Arrival by Plane
Crete has two international airports — an important decision in travel planning:
Heraklion "Nikos Kazantzakis" (HER)
Crete's main airport and one of the busiest in Greece. Located 5 km east of Heraklion. Direct flights from Germany year-round (Lufthansa, Condor, Eurowings, Ryanair, easyJet, Corendon, TUIfly). In summer, almost all German airports fly directly to Heraklion. Flight time: 2.5–3.5 hours from Germany. Prices: 100–400€ return (early bookers from 80€ with Ryanair/easyJet).
From the airport to the center: Bus No. 1 (every 15 minutes, 1.50€, 15 minutes) or taxi (15–20€). Ideal for: Central Crete (Knossos, Heraklion), East Crete (Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga), and the south coast east of Rethymno.
Chania "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" (CHQ)
The smaller airport in the west, 14 km east of Chania on the Akrotiri Peninsula. Direct flights from Germany mainly in the season (April–October): Condor, Eurowings, Ryanair, easyJet. Fewer connections than Heraklion, but a much better choice for West Crete.
From the airport to Chania: Bus (KTEL, 2.50€, 30 minutes) or taxi (25–30€). Ideal for: West Crete (Chania, Balos, Elafonisi, Samaria, Rethymno) and the south coast west of Plakias.
Connections between the Airports
Heraklion and Chania are 140 km apart (about 2 hours drive on the E75 highway). There is no shuttle between the airports — you either take the KTEL bus (Heraklion–Chania, about 15€, 2.5h, hourly) or a rental car. Pro tip: Fly into one airport and out of the other — this way you see both East and West without doubling back. One-way rental cars are available, but may incur a surcharge.
💡 Tipp
Book your rental car at least 4–6 weeks before the trip, especially for July/August. During the high season, rental cars in Crete are often fully booked or twice as expensive as with early booking. Local providers (e.g., AutoCandia, Cretan Rental) often offer better prices and include comprehensive insurance.
