How to choose an Airport in Crete

When planning your holidays in Crete, you need to weigh up which airport is the most suitable, according to airport's and flight's best options for holidaymakers.

First thing to do is to check your accommodation location, west, central or east part of the island, whichever airport is closest to your holiday villa is the one on which you search first.

Crete has two airports: Chania Airport (CHQ) and Heraklion Airport (HER). A smaller airport close to Sitia (Lassithi), serves only domestic flights to/from Athens and Karpathos island.

Heraklion Airport is located at the centre of the island, between Rethymno and Lassithi prefectures, therefore it serves these destinations in Crete equally by distance. Scheduled flights are year round and abundant charter flights serving much of Europe during the tourist season - late March to early November. Heraklion is the fifth largest city in Greece and the most popular destination with busy regions like Malia, Hersonissos, Ammoudara and Agia Pelagia and very close to Knossos, the most famous archeological site of Crete. The southern part is more quiet and secluded with region like Matala, Lentas and Kokkinos Pirgos ideal for families. The busy city centre is a vibrant working metropolis, yet hosts the wonderful Minoan collection at the Archaeological Museum. The ferry port is 500m east of the old harbour, where ferries  operate daily from Heraklio to Pireaus Athens. The ferry connection between Heraklion Santorini and Mykonos is a seasonal route.

Chania Airport is located at the western part of the island, next to Rethymno prefecture, on the Akrotiri peninsula with scheduled flights year round and abundant charter flights serving much of Europe during the tourist season - April to October. The scenic city of Chania is one of the country's popular holiday destination, known as a romantic place to be thanks to its well-preserved Venetian Town and Harbor and buildings with great touristic infrastructures. Chania is close to exotic beaches like Balos (Gramvoussa), Elafonissi and Falassarna, while Paleochora, Sfakia and Samaria Gorge are areas of wild natural beauties. Ferries to and from Athens (Pireaus) sail daily from Souda port.