Heraklion Airport to the city centre: bus, taxi or transfer
Three ways from Heraklion Airport to the centre of the city — how each one works, where to find it and what the bus costs.
Last checked on 15 September 2026
Heraklion Airport lies about 5 km east of the city centre, and there are three ways to cover that distance: a city bus from the terminus by the terminal, a taxi from outside the terminal, or a private transfer booked before you fly. Which one suits you depends mostly on your luggage, the time you land and where exactly you are staying.
The bus details below were checked against Heraklion’s city bus operator. The airport’s own website was offline for maintenance when we checked, so the taxi details come from its most recent archived passenger page. Fares and timetables can change, so the official page for each option is linked underneath it.
City bus
Heraklion’s city buses, run by Heraklion Urban Bus (Astiko KTEL Heraklion), start several lines at the airport. The operator’s stop list shows lines 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 31 at the airport terminus, and all of them also call at Chanioporta and Kornarou Square in the city.
- Where to find it
- At the city bus terminus, listed as TS Airport. The airport’s passenger information puts the stop within walking distance of the terminal building.
- Fare
- Zone A: €1.30 if bought before boarding, €2.30 on the bus. Zone B: €1.80 before boarding, €2.80 on the bus. A 24-hour ticket valid in both zones costs €6.00. Zone A covers the city within a radius of 5 km — check the zone map on the tickets page for your stop.
- How to pay
- Buy your ticket before boarding for the lower fare, or on the bus at the higher one. Tickets can also be issued electronically in the Heraklion Urban Bus app.
- Timetable
- Timetables are published for each line, separately for weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In the weekday timetables valid from 1 August 2026, line 6 (Airport – Ammoudara) leaves the airport from 05:50 until 00:30, and line 12 from 06:00 until 00:40.
- Best for
- Light luggage and a hotel in the city.
- Good to know
- The operator lists a separate phone number for its airport terminus, +30 2810 220795, and shows live bus arrival times for every stop on its telematics page.
Taxi
If you have not booked anything, you can take a taxi from outside the terminal. The airport’s passenger information says to board at the designated taxi waiting areas outside the terminal, or to reserve a taxi in advance so that a driver waits for you in the arrivals area.
- Where to find it
- At the designated taxi waiting areas outside the terminal.
- How to pay
- The airport does not publish taxi fares or payment methods. Ask the driver before you set off how the fare is charged and whether you can pay by card.
- Best for
- Short trips into the city when you have not booked ahead.
- Good to know
- The airport’s own website was offline for maintenance on 15 September 2026; the details above come from its most recent archived passenger page, from August 2024. Give the driver the full address of your hotel rather than just the area.
Private transfer with HolidayCab
Book before you fly and a driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, follows your flight if it is late and takes you straight to your address. The price is fixed per vehicle and paid when you book, so there is nothing to sort out on arrival — the simplest option with children, a lot of luggage or a late landing.
- Meet & greet with a name sign
- Flight tracking — the driver waits if you are delayed
- Fixed price, no hidden fees
- Private vehicle — no shared rides, no detours
from €26.25 per vehicle, taxes included
See vehicles and pricesTravelling on a package holiday?
If a transfer is part of your package holiday, check your travel documents for the meeting point before you queue for a taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a bus from Heraklion Airport to the city centre?
- Yes. Several city bus lines start at the airport terminus — the operator’s stop list shows lines 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 31 there — and all of them also call at Chanioporta and Kornarou Square in the city.
- How much does the bus from Heraklion Airport cost?
- When we checked on 15 September 2026, a single ticket cost €1.30 in Zone A or €1.80 in Zone B if bought before boarding, and €2.30 or €2.80 on the bus. Fares are set by the operator, so check astiko-irakleiou.gr before you travel.
- Where are the taxis at Heraklion Airport?
- At the designated taxi waiting areas outside the terminal, according to the airport’s passenger information. The airport does not publish taxi fares, so ask the driver about the fare before you set off.
- Do buses run from the airport late at night?
- In the weekday timetables valid from 1 August 2026, the last departures from the airport are 00:30 on line 6 and 00:40 on line 12. Saturday and Sunday timetables are published separately on astiko-irakleiou.gr.
- Can I get from Heraklion Airport to Hersonissos or Malia by public transport?
- KTEL Heraklion–Lasithi runs the coaches along the coast. Its timetable valid from 11 September 2026 lists Heraklion–Malia departures every day from 06:00 until midnight, leaving from Heraklion Central Bus Station. Times for Hersonissos and the other resorts are on ktelherlas.gr; with luggage, a private transfer straight from the airport is much simpler.
Photo credits Benoît Prieur (CC0) · C messier (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Mietek Ł (CC BY-SA 3.0)