The airport is located close to the main Cretan road and is also well connected to the city bus network in Heraklion.
If you go to Crete with a travel agent, you don't have to worry about transport at all. Simply walk out of the arrivals hall and directly opposite you will find your travel agent's desk, where a delegate will direct you to a direct bus to your hotel.
Car rental
The best way to explore Crete on your own is by car. Especially to the outlying mountain villages, but even to the lesser known beaches, buses often run only 1 or 2 times a day.
The arrivals hall houses many car rental companies, both local and multinational. Normal prices in high season are around 48 eur per day for a week's rental.
Public bus to Heraklion
The bus service in Heraklion is relatively reliable. Lines 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 19 connect the centre and the long-distance bus station to the airport about once every 6 to 10 minutes.
Lines 6, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 19 run from the centre to the airport on the same route, so only in the direction from the centre (when they join the common route from different directions) to the airport are they marked as line 1. In the direction from the airport to the centre they keep their own markings throughout the route, as each line continues elsewhere after passing through the centre.
Official public transport website: astiko-irakleiou.gr/en.
- Centre: lines 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19
- Bus station: lines 1, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19
- Amoudara beach: line 6
Ticket cost 1,10 eur and can be bought from the ticket machine at the bus stop, or from the ticket office at major bus stops (such as the airport). The ticket is non-transferable and to get to the airport you just need to buy an orange ticket for zone A.
The first buses leave for the route around 6:00 am, and the last buses leave around 11:00 pm.
You can also buy a day ticket for a given calendar day for 5 eur at the ticket office only. A single ride ticket is then available from the driver for 2 eur.
You can only pay in cash at all times, except at the kiosk at the bus stop, where you can also pay by card.
The bus stop can be found on the main road approximately 100 metres from the terminal. From the arrivals hall you have to go left towards the taxi stand and then cross the whole car park towards the blue sign "Bus Station".
Intercity buses
Buses outside Heraklion in the eastbound direction also have a stop at the airport, specifically about 150 meters to the right of the terminal on the main road (location on google.com/maps).
You can buy your ticket at the kiosk right at the bus stop, where you can pay with cash and card.
All buses stop at the airport in the direction of Kokkini Hani, Kato Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia, Neapoli, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra and Sitia. On the Heraklion - Airport - Agios Nikolaos section, 1-2 buses per hour run in high season.
You can find the timetable on the website ktelherlas.gr, enter the stop "D.Aerodromio (Airport)". Please note that times are very approximate and the bus may arrive 20 minutes late, but feel free to arrive 20 minutes early.
For other directions, you need to get to the main bus station in the city centre (location on google.com/maps), where buses depart all over Crete. To find intercity connections, visit ktelherlas.gr, and for directions to Rethymno and Chania, visit e-ktel.com.
Taxi
A large number of official taxis are available for all arrivals and departures. The price to the centre of Heraklion is fixed and is 19 eur.
