Heraklion Airport to Chania: distance and how to get there
Chania is about 140 km west of Heraklion Airport: around 2 hours by car on the national road, 3–3½ hours by city bus plus KTEL coach (about €16 in total), or €150–220 by taxi. If you have not booked flights yet, check whether Chania airport suits you better.
Heraklion Airport to Chania: the options
| Option | Time | Price | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car | ~2 h | daily rate + fuel | Anyone touring the west |
| Private transfer | ~2 h | per car, similar to taxi | Families, late arrivals |
| Taxi | ~2 h | €150–220 | When nothing else is available |
| City bus + KTEL | 3–3 h 30 | ~€16 per person | Solo travellers by day |
Driving from Heraklion Airport to Chania
Leave the airport west on the national road (EO90, VOAK), skirt Heraklion and follow the north coast past Agia Pelagia, Bali and Rethymno. It is a single road with sections of dual carriageway, roadworks where it is being upgraded, and slow traffic through some villages. Allow 2 hours without stops and 2½ in summer traffic. Rethymno’s old town, halfway, is the obvious coffee stop. See driving in Crete for the local habits.
By bus from the airport to Chania
There is no direct bus. Take the city bus from the airport into Heraklion (€1.30 pre-bought), then a KTEL Chania–Rethymno coach from the main bus station near the port (about €14, 2½–3 hours, roughly hourly in summer). It is cheap and comfortable, but with the change it is a half-day trip. Details in our KTEL guide.
Should you fly into Chania instead?
If your whole holiday is in the west, yes: Chania airport is 20–25 minutes from town. If flights to Chania are much more expensive or do not exist from your city, landing at Heraklion and driving is perfectly reasonable. Compare in Chania or Heraklion airport.
Where to stay in Chania
The old town around the Venetian harbour is the postcard: lanes, tavernas, the lighthouse. It is also the hardest place to arrive with a car, as the centre is largely pedestrian and parking is outside the walls. Nea Chora, a 10-minute walk west, has a town beach and easier parking. For a beach holiday, the resort strip of Agia Marina and Platanias, 10–12 km west, is where most package hotels are.
Stops on the way from Heraklion Airport
- Rethymno (about 1 h 15): old town, Fortezza and a long beach, the natural halfway break.
- Georgioupoli (about 1 h 35): a freshwater lake with turtles and a long sandy beach just off the road.
- Bali (about 45 min): small coves for a swim if you land early.
On arrival day, two hours of driving after a flight is plenty: if you land late, consider a night near the airport (see where to stay near Heraklion Airport) and drive west in daylight.
Sources and official links
Frequently asked questions
How far is Chania from Heraklion Airport?
About 140 km by road, roughly 2 hours.
How do I get from Heraklion Airport to Chania?
Rental car or transfer (about 2 hours), or city bus to Heraklion then KTEL coach (about €16 in total, 3–3½ hours).
How much is a taxi from Heraklion Airport to Chania?
About €150–220 for the car in 2026.
How do I get from Chania to Heraklion Airport?
The same way in reverse: KTEL from Chania to Heraklion, then city bus or taxi to the airport. Leave a big time margin before a flight.
Where should I stop between Heraklion Airport and Chania?
Rethymno, about halfway, is the classic stop; Georgioupoli lake and beach is another 20 minutes further west.
Is it worth driving to Chania on arrival day?
If you land before mid-afternoon, yes. After a late landing, a transfer or a night near the airport is safer than two hours on an unfamiliar road.
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