Heraklion Airport
Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, identified by IATA code HER and ICAO code LGIR, is the main air gateway for Heraklion and one of the key arrival points for visitors heading to Crete. Classified as a large airport, it sits just 115 feet (35 m) above sea level and operates in the Europe/Athens time zone. For travellers, that means a convenient base for reaching the city, nearby beach resorts, and many of the island’s best-known archaeological and cultural sights soon after landing.
About Heraklion Airport
Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, identified by IATA code HER and ICAO code LGIR, is the main air gateway for Heraklion and one of the key arrival points for visitors heading to Crete. Classified as a large airport, it sits just 115 feet (35 m) above sea level and operates in the Europe/Athens time zone. For travellers, that means a convenient base for reaching the city, nearby beach resorts, and many of the island’s best-known archaeological and cultural sights soon after landing.
Overview
Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, identified by IATA code HER and ICAO code LGIR, is the main air gateway for Heraklion and one of the key arrival points for visitors heading to Crete. Classified as a large airport, it sits just 115 feet (35 m) above sea level and operates in the Europe/Athens time zone. For travellers, that means a convenient base for reaching the city, nearby beach resorts, and many of the island’s best-known archaeological and cultural sights soon after landing.
What Travellers Should Know
- The airport serves Heraklion, Greece, making it the most practical arrival point for many stays in central and eastern Crete.
- Its official website is https://www.heraklion-airport.gr/en/, which is useful for checking airport services and local information before you fly.
- The airfield has two asphalt runways: 09/27 at 8,904 feet and lighted for operations, and 12/30 at 5,138 feet.
- Because it is a large airport, passengers can expect a busy atmosphere, especially in peak holiday periods.
Airfield And Operations
From an aviation perspective, the airport is well equipped for regular commercial traffic, with its longer 09/27 runway supporting a broad range of aircraft movements and lighting that helps maintain operations in lower-light conditions. The second runway, 12/30, adds operational flexibility. While most visitors will notice the airport mainly as their first and last stop in Crete, these features help explain why HER plays such an important role in keeping Heraklion connected with Greece and the wider travel network.
Routes
Top routes from HER
No routes tracked from HER yet.
Nearby airports
Other airports in Greece
FAQ
Heraklion Airport — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
9 common questions
- Heraklion Airport is located in Heraklion, Greece (Europe), at coordinates 35.340°, 25.170°.
- Its IATA code is HER and its ICAO code is LGIR.
- Heraklion Airport serves Heraklion, Greece. When comparing fares, check whether other airports also serve the same area — prices and transfer times can differ between them.
- Heraklion Airport operates on Europe/Athens local time. Departure and arrival times on tickets are always shown in each airport's local time, so double-check the offset when planning connections or pick-ups.
- Heraklion Airport sits at latitude 35.340° and longitude 25.170°. The map link in the details panel on this page opens the exact location for driving directions.
- Originfacts does not yet track scheduled routes from HER. Use the flight search on this page to see live airline options for your travel dates.
- Route coverage for HER is still being added to Originfacts. Run a search from HER on the flight search page to see every destination airlines currently sell for your dates.
- Its address is Heraklion, 716 01, Greece, the phone number is +30 281 039 7129, the official website is http://www.hcaa.gr/en/our-airports/kratikos-aerolimenas-hrakleioy-n-kazantzakhs. For flight-specific questions (delays, baggage, rebooking), contact the operating airline directly rather than the airport.
- Yes — Originfacts lists 9 other airports in Greece. The nearby-airports section on this page links to each of them, which is useful when comparing fares or finding an alternative departure point.