Airports in Crete
There are three airports on the island of Crete, two international airports (Heraklion “Kazantzakis” airport and Chania Daskalogiannis airport) and a small domestic airport, located near Sitia, used for internal connections to Greece.
Heraklion Airport
Heraklion Airport (HER) is located 4 km from the city center of Heraklion and is the main airport on the island. All seasonal, scheduled, charter and low cost flights arrive here. The airport is dedicated to Nikos Kazantzakis, a Greek writer and philosopher who lived
The first international flight of the island airport took place in 1971, it was a British Airways charter.
During the high season months the Heraklion airport becomes very congested due to the large number of passengers in transit; government plans provide for the construction of a new airport, in the Kastelli Pediados area, which should replace the current. At the moment, there are several air connections between Italy and the island of Crete (with Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Alitalia, Easyjet, Sky jet Air, Wizz. Destination and connections are constantly increasing and it is advisable to check the sites of the individual companies to check for updates, as well as fares and timetables.
Transport links between Heraklion airport and the city are guaranteed by urban buses (blue), running every 10 minutes, at a cost of approximately € 1.50 (for information +30 2810 226065), with service also for Lasithi, Chania, Rethymno.
About Heraklion
Heraklion is located approximately in the middle of the north coast of the island of Crete. It is situated on a coastal plain in front of a fertile hill country directly on a bay of the Aegean, about four kilometers north of the ruins of the Minoan palace complex of Knossos.
Crete and thus also Heraklion is a highly frequented tourist destination from April to October. The distance to the other cities of Crete is 130 km to Chania, Rethymno 75 km, Agios Nikolaos 60 km, Ierapetra 90 km and Sitia 120 km.
Chania Airport
Chania Airport (CHQ) is located in Chania, in the Akrotiri peninsula, about 13 km from the town. It is a small stopover, useful for those who prefer to stay in this part of the island (from Chania to Heraklion, which is on the opposite side, it takes about three hours by bus).
The airport is dedicated to Ioannis Daskalogiannis, who distinguished himself in the 18th century for the revolts against the Ottoman invaders. The port is located in the bay of Souda. At the moment the Chania airport offers connections with numerous European cities and through the low cost Ryanair also with several Italian cities.
The connections between Chania airport and the city are ensured by a daily bus service, several times a day, for a journey of about 30 minutes. Taxis and car hire are equally available to passengers.
About Chania
The city of Chania is located on the north coast of the island of Crete, around 70 miles west of today’s island capital, Heraklion. Until recent years, the municipality of Chania was the smallest of the prefectures named after it, since it was almost exclusively limited to the urban area. Chania was the administrative center of the entire island until 1971. Today, the city is the dominant metropolis of western Crete, with over a third of the regional unit’s inhabitants.
The Cretan Sea north of the island forms the Gulf of Chania between the Rodopou and Akrotiri peninsulas, on the southeast side of which the port city was built on the isthmus to Akrotiri. East of the isthmus is Souda Bay, a natural harbor protected by the Akrotiri peninsula. South of Chania, the inland rises steadily and forms a barrier to the south coast of Crete with the mountain range of the White Mountains, which can be seen well on a clear day.
Sitia Airport
Sitia Airport (JSH) is located in the eastern part of the island, approximately one kilometer from the resort of Sitia. It is generally used for internal flights. Recent news, however, attest to negotiations for some charter connections, regular since May 2012, and with the possibility of agreements with the low-cost airline Ryanair for future connections.
About Sitia
Sitia is the rural center of the extensive olive-growing region in Lasithi Prefecture. Tourism is limited limited to the harbor promenade, which is why the city was able to retain its typical character as one of the few larger places on Crete. The new international airport Sitia, which is located on a plateau above the city and which was supposed to open in the summer of 2004, is meanwhile served by many European airports.
About Crete
Unique landscape, wonderful sea, intense colors, villages rich in history, archaeological sites, all framed by genuine hospitality, this is what awaits you in Crete.More than guests in a foreign land, you will feel at home in a friendly land.
So once you land, move the clock forward two hours and get ready to experience a vacation you won’t forget.Crete, the island steeped in legend and myth, geographically the border line that separates the Aegean from the Libyan Sea, Europe from Africa, is the largest of the Greek islands.
With its cultivated plateaus, the blue-green water, its inhabitants capable of sincere and moving hospitality, it is the perfect destination for those who go in search of a small paradise, an uncontaminated corner, away from chaos and life.