getting to any resort is not difficult, especially in the summer, during the high season.

Heraklion Airport - Center

Airport terminal in Heraklion ( international code HER is the largest airport in Crete, serving both international and domestic flights. Two terminals - passenger and cargo, as well as two runways allow to serve about 5 million passengers annually.

This airport, named after Nikos Kazantzakis, a famous Greek writer, was built before the Second World War - in 1939. During wartime it served only the air forces of Italy and Germany, but already in 1946 it began to accept passenger flights.

Despite the fact that during its existence the airport was reconstructed and rebuilt several times, it still struggles to cope with the annually growing passenger traffic, especially during summer season when charter flights are added to regular flights.

However, it meets the most modern requirements of air transportation: the terminal comfortably houses ticket offices, information kiosks, a waiting room, a children's playroom, a first-aid post, a bank and post office, a currency exchange office, Duty Free, a cafe, and a restaurant.

Heraklion Airport serves approximately 5 million passengers annually

The airport is located 6 kilometers from the center of Heraklion, which is easily accessible by bus or taxi, which can be ordered online. These same methods will have to be used by those who, bypassing the capital of Crete, go to Hersonissos, Agia Pelagia, Malia, Gouves and other resorts.

If you are planning to rent a car to travel around Crete, then Heraklion airport is the best place for this. As a rule, car rental companies located here have the cheapest prices compared to their other offices in other cities of Crete.

You can compare prices for car rental at Heraklion airport from major rental companies and book a car for your vacation on this page. Just keep in mind that during the peak season, car prices increase sharply throughout Greece, so it’s better not to delay the decision - it will be more expensive.

Detailed information about transport to and from Heraklion Airport.

View the flight schedule and buy tickets online.

Chania Airport - West

Sitia - east

The third most important airport in Crete is located in the eastern part of the island in the city of Sitia. It (international code JSH) was opened in 1984 to serve domestic flights from Athens, Preveza, Alexandropoulis, as well as Rhodes, Kasos and Karpathos.

In 1993, a new, more modern terminal was built, and ten years later a new runway with a length of 2100 meters was built.

The building of this airport is small, but quite comfortable: it has everything you need - information desk, ATMs, rest rooms, cafes. Today, Sitia airport receives not only domestic, but also some charter flights from European countries, including from Russia.

Sitia Airport is located just 1 kilometer from the city center

The airport is located 1 kilometer from the city center, which can be reached by bus or taxi; it is chosen by travelers who set out to explore the eastern part of Crete - less popular with tourists, but no less interesting.

Both in Sitia itself and in its surroundings there are many historical attractions - the ancient Venetian fortress of Barracks, the Tolpu monastery, the Minoan palace in Zakros.

Greece, as a country with a fascinating history of the world's oldest civilization, attracts numerous tourists from all over the world. The short distance from the continent to the island of Crete was the reason for the development of a mass recreation and active tourism center on its territory. Therefore, the Greek island has long become very popular among the population of European countries.

To get to the beaches of the Cretan or Ionian Sea, travelers travel considerable distances by sea and air transport. The number of guests who visited the resort towns of the island during Last year exceeded 3 million people. For many, it is interesting to take a boat ride along the coastal border, which has a very picturesque view. But this trip will be long, with frequent stops and excursion digressions.

For people who want to save time and quickly get to their destination in the form of a comfortable hotel on the shore of a palm beach, it is recommended to take an airline flight. This is what clients of famous airlines do. For some of them, information about the name of the airport in Crete will be important in order to plan their trip and.

Countries European continent They communicate with Crete by more than one air hub. There are three airports on the island, two of which are used on regular international routes. It is connected to mainland Greece by a local air harbor on the eastern side. Let's look at the names of Crete airports according to their degree of importance for Greece and tourists.

• Heraklion– airport located near the central city of Crete, at a distance of only 5 km.
• Chania– the second largest airport in Crete by passenger volume, where the island’s air force is also based. The original name of the airport was given in 2000 in honor of Ioannis Daskalogiannis. Aviation companies Aegean Airlines and Ryanair have chosen Chania as a hub for their flights.
• Sitia is a civil airport, mostly serving domestic flights connecting the mainland and the Greek islands. At its base there are only medium and small aircraft.

Geographically, all three airports are spread across the long territory of the island, which allows tourists to quickly get to the desired point in Crete. The infrastructure of tourism services in large cities and resorts is so developed that it will be comfortable for any person to travel around the island part of the country.

The first airport on the island and the second in the country was built near the Aegean Sea in 1937. During the years when the Second World War, passenger service ceased, but since 1947 large aircraft of Hellenic Airlines began flying on it. Full update and modern look received Heraklion Airport in 1972.

Today, Heraklion is the main landing and departure point for Bluebird Airways. This is a large central air terminal, which is named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. It operates both regular and charter flights to various destinations. Well-known international airlines use the major airport of Crete for seasonal charter flights for their clients.

Every year, the airport successfully withstands the seasonal increase in the flow of tourists, receiving and sending to summer time hundreds of flights per day every year. Thanks to modern system service, none of the guests of the island is left unattended.

On the territory of the airport terminal you can easily use:

• convenient infrastructure and location of ticket offices;
• information centers;
• spacious and comfortable waiting room;
• paragraph medical care;
• post office;
• children's playroom;
• currency exchange;
• shops, bars and restaurant.

You can get from the central airport of Crete to any hotel using public transport, taxi or rented car. The most popular and frequent routes from the landing site are the roads to Hersonissos, Chania, and the resorts of Gouves, Agia Pelagia and Malia.

It’s best to capture all the beauty of the island on the way to the hotel if you don’t rush and use a car rental. This can be done directly at the Crete airport. Moreover, the price and availability of a choice of car brands will pleasantly surprise you.

The second most important airport is located on the western part of the island of Crete. It is located 15 km from the city of Chania on the Akrotiri peninsula, next to Souda Bay, and begins its history in the 50s of the last century. The main passenger flow through its terminal, built in 1967, began to gradually increase, which was the reason for the construction of another air terminal. And in 1996, a modern international terminal appeared.

Despite high level services, Chania Airport does not stop its development, so it is gradually expanding and acquiring new technologically equipped flight control and accounting systems. Every year, up to two million people travel through Crete's second airport, traveling both domestically and to international destinations. The runway accepts a lot of airliners from Russian Federation. Chania is convenient for people who want to relax in the western part of the island. On the territory of the airport terminal there are various services that allow passengers to feel comfortable after the flight.

During the day, bus services for arriving tourists are carried out towards the city of Chania. The total travel time does not exceed 30 minutes. Passengers also have the opportunity to call a taxi and rent a car.

The small airport in Crete received its name in honor of Vitsendzos Kornaros, a Cretan writer from the Renaissance. The airport terminal is located near the town of Sitia (4.5 km) in the Lasithi region. It opened in 1984 and today is constantly expanding. Since 2012, international airliners operating charter flights began landing on its runway.

As throughout the island, the eastern region of Crete has many historical and architectural monuments, which attracts lovers of active tourism.

Getting there from the airport is very easy:

• transfer bus - the service is provided in the tour package from the company upon pre-order;
• on a rented car – after landing, you can rent a car for a certain time;
• public transport - buses and minibuses run from the airport throughout Crete;
• by taxi - to save time, cars will be waiting for you at the exit of the terminal.

You can get an idea of ​​a country with ancient culture and touch the source of ancient Greek myths only by visiting Greece and its islands. Therefore, do not hesitate for long and take every opportunity to find yourself in the Mediterranean Sea.

Tourists are attracted to Greece by massive excavations that have revealed historical sites, ancient cities and objects that prove the existence of a thousand-year-old civilization. Directly on the island of Crete you can admire the buildings of ancient monasteries, stroll through the ruins of ancient cities, and also visit interesting museums.

For example, the Palace of Knossos is one of the centers ancient culture Minoan civilization that existed more than 4,000 years ago. And being in the Samaria Gorge, you can feel the entire depth historical era Krita. It is located near the city of Chania, on the southwestern side of the island. There is also a Gulch of the Dead in the eastern part of the island. It is a small canyon, up to 5 thousand meters long, in the caves of which ancient burials were located.

Landing at Heraklion airport

If you have decided to relax on the island of Crete, you should definitely find out what airports are located there and their schedule. Here tourists will find 3 airports built on different sides islands: in the center - Heraklion, in the west (10 km from the city of the same name) - Chania Crete airport, in the east - Sitia.

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

Heraklion "Nikos Kazantzakis"

International airports of Crete

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

The airfield has 15 parking lots for large aircraft, and a special additional parking lot for small aircraft has been built here. aircraft. Heraklion offers the consumer a choice a large number of direct domestic and international flights, and also serves charter flights organized by airlines from all over the world.

Heraklion Airport

List of Russian airlines that operate with Heraklion:

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

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

Contacts

The staff speaks fluent Greek, sometimes English language. There is an option to contact employees by phone or email:

• Phone: +30 28210 83800.

Location

It is located 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 airport by public transport, by taxi or by renting a car.

Public transport

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

Taxi

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

Rent a Car

There are three Greek companies offering to rent a car - 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 airfield serving domestic flights. If you plan not only to visit the island, but also other places in Greece, you need to know which airport in Crete will offer domestic flights. This is exactly Sitia. However, since 2012 it began to serve international charter flights.

Sitia Airport

Passengers in the building have access to: one terminal, two landing pads, a café-bar, as well as a police station and the 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 large 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 board, which is divided into arrivals and departures.

Contacts

Administration: +30 28430 20151.

Mobile: 0030 6979104268.

Location

Built in the Lasithi region, 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 takes you to the city center, from there you can get to any city on the island of Crete.

Bus to the airport

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.

There is also a service office inside the building that offers vehicle rental for a certain period.

Regardless of which airport you choose for your arrival, you should carefully plan your trip and decide on a hotel to stay. It would also be a good idea to find out about the attractions that are worth visiting.

Crete receives more than 3 million tourists every year. The most popular Greek island is deservedly in demand due to its mild climate, long season, abundance of attractions and luxurious beaches. Every day more than 140 planes land on Cretan soil.

Question: How many airports are there in Crete?
Answer: There are three airports in Crete.

The majority of flights are received by Heraklion airport, followed by Chania airport, and domestic flights land at Sitia airport.

Heraklion Airport

International code: HER

The main airport is named after the famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, who gave the world such works as “Zorba the Greek”, “The Last Temptation of Christ”, “Report to El Greco” and others. In summer Nikos Kazantzakis Airport- one of the busiest in Greece. It is located 5 km from the capital of Crete and dates back to 1937. Today the airport receives direct flights from Armenia, Russia, Serbia, Israel, all EU countries and many regions of Greece, including Kavala, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Athens. Nikos Kazazakis is the second largest Greek airport after Athens. Despite its simple design, it has all the infrastructure for passenger comfort. The terminal has ATMs, cafes, lockers, information desks, a large Duty Free, where at the last moment you can buy the best Greek goods and perfumes of famous brands.

The airport has convenient bus connections with. In a few minutes you can reach the city center on route No. 78. From another stop, flights depart to Elounda and Hersonissos. You will have to get to Chania or Rethymnon from Heraklion.

Chania Airport

International code: CHQ

Another international airport in Crete operates (15 km from the city) and bears the name of a local hero Ioannis Daskalogiannis. Despite its status, it is not huge in scale - the entire infrastructure is located very compactly. For passengers there is a medical aid station, information desks, bars, a souvenir shop, a restaurant, and there is a small Duty Free. The air harbor is constantly being improved: the terminal is being expanded and a second terminal is planned to open.

The airport connects the city of Chania with Poland, Italy, Sweden, Cyprus, Germany, and Israel. You can also get here from Thessaloniki and Athens. The bus service allows you to quickly get to Chania - the route goes through several areas of the city, so tourists can get off at any stop. The final point is the bus station. If you wish, you can rent a car right at Chania airport for further convenient travel around the island.

Sitia Airport

International code: JSH

The air harbor of Sitia cannot yet compare in passenger traffic with any other airport in Crete. But they have high hopes for it - they strive to eventually turn it into the main airport of the island. It is convenient to fly to Sitia for those traveling within Greece. The airport is connected to Athens, Rhodes, Karpathos, and Preveza. It opened for passengers in 1984, and since 2014 it began accepting charter flights from several European countries. In January 2016, Sitia Airport moved to a new terminal building and there was confidence that in the near future the geography of flights would expand significantly.

The youngest and smallest airport in Crete has the necessary amenities: parking, taxi services, ATM, information desk, bar, cafe, lounge. Sitia air harbor is connected by bus to the city center (only 1 km). For vacationers in Crete, Sitia Airport can replace long intercity travel. You can fly here from Chania or Heraklion to explore East Crete and its attractions.

Airports of Crete: how to get to the airports, official websites, telephone numbers, flights, taxis, service and services of airports of Crete.

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

Heraklion International Airport is located 6 km from the center of the city of the same name. It is located right on the seashore, which is why when a plane lands at the airport it feels like it is landing in the sea. And only just before the moment when the chassis should touch the strip does the ground appear. Due to the large number of flights operating from Heraklion Airport, there are often long queues and confusion with flight schedules 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 Heraklion airport.

Of all three Cretan airports, Heraklion Airport is especially popular among our compatriots - it is not only located in close proximity to popular resorts 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 during the 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 serve as a reason for the creation of a third international airport Krita. Of all three airports, Heraklion Airport is especially popular among our compatriots - it is not only located in close proximity to popular resorts among Russians, but also serves more flights from Russian cities than Chania Airport.

How to get there

From the airport terminals of Heraklion and Chania, regular buses depart every few minutes from morning until late evening, heading to the city center. You can also use taxi services.

Services

At Heraklion Airport there is a large duty-free shop with a wide selection of traditional Cretan products and souvenirs. At Chania Airport, the duty free shop is a small and cramped space. Otherwise, the list of services provided at airports is standard: first aid stations, ATMs, luggage storage, taxi call services, bars and restaurants, travel agencies and many others. etc.

Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport information desk: +30 281 039 7800.

Chania Airport Information Office Ioannis Daskologiannis: +30 28210 83800.

• Where to stay: In the most developed in terms of tourism, as well as the most central and numerous archipelago of the Aegean Sea - the blessed Cyclades, the variety of hotels of which will satisfy every taste. On the islands of the Saronic Gulf, tourists will find a remarkable entertainment industry, while on the Ionian Islands and the Dodecanese archipelago, nature and beach holiday fun are in the right balance. The Eastern Sporades are very beautiful and secluded, while the Northern Sporades and the North Aegean archipelago are even too secluded - people come here mainly on excursions. Everything that 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, picturesque fishing villages lurk, centuries-old olive groves hide the ruins of ancient civilizations, snow-white walls of houses shine in the sun, and tiled roofs turn into bright crimson shades in the evenings. And also with Greek Islands you can easily get to the mainland - for example, to see with your own eyes the greatness of Athens, Sparta or Meteora.
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