Heraklion Airport info
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Heraklion Airport HER
Heraklion airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” or Heraklion International airport, is the second busiest airport in Greece. It took its name from the famous author Nikos Kazantzakis and is 5 km (3.1 mi) from the center of the city at Alikarnassos.
As the second largest airport in Greece, travelers can catch a flight from Heraklion to domestic destinations across the country, including the islands, or head to one of hundreds of cities around the world. Heraklion operates with a single main runway, runs 24 hours a day and sees millions of travelers every year. It is served by more than 40 airlines, many of them operating on a seasonal basis.
The airport is due to be replaced by a new one under construction at Kastelli, in the Minoa Pediada area about 39 km (24 mi) southeast of the city. The current official target, restated by Greece’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in August 2026, is for the new airport to be fully operational in November 2028, at which point the Nikos Kazantzakis airport is expected to cease operations. Until then, all passenger flights to and from Heraklion continue to use the existing airport (HER).
Heraklion Airport is the second busiest airport in Greece with nearly 8 million passengers.
Heraklion Airport opened in 1939 and is located 5km from downtown.
HER Airport Information
IATA airport code: HER
ICAO airport code: LGIR
Airport type: Public / Military
Owner: Greek State
Serves: Heraklion
Hub for:
- Bluebird Airways
- Sky Express
Location: 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Heraklion
Services
Below are the services available at the Heraklion Airport:
- Currency Exchange Facilities
- ATMs
- Duty-Free Shop
- Shops And Restaurants
- Luggage Storage Service
- Lost And Found Office
- Post Office
- Hotel Reservation Service.
- Heraklion Airport Lounge (In The Check-In Area)
- Baby Rooms
- Car Rental Counters
- Rent A Bike Offices
- Cart Services
Transportation
Taxi services are available for around 20 euro each way from Heraklion city centre and 80 euro to Elounda. Passengers can use Heraklion Airport car rental services as an alternative. There is a bus available that takes passengers from the airport to the bus terminal in the city.
From Heraklion Airport passengers can use the following transportation options to get to any part of Crete Island. See the information as follows:
Bus: From Heraklion Airport there are several bus options to Heraklion Town and Port.
See more information
Taxi: Get to Heraklion Town in several minutes by taxi.
See more information
Car Rental: Renting a car in Heraklion Airport is a good idea to move around.
See more information
Shared rides: Although passenger riding apps like Uber offer shared rides that help split the cost of journeys, for the time this service is not available at Heraklion Airport.
Terminals
Heraklion International Airport has a single terminal building and two runways.
Situation
Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the Greek capital city of Heraklion in the Heraklion Municipality.
Shopping and dining
There are many small shops and a duty-free shop in Heraklion Airport that allows for any last-minute shopping.
Food and Drink
There are two full-service restaurants in Heraklion Airport and there are some cafes that you should not miss if you’re looking for a quick bite at a low price. This cafe has some classic Greek food as well as American fare. You can also grab some coffee at Everest and use their free WiFi!
There are a few watering holes in the Heraklion airport if you need to grab a beer or glass of wine to pass the time or calm your nerves.
Otherwise, there are a few sandwich and snack bars scattered around the airport to hold you over while you wait for your flight.
Quick Facts About Heraklion Airport
Here are some of the more interesting statistics about Heraklion Airport:
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- Airlines operating currently at Heraklion Airport: 65 (with seasonal service only)
- International Air Transport Association code: HER
- International Civil Aviation Organization code: LGIR
- Elevation: About 115 feet (or roughly 35 meters)
- Address: Heraklion International Airport N.Kazantzakis, 71601 Heraklion Crete, Greece
- Distance to Heraklion Town: About 5 km (3.1 mi)
- Airlines operating currently at Heraklion Airport: 65 (with seasonal service only)
Contact
Address: Heraklion International Airport N.Kazantzakis 71601 Heraklion Crete, Greece
web: hcaa.gr, hiairport.gr