Crete is one of the main tourist destinations in Greece, in summer season receiving a record flow of tourists. The island mesmerizes with the beauty of wild nature, ancient Venetian towns and beaches.

Heraklion Airport is no longer able to cope with the number of people who want to see all these riches of Crete. But there is an alternative air harbor - Chania airport, from which it is convenient to get to the resorts of the west coast.

Airport history

Chania Airport is located 10 km from the city and is called "Ioannis Daskalogiannis". The airport received its name in honor of the Cretan hero and the leader of the uprising against the Ottoman occupation. Until 1959 with the role civil airport in Western Crete, the Maleme airfield was in charge.

History of modern air harbor began in 1967, when the construction of the passenger terminal was completed. In 1974 he took over the first international flight. And only in 1996, a serious reconstruction of the airport was carried out - a new terminal was opened, and the number of parking lots for aircraft increased from two to six. In 2005, the terminal was expanded, and now it is capable of handling almost 2 million passengers annually.

Flights to Chania Airport

The airport connects Crete with Thessaloniki and Athens. It accepts flights from Austria, Israel, Cyprus, Sweden, Germany, Poland. You can get to Chania with Aegean, Ryanair, Astra Airlines, Finnair.

Fly from Russia to Chania charter flights Aegeanair, Rossiya Airlines, Orenburg Airlines. Unfortunately, there are few charters in Chania compared to Heraklion. But the distance from Heraklion to Western Crete is quite large, and if you are going to rest in Chania, then it is better to fly to the local airport.

Despite one connection, the flight via Athens is not a bad option... Since flights from the capital of Greece to Chania often leave, the time of such a trip is not much longer. Athens International Airport is famous for its comfort, numerous restaurants, shops and even an archaeological museum - the wait will fly by.

Flights to Chania

Chania airport scoreboard

Airport infrastructure

“Ioannis Daskalogiannis”, although it is the second airport in Crete, will not impress with its scale. So far, only one two-story terminal operates here, but in 2013 the construction of the second one began. At the disposal of tourists - health care, restaurant, bars and souvenir shops. You can brighten up the waiting time by visiting Duty Free, which sells traditional Greek drinks, food, cosmetics. There are also two small parking lots - long-term and short-term. In general, the territory of the terminal is very compact: the entire infrastructure is concentrated in one terminal.

There are several hotels near Chania Airport. Crete View Gallini ( to book) - a cozy hotel with a swimming pool, garden, parking and sea views. Areti Suites ( to book). It is 2 km away from the nearest beach, but offers comfortable accommodation, parking, free bicycles and a free shuttle to both the airport and the port of Souda.

How to get to / from Chania airport

If you want to start exploring Crete as much as possible in a convenient way, immediately upon arrival you can rent a car. Representatives of several rental offices, both local and international, have been opened in the terminal building. Moreover, you can order the desired car online in advance.

The bus ride is cheaper. The stop is located near the exit from the terminal. The cost of the trip will be about 3 euros, and the travel time to Chania is from 25 minutes (it all depends on the season and traffic congestion). From the airport, buses run through several districts of Chania, and tourists can get off at any stop they want. The final one is the central bus station. At this stop, if necessary, you can change to the route to your resort. From here, buses leave both to the villages of Western Crete and in the direction of Heraklion and Rethymno (including Georgioupolis).

The most expensive way to get around is by taxi. The trip will cost no less than 30 euros to the center of Chania. But this option should be in stock: on weekends and holidays, some bus routes closed or working on a reduced schedule. It is also convenient to use taxi services for those who have chosen for recreation the nearest surroundings of Chania - Kalyves or Kato Stalos.

It is much cheaper and more comfortable to book a transfer from Chania airport in advance.

Chania airport transfers

Special offers in Chania hotels

All articles about Chania and West Crete. The complete encyclopedia: beaches, hotels, resorts, attractions, hiking trails, museums, transport and more.

Chania Airport is developing by leaps and bounds. And it's not just about competition. Crete is getting more and more popular destination for family vacation, and if you are traveling to the island with a small child, and the hotel is located in the west, then moving from Chania airport will not only be more convenient, but also much faster. Therefore, Grekoblog decided to take a closer look at it, but first, a little history.

A bit of history

Chania Airport named after Ioannis Daskalogiannis ( international code CHQ) is located just 10 km east of the center of the city of the same name on the Akrotiri peninsula. Sometimes it is also called Souda airport, since one of the sides of the peninsula is washed by the bay of the same name. This is where tourists arrive who want to start their trip to Crete from the western part of the island.

Initially, the Chania airport, which specialized in domestic flights, was established in 1954 in the village of Maleme, on the territory of a military airfield. It was moved to its current location - to the territory of another military airport - in 1959, and a passenger terminal was erected in 1967. Only in 1974 was the first international flight to Chania airport operated. The tourist boom required the construction of a new terminal, which was done in 1996.

You can get to Chania from the airport by bus

In 2005, the Chania airport terminal was expanded. At present, its area is 14,650 m2. The length of the airport's runway is 3347 m, which means that the airport can receive and send heavy aircraft and passenger airbuses. By the way, up to 1,500,000 passengers pass through its terminal annually.

In addition to regular and transit passenger flights, the airport in Chania still serves the NATO Air Force. But this does not affect the speed of passenger service.

Scheme and scoreboard of Chania airport

The layout of Chania airport is quite simple: everything is within the terminal. There are cafes, bars, a restaurant, bank and post offices, a first-aid post, ordinary shops and a duty-free shop. There are also 2 parking lots on the territory of the airport: short-term parking for 240 spaces and long-term parking for 100 spaces. There is also a car park about 100 meters from the terminal, which is slightly cheaper.

The bus schedule can be found right at the airport

You can find out the arrival and departure times of flights to Chania airport directly in the terminal, on the information website, or, without wasting time searching, right here and now - the airport board works online:

If you are looking for air tickets to Crete via the Internet, then it should be borne in mind that in some metasearch engines, the airport can also be found under the name Chania. But in the largest Russian search engine for air tickets Aviasales, a more familiar name still appears -. By the way, you can study the prices in the direction and search for cheap air tickets right now - through the form below.

Airport and Chania on the map

Buses from Chania airport to the city

When deciding how to get from Chania airport to the city, many opt for a bus. The stop is located near the exit from the terminal, the distance is small, and the fare is democratic - only € 2.30 (2014). The route follows the market square (Agoras) and the square of 1866 (Platia 1866) to the central bus station. Travel time is 20-30 minutes, depending on which stop you need to get off at, as well as on the degree of traffic congestion. The connection between the airport and the city is carried out by the local branch of the Greek bus operator KTEL. Bus timetable to and from Chania airport.

Bus stop located near the exit from the terminal

To get to one of the districts or suburbs of Chania, you can get off at Agoras or 1866 Square - the final stops of other routes - and change to the desired bus, or get to the intercity bus station on Kidoyianis Street. The town is small, and most local bus lines have a stop here.

White beaches, gentle waters Mediterranean Sea, the uniqueness of ancient culture annually attracts a huge number of tourists to the beautiful, covered with ancient myths greek island Crete. More than 2.5 million people come here annually.

Many travel by sea in grand, well-equipped for a comfortable trip passenger liners, making at the same time a fascinating sea excursion.

But an invariably large number of guests who decide to get to Crete through its air gates.

Let's see the list of airports in Crete:

• international ;
• Chania international airport;
• Sitia airport.

The main airport of Crete is located 6 kilometers from the capital and bears the name of Nikos Kazantzakis, a famous Greek writer.

In 1939, the first plane arrived at the capital's airport in Heraklion. In the difficult political situation of that time, it only accepted military flights of Italians and Germans, but after 1946 it opened its doors to ordinary passengers.

The number of flights grew, and already in the 60s it became clear that expansion was necessary. In 1972, a new terminal building and a second boarding line were put into operation, and in the late 90s, a complete reconstruction was carried out.

A feature of the airport is the location of the landing strips. Upon landing, it seems as if the plane is sinking into the water - only at the very end does the ground become visible. The landing lines are built on the very coast, 20 meters from sea level. This is what creates the impression that the landing is made on the water surface.

The airport is located at a distance of 5 km, from the center of Heraklion.
There is a bus stop near the airport building and serves passengers every few minutes at a fare of 0.8 euros for travel both to the center and to more remote areas (the ticket price can go up to 3 euros).
You can also rent a car, catch a taxi or have a snack in a cafe or restaurant, use free parking, luggage room (charge - 12 euros), bank services.

There is a duty-free shop at the airport. A large selection of unique souvenirs, Cretan wines, local olive oil and much more consistently provides the store with good revenue.

Tourists who prefer cultural program passive relaxation, arriving in Heraklion is worth a visit Venetian fortress Koules, Knossos and Phaistos Palaces, Heraklion History Museum. Locals are proud that this museum contains a picture of their great compatriot, the famous El Greco "Landscape of the divine Mount Sinai".

The second international airport is located on the Akrotiri peninsula, 14 km (25-30 minutes drive) from the city of Chania. After Heraklion Airport, it is the second largest airport on the island. It serves fewer Russian charter flights than the first, but is often used during the high tourist season, when main airport the islands are congested.

The western airport of Crete began its history in 1954, but then it was a very small local airfield. Only 20 years later, the first international plane landed here, and its modern name was given in 2000, in honor of Ioannis Daskalogiannis, the leader of the Cretan uprising of the 18th century.

The airport is constantly being improved. Twice - in 1996 and 2005, due to the increase in load, the terminal was rebuilt.

Chania air port receives about a million passengers a year. They treat the overweight here much more relaxed than at the capital's airport, and the protection of suitcases is cheaper.

In the duty-free shop located on the territory of the airport, you can buy mementos and souvenirs. True, you shouldn't count on a wide assortment, the duty-free shop here looks more like an inconspicuous cramped shop.

The bus service from the airport to the city of Chania for 2.30 euros regularly serves passengers from early morning until late at night.
The taxi rank is right next to the terminal. A trip to the city center will cost you around 30 euros.
You can also find 240 places for short-term parking and 100 for long-term parking.
Chania Airport has:

• 12 check-in counters and 3 baggage claim belts;
• Postal office;
• bank;
• currency exchange point;
• souvenir shop;
• a shop with newspapers and tobacco products;
• information call (+30 28210 83800);
• medical aid point;
• children's room;
• bar and cafe.

The airport infrastructure takes into account the needs of people with disabilities.

There are also representatives of car rental companies at the airport, you can use their services directly upon arrival. If you wish, you can order a car in advance. Relatively low prices for this service, with good quality cars, the local Rent-a-car-crete company will offer you. At the same time, you will not have to pay a fine in case of a flight delay.
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The western part of the island is rich and ancient culture... If you want to experience it a bit, visit the Naval Museum of Fort Fricas and the Pharos Lighthouse, the Archaeological Museum of Chania and the ruins ancient city Aptera.

It will be convenient to use the services of Sitia airport to travel on the domestic air lines of Greece.

Built in 1984 in the eastern part of Lassitia, it now plays a significant role in the traffic flow of the island. In 1993, the airport terminal was modernized, and in 2003 a new runway was built here with a length of 2,100 meters. Since April 2014, it has also accepted a small number of charter flights, including flights from Russia.

The airport is just 1 km from the city center and there are bus and taxi services. The airport terminal is small, but everything you need is there: a cafe, a bar, an information desk, an ATM. There is also a rest room.
It is the youngest airport in Crete.

Many tourists manage to fly from Heraklion or Chania to Sitia during their vacation and make fascinating excursions around the eastern part of the island.

In the vicinity of Sitia, you can see the excavations of the palaces of the Minoan period, visit the "Gorge of the Dead". Excursions to Toplou Monastery are also very popular.

Monthly temperatures in Crete, precipitation and other weather information are presented in this.

How long to fly to Crete?

In our time of high-speed transport, you can cover the distance to Crete from any city using direct flights quite quickly. So, from Moscow, Kaliningrad or Krasnodar you will get to Crete within 3.5-4 hours, a flight from St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg will take 4.5 hours, and from Novosibirsk you will have to fly about 7-8 hours.

Crete is a popular international resort and this is unlikely to ever change. Are you attracted by the beauty of Mediterranean nature, the opportunity to relax on the beach of one of the most warm seas peace or the uniqueness of Greek culture - the airports of Crete are always ready to welcome you hospitably and cordially!

Crete is connected with mainland Greece and the whole world by sea routes and well-developed by air... There are three permanent airports located here, and they are located in different areas, thanks to which it will not be difficult to quickly get to the desired holiday destination in Crete, especially in summer. International airports Crete islands are located in the center and in the west of the island: Heraklion airport and Chania airport. In the east, about. Crete is home to the airport of Sitia, which, in addition to domestic flights, also receives international charter flights during the summer tourist season.

Quick Search: Heraklion Airport ✈ Chania Airport ✈ Sitia Airport ✈

You can find tickets for any flight to any airport in Crete using the convenient search form:

International airports in Crete:

International airport serving Heraklion

Official name : Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis).

Heraklion International Airport Code: HER

Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is located in the central part of Crete (Heraklion region) and about 3 kilometers from the center of Heraklion.

Coordinates of Heraklion Airport on Google Maps: 35.339583, 25.174751 (35 ° 20 "22.5" N 25 ° 10 "29.1" E).

The first plane landed here in 1939, and after reconstruction in the mid-90s, Heraklion airport became one of the major airports Greece, which meets all modern requirements of air transportation. An interesting feature airport is its location, due to which, when landing, it seems that the plane is landing in the sea and only immediately before touching the landing gear of the runway, the ground appears. This is due to the fact that the airport is located on the very coast at an altitude of 20 meters above sea level. Arriving at the main airport of Crete - Heraklion, is usually greeted by the unique smell of the sea.

On the second floor of Heraklion Airport there is a Duty Free shop, where you can buy traditional Cretan products (Cretan olive oil, honey, tsikoudia, etc.) and souvenirs to commemorate your holiday on the island.

As of 2016, airport lounges now have free Wi-Fi. Also, check-in desks have appeared in the departure hall, where you can immediately drop off your luggage. Previously, after registering at the counter, weighing suitcases and receiving boarding passes, you had to go to another queue to check in your luggage and only after that the suitcase was sent to the plane. Since the beginning of the summer of 2016, the need for such complex manipulations has disappeared - you need, as usual, to register, get boarding pass and, having checked in your luggage, calmly go to the waiting room and Duty Free.

Information on parking at Heraklion Airport can be found on our Forum: Parking Heraklion Airport.

Official name: Chania International Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis”.

Chania International Airport Code: CHQ

Airport "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" is located in the western part of the island of Crete (Chania region) and about 17 kilometers from the center of Chania.

Chania airport coordinates on google maps: 35.530834, 24.147576 (35 ° 31 "51.0" N 24 ° 08 "51.3" E).

The airport is located on the Akrotiri Peninsula, near Souda Bay. As of 2016, the airport of Chania city is being reconstructed and expanded. The construction of a control tower is underway.

Chania International Airport receives a large number of domestic and international flights. In summer, the air harbor in the west of Crete receives many charter flights, including from Russia. Starting to take the first international flights in 1974 and after renovations in 1996, 2005 and 2013, Chania airport became the most important air transport hub in the west of Crete. There is also a Duty Free shop at the airport, which offers a small but decent assortment of Cretan products and souvenirs, as well as foreign-made goods.

Airport in Sitia

Official name: Airport Sitia "Vitsentzos Kornaros".

Sitia International Airport Code: JSH

Vicenzos Kornaros Airport is located in the eastern part of Crete (Lassithi region) and about 4.5 kilometers from the center of Sitia.

Sitia airport coordinates on Google maps: 35.217198, 26.096036 (35 ° 13 "01.9" N 26 ° 05 "45.7" E).

Since opening in 1984, Sitia Airport has been continuously improved. So in 1993, the air harbor moved to a new terminal building with a control tower, and in 2003 a new runway with a length of 2,100 meters was put into operation. Until recently, the airport served only domestic flights... From April 30, 2012 the airport of Sitia began to accept international charter flights.

As of January 2016, a new terminal has been opened at the airport of Sitia and international flights are already planned for the tourist season 2016.

Based on the above, it is safe to say that the airports of Crete are located on the island in such a way that arrivals can easily reach their destination from any air harbor.

How to get from Crete airports to the hotel?

• By transfer organized by a travel agency or by the hotel, as well as in the international booking system for personal transfers Intui.travel.
• With a pre-rented car ordered directly to the airport. How to rent a car correctly can be found here: All about car rental in Crete >>
• On city buses operating from / to the airports of Crete. You can read more about all the features of moving around the island by buses, as well as find the bus schedules that run to the airports of Crete, here: Getting around Crete by local buses >>
• By taxi, which can be easily found at the exit from any airport on the island. What will be the cost of the trip, how best to order a taxi, and the rest of the nuances can be found in the article: