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Car Hire at Heraklion Airport – Discover Crete's Wonders

Crete is an island with a mesmerizing history and as the capital city of the island, Heraklion welcomes tourists all year round, with most of them arriving at Heraklion Airport. It is a top destination for British travellers thanks to its crystal-clear waters and amazing sights. Despite a dramatic past, the city has managed to preserve most of its architecture and historic buildings, which can be found in the old part of the city near the harbour.

With a car hire from Heraklion airport you won’t miss any of the sights this picturesque city has to offer. The Archaeological Museum is known for its Minoan Epoch finds, while the Disk of Phaistos is a relic from an ancient civilization. At the famous Palace of Knossos, you can see the Minotaur’s Labyrinth first-hand and explore this unique complex which dates back to before the Egyptian Pyramids.

Auto Europe offers great deals on rental cars throughout the island of Crete, including Heraklion and its airport, a gateway to your holiday on this amazing island. To ensure your car rental goes smoothly, choose one of our car rental suppliers at the airport and enjoy your holiday in the ancient city of Heraklion. There's no better opinion of Auto Europe's local car hire services than from the customers themselves, so visit our Heraklion car hire reviews page to read what they had to say about their recent car rental experience on the island.

Airport Information

Heraklion International Airport is the second-largest airport in Greece after Athens Airport and is conveniently located just 3 miles (5 km) to the east of the city centre. The airport handles roughly 8 million passengers a year, with seasonal flights from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster/Sheffield, East Midlands, Exeter, Glasgow, London–Gatwick, London–Luton, London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Norwich.

A new airport, Kasteli International Airport, is currently under construction and due to open by 2025 and will replace Heraklion as the central hub for Crete.

Name: Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport (HER)
Address: Ikarou Street, Heraklion 716 01, Greece
Telephone: +30 281 0397 129/136
Airlines operating at Heraklion Airport: The majority of airlines serving Heraklion Airport are seasonal and include airlines such as Wizz Air, TUI fly, Transavia, Vueling, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Jet2, EasyJet, British Airlines, Air France and Aegean Airlines.

Where to pick up my car hire at Heraklion Airport

The car hire desks are located in the arrivals area of the terminal, so it's easy and quick to collect your car rental at Heraklion Airport. After picking up your luggage you’ll reach the main arrivals area, where you'll find Auto Europe's partner desks. Below we have listed a few of the suppliers available at Heraklion Airport including their opening hours, but please note that this information is subject to changes.

In order to pick up your car hire, prepare your driving licence, car rental voucher and a credit card in the main driver's name. The name of your supplier is listed on the voucher under "Pick-up information". Pay attention to your fuel policy in order to return the car with the correct amount of fuel.

Car hire operating hours

	Avis at Heraklion Airport Arrivals Area Ikarou Street, Greece Heraklion 716 01 +30 281 0229 402	Opening Hours: 8am-10pm daily
	Alamo at Heraklion Airport Arrivals Area Ikarou Street, Greece Heraklion 716 01 +30 281 0226 002	Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
	Budget at Heraklion Airport Arrivals Area, Ikarou Street, Greece Heraklion 716 01 +30 281 0229 402	Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
	Enterprise at Heraklion Airport Arrivals Area, Ikarou Street, Greece Heraklion 716 01 +30 281 0226 002	Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
	Europcar at Heraklion Airport Arrivals Area, Ikarou Street, Greece Heraklion 716 01 +30 281 0242 009	Opening Hours: 7.30am-9pm daily
	Thrifty at Heraklion Airport Arrivals Area Ikarou Street, Greece Heraklion 716 01 +30 281 1100 013/4/5	Opening Hours: 24 hours daily

Terminals

With only one single-level terminal, Heraklion Airport serves both international and domestic flights. Due to its size, there is a newer and bigger airport under construction located outside the city of Kasteli. The terminal houses departure and arrival halls in one building. The departure area is divided into Schengen, non-Schengen and domestic departures. With such a small and conveniently-designed airport, you will find it easy and uncomplicated to rent a car at Heraklion Airport, as all services are located within a stone's throw of each other.

Airport Facilities

Even though it is a small terminal, the essential facilities are all present. You can find currency exchange facilities, ATMs, a post office, pay phones and a lost property office. Don't worry if you forgot to buy a souvenir from the city or island, as there is as a well stocked Duty-Free shop, as well as several other shops. There are also dining facilities which make for a pleasant stay at the airport.

An information booth is available 24 hours a day and located near the arrivals hall, as well as a baby-changing room at departures. The terminal also offers two lounges that serve snacks, alcoholic drinks and offer free Wi-Fi. Both of them are non-smoking lounges, but there is an area designated for smoking.

How to get to and from Heraklion Airport

Driving to Heraklion Airport from the centre is fairly easy, and the best road to get there is Ikarou Road which will take you about 10 minutes. To reach the airport from Chania the best road is the VOAK/E75 that will take you along the coast directly to the airport in about 2 hours.

There is a bus service called KTEL that operates between the airport and Heraklion city centre every 10-15 minutes from 6 am to midnight. Since the journey to the city is about 20 minutes, there isn't much waiting time during summer or winter. As the airport only has one terminal it's easy to find the bus station by exiting the main doors, turning right and following the road. All buses with the sign IRAKLIO terminate at the main station in Heraklion. It is not possible to pre-purchase a bus ticket online, so remember to carry some cash with you to buy it on-board.

Local taxis are waiting outside the arrivals hall as well. Licensed taxi drivers are grey, use a taxi-meter and can carry up to 4 passengers. For more than 4 travellers, it's best to pre-book a taxi van otherwise you'll need to hire two separate taxis.

Parking Tips

Parking facilities might be limited as most passengers arrive via public transport or taxis. When arriving with your car hire at Heraklion Airport, you must choose between the long- or short-term parking areas if you aren't returning your car. It is common at Crete's airports to have free parking for their customers, and Heraklion is no exception. There are 500 spaces that you can use free of charge for short stays, as well as a drop-off and pick-up location for passengers.

If you're looking for the short-term car park, you can find it directly outside the terminal building. With such a short distance to walk and with luggage trolleys available, there is no need for a shuttle service. The car park is open during the same hours as the airport’s terminal building.

For long-term parking, you should book a place in one of the private car parks near the airport offering competitive rates, while some operate a free shuttle service. These parking areas are safe and secure as they are managed by private companies. Weekly and monthly rates are available and payments can be made by credit card.

On the island itself, parking is allowed on most of the city's streets, but non-occupied parking spaces can be difficult to find at times. In some zones, drivers are required to obtain a parking ticket from a kiosk called a periptero. There are also public car parks in various parts of the city. Pay a visit to our Greece driving guide page to learn about local driving regulations.

Useful links

Heraklion Airport