Conveniently located on the outskirts of Heraklion, this small airport has basic customs facilities and a small parking lot.
Welcome to Nikos Kazantzakis Airport
The official name is Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, named after the famous Cretan writer best known as “Zorba the Greek”, but it is generally known as Heraklion Airport. The name of the airport is also known as Iraklio, Iraklion, Heraclion, and other variations.
Airport code
The airport code is ELLA, which is what should appear on baggage claim checks if you are checking your baggage through Heraklion.
airlines
Many airlines operate out of Heraklion airport, but only a few operate throughout the year. These include Aegean Airlines and Olympic Airways and SAS. Many other routes, companies and charters are seasonal from June to September.
- Aerolineas of Thomas Cook
- Germania
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Berlin
- SAS
- Air Serbia
- Air Slovakia
- Smartwings
- Ellinair
Baggage check service in Heraklion
If you want to check your luggage for a few hours, the baggage check kiosk is located in the parking lot. A few euros per bag will keep it in a safe area. This facility is currently open 24 hours a day, but if you plan to retrieve your luggage after hours, make sure this is true at the time you use the service. After midnight, bags are charged for another day. It’s not cheap – an average person’s suitcases will cost around twelve euros, but it will make last minute sightseeing in Heraklion that much more enjoyable if you can do it without your suitcases.
With the city itself only twenty and a half euro minutes away, this is better than sitting at the airport if your tour group leaves early.
Flight information
Heraklion airport flight information is available on the official airport website. Heraklion Airport is served by major airlines from all over Europe. Aegean Airlines dominates the schedule, but there are also flights from most European capitals and many locations in the Middle East.
Bus service to Heraklion
Service 78 or bus n. 1 costs 1 euro and takes twenty minutes to get you to the center of Heraklion; One stop is right next to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which has now reopened after a long closure for renovations. This is fair to several small hotels and the Hotel Capsis, a moderate-sized business class hotel. A taxi line near the museum can provide transportation to other options. Bus # 1 can also drop you off a short walk from Bus Terminal B, which has longer distance bus options to the east and west parts of the island.
Or you can stay on the bus to Bus Terminal A, which has buses to the southern coast of Crete, including the popular seaside town of Matala.
