Transfers in Iraklio

About Iraklio (Heraklion)

Iraklio, almost always called Heraklion in English, is Crete’s capital and by far its largest city, with around 180,000 residents in the municipality and over 210,000 in the wider urban area, making it the biggest city in the Greek islands. The old Venetian harbour, guarded by the 16th-century Koules Fortress, and the surrounding fortified walls trace the city’s centuries under Venetian and later Ottoman rule.

Just outside the city, the Palace of Knossos, the largest Bronze Age Minoan site and legendary home of the Labyrinth, draws visitors from across the island, alongside the Heraklion Archaeological Museum’s Minoan collection in the city centre. Heraklion is also the practical base for reaching most of Crete’s north-coast resorts, since the island’s only major airport sits right on its edge.

Getting around

Heraklion’s old town, harbour and Lion Fountain square are compact and walkable, with a coastal road linking the airport, the port and the city centre. Traffic through the centre and along the coast road can be heavy in July and August, and buses to the eastern resorts run less frequently in the evening, so a pre-booked private transfer is the more predictable option for a late flight or an early check-in.

Best time to visit

May, June, September and October give the most comfortable weather for sightseeing at Knossos and the old town, with the beach season running roughly May to October and July-August inland heat regularly reaching 32 to 35 °C. Winter is mild but quiet, with many resort hotels along the coast closed from November to April while the city itself stays open year-round.

Transferring from Iraklio’s (Heraklion) airport

Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) is Crete’s main gateway, a single-terminal airport about 5 km east of the city centre. A new airport is under construction inland at Kastelli to eventually take over long-term, but Nikos Kazantzakis remains the operating airport for now. Pre-booked private transfers cover the whole north coast, with flight tracking, 60 minutes of free wait time and a fixed price that holds at any hour.

Common transfer routes

Typical Heraklion routes include:

• Heraklion Airport to the city centre and old harbour, around 12 minutes.
• Heraklion Airport to Hersonissos, around 25 to 30 minutes.
• Heraklion Airport to Malia, around 35 to 40 minutes.
• Heraklion Airport to Agios Nikolaos, around 50 to 60 minutes.
• Heraklion Airport to Rethymno, around 70 to 80 minutes.

A private transfer with a stop at Knossos on the way to a hotel is a popular option for travellers who want the site out of the way on arrival day rather than as a separate excursion.

Booking your Iraklio (Heraklion) transfer

Compare licensed Cretan operators on this site for any HER route. You get one fixed price up front, meet-and-greet at the terminal, flight tracking and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, iDEAL, Wero and PayPal are all accepted.