Heraklion Airport Transfers: taxi, bus or private car

Heraklion Airport to your hotel: the quick comparison

Prices for October 2026. Taxi and transfer prices are per car, bus fares per person.

Option	To the city	To Hersonissos	Best for
Pre-booked transfer	from about €25	from about €45	Resorts, night arrivals, families
Taxi	€20–25	€40–55	The city, 1–3 people
City bus	€1.30 with a pre-bought ticket	—	Solo travellers into Heraklion
KTEL coach	—	about €3–5	Budget trips along the coast

Each option in detail

1. Private transfer

A driver waiting in arrivals with your name

Our pick for resorts

Price: fixed per car
Waiting: free if delayed
Seats: 1–16

Price agreed before you fly, no meter
Driver tracks your flight
Child seats and minivans on request
Must be booked in advance

Compare transfer prices

2. Taxi

The rank right outside the arrivals exit

Price: €20–25 to the city
Hours: 24/7
Seats: 4

No booking needed
Fastest into Heraklion city
Card terminal required
Queues on summer weekends
Night tariff after midnight

Taxi fares to every resort

3. City bus

Astiko KTEL buses into central Heraklion

Fare: about €1.30–2.30
Ride: 20–30 min
Hours: ~06:00–23:00

By far the cheapest
Frequent by day
No room for big luggage at peak times
Does not serve the resorts

Bus lines and fares

4. KTEL intercity coach

Green coaches along the north coast

Fare: from a few euros
Network: Heraklion–Lasithi, Chania–Rethymno

Cheap to Hersonissos, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno, Chania
Big luggage holds
Timetables thin out in the evening
Often needs a change in Heraklion

KTEL guide

Heraklion Airport transfer times and prices by resort

Resort	Drive time	Taxi	Bus option
Heraklion city	10–20 min	€20–25	City bus, €1.30 with a pre-bought ticket
Hersonissos	25–30 min	€40–55	KTEL coach
Malia / Stalis	30–40 min	€50–70	KTEL coach
Agios Nikolaos	50–60 min	€90–120	KTEL via Heraklion bus station
Elounda	65–75 min	€100–130	KTEL + change in Agios Nikolaos
Rethymno	70–80 min	€100–135	KTEL via Heraklion bus station
Chania	1 h 50–2 h	€150–220	KTEL, about €14

Indicative fares October 2026. Transfer prices move with the season and the size of car; the widget above shows the live price.

Which HER transfer we would pick

Landing after 10 pm: transfer or taxi, nothing else. The city bus winds down around 11 pm and KTEL coaches stop well before.

Family with a pushchair and three cases: a pre-booked minivan transfer. You choose the car size, child seats are fitted, and nobody has to fold a buggy in the rank queue.

Solo with a backpack, staying in Heraklion: the city bus. It stops a few steps from the terminal and reaches the centre in about 25 minutes.

Touring the island: pick up a rental car at the airport and skip the transfer question entirely.

HER transfers: frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way from Heraklion Airport to the city?

The city bus: a ticket costs €1.30 from the kiosk or €2.30 from the driver, and the ride takes 20–30 minutes.

Is a private transfer from Heraklion Airport worth it?

For the resorts, usually yes: it costs about the same as a taxi, the price is fixed, and the driver waits even if your flight is late.

How long is the transfer from Heraklion Airport to Hersonissos?

About 25–30 minutes on the national road, longer on summer Saturday afternoons.

Is there a shuttle bus from Heraklion Airport to the resorts?

There is no single airport shuttle. Package holidays include a coach; independent travellers use KTEL coaches, a shared shuttle booked online or a private transfer.

What happens if my flight is delayed?

Reputable transfer companies track the flight and adjust the pick-up time at no cost. Check the free waiting time in your booking, usually 60 minutes after landing.

Heraklion Airport transfers: every option compared