Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (IATA: HER) is the main gateway to Crete. It handles millions of passengers every year, but it is a relatively small and simple airport. If you know what to expect, you can be in a taxi and on your way to the hotel within 15 minutes of landing.
Here is a step-by-step guide from touchdown to your hotel door.
Step 1: Passport Control and EU Entry
After landing and walking through the jet bridge, you will reach passport control. If you are an EU citizen, use the EU/EEA lane — it is usually fast, often under 5 minutes. Non-EU travelers go through the All Passports lane, which can take 10 to 20 minutes during peak hours in summer.
Documents needed: Valid passport (or national ID for EU citizens). No visa is required for EU, US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and most other Western passport holders for stays under 90 days.
Step 2: Collect Your Luggage
Baggage claim is right after passport control. There are two carousels. Check the screens for your flight number. Bags usually start appearing within 10 to 15 minutes.
Tip: If your luggage does not arrive, go to the lost baggage desk in the same hall before leaving the area. They will give you a reference number and often deliver the bag to your hotel the next day.
Step 3: The Arrivals Hall
Once you walk through the doors into the arrivals hall, you will see car rental desks on your left and the exit straight ahead. The hall is small and easy to navigate.
This is also where your pre-booked taxi driver will be waiting — look for your name on a sign. If you booked with LP Taxi, your driver will be right there at the exit, ready to help with your bags.
Step 4: Getting a SIM Card or Wi-Fi
There is no dedicated SIM card shop inside the airport. Your best options:
- eSIM: The easiest option. Buy an eSIM online before you fly (providers like Airalo or Holafly work well in Greece). Activate it when you land — instant data.
- Physical SIM: Visit a Cosmote, Vodafone, or Wind shop in Heraklion city center. Your taxi driver can drop you off nearby.
- Free airport Wi-Fi: Available but unreliable. Do not count on it.
EU travelers: Your home SIM works in Greece at no extra charge under EU roaming rules.
Step 5: Getting To Your Hotel
You have three main options:
Option A: Pre-Booked Private Taxi (Recommended)
Your driver meets you inside the arrivals hall with a name sign. No searching, no waiting, no negotiating. The price is fixed and agreed in advance. This is the fastest and most comfortable option, especially after a long flight.
LP Taxi Heraklion tracks your flight. If it is delayed, we adjust the pickup time automatically — no extra charge.
Option B: Taxi Rank
There is a taxi rank directly outside the terminal exit. Taxis are yellow and metered. This works fine for short rides to Heraklion city center (about 5 km, 10 to 15 minutes). For longer distances, a pre-booked transfer with a fixed price is usually a better deal.
Option C: Public Bus
Bus line 1 connects the airport to Heraklion city center (Freedom Square / Plateia Eleftherias). It runs every 10 to 15 minutes during the day. The fare is about 1.20 euros. However, there are no direct buses to resort destinations like Hersonissos or Malia — you would need to transfer at the Heraklion intercity bus station (KTEL).
Step 6: What To Know About the Drive
Heraklion Airport is very close to the city — just 5 km from downtown. The national road (E75) connects the airport to all major resort areas along the northern coast.
| Destination | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Heraklion City Center | 5 km | 10–15 min |
| Agia Pelagia | 23 km | 25 min |
| Hersonissos | 28 km | 25–30 min |
| Malia | 35 km | 30–40 min |
| Agios Nikolaos | 68 km | 55–70 min |
| Rethymno | 75 km | 60–75 min |
| Elounda | 75 km | 60–75 min |
| Chania | 150 km | 110–130 min |
Practical Tips
- Currency: Greece uses the Euro. ATMs are available in the arrivals hall and outside. For more practical travel information, visit the official Incredible Crete tourism portal.
- Water: Tap water in Heraklion is safe to drink. Your taxi driver will likely offer you a bottle too.
- Time zone: Greece is on Eastern European Time (EET), UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer).
- Power outlets: Standard European two-pin plugs (Type C/F). UK and US visitors need an adapter.
- Tipping: Not mandatory but appreciated. Rounding up the fare or leaving 1 to 2 euros is common.
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