Flights to Irákleion
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
Irákleion is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,904 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Chania International Airport (CHQ, 93 km), Sitia Airport (JSH, 88 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport | HER | 4 km (2 mi) | 8,904 ft | 115 ft |
| Chania International Airport | CHQ | 93 km (58 mi) | 10,982 ft | 490 ft |
| Sitia Airport (regional) | JSH | 88 km (55 mi) | 6,804 ft | 376 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 8,904 ft, HER handles short and medium-haul aircraft, so a long-haul trip will connect somewhere else first. The airport sits at 115 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to Irákleion
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Routes to and from Irákleion
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irákleion to Istanbul | Turkey | 714 km (444 mi) | about 1 h 40 min |
| Irákleion to Cairo | Egypt | 818 km (508 mi) | about 1 h 48 min |
| Irákleion to Alexandria | Egypt | 638 km (396 mi) | about 1 h 34 min |
| Irákleion to Giza | Egypt | 819 km (509 mi) | about 1 h 48 min |
| Irákleion to Ankara | Turkey | 849 km (528 mi) | about 1 h 50 min |
| Irákleion to Bursa | Turkey | 641 km (399 mi) | about 1 h 34 min |
| Irákleion to İzmir | Turkey | 386 km (240 mi) | about 1 h 15 min |
| Irákleion to Rome | Italy | 1,316 km (818 mi) | about 2 h 26 min |
| Irákleion to Gaziantep | Turkey | 1,114 km (692 mi) | about 2 h 11 min |
| Irákleion to Aleppo | Syria | 1,088 km (676 mi) | about 2 h 9 min |
| Irákleion to Beirut | Lebanon | 961 km (597 mi) | about 1 h 59 min |
| Irákleion to Bucharest | Romania | 1,016 km (631 mi) | about 2 h 3 min |
| Irákleion to Diyarbakır | Turkey | 1,374 km (854 mi) | about 2 h 31 min |
| Irákleion to Adana | Turkey | 932 km (579 mi) | about 1 h 57 min |
| Irákleion to Budapest | Hungary | 1,445 km (898 mi) | about 2 h 36 min |
| Irákleion to Damascus | Syria | 1,042 km (647 mi) | about 2 h 5 min |
| Irákleion to Kayseri | Turkey | 992 km (617 mi) | about 2 h 1 min |
| Irákleion to Konya | Turkey | 713 km (443 mi) | about 1 h 40 min |
| Irákleion to Antalya | Turkey | 529 km (328 mi) | about 1 h 26 min |
| Irákleion to Tripoli | Libya | 1,133 km (704 mi) | about 2 h 12 min |
| Irákleion to Amman | Jordan | 1,067 km (663 mi) | about 2 h 7 min |
| Irákleion to Belgrade | Serbia | 1,126 km (700 mi) | about 2 h 12 min |
| Irákleion to Shanghai | China | 8,575 km (5,328 mi) | about 11 h 45 min |
| Irákleion to Chongqing | China | 7,447 km (4,627 mi) | about 10 h 18 min |
| Irákleion to Chengdu | China | 7,177 km (4,460 mi) | about 9 h 57 min |
| Irákleion to Beijing | China | 7,680 km (4,772 mi) | about 10 h 36 min |
| Irákleion to Guangzhou | China | 8,386 km (5,211 mi) | about 11 h 30 min |
| Irákleion to Shenzhen | China | 8,491 km (5,276 mi) | about 11 h 38 min |
| Irákleion to Tianjin | China | 7,780 km (4,834 mi) | about 10 h 43 min |
| Irákleion to Wuhan | China | 8,033 km (4,992 mi) | about 11 h 3 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Irákleion?
Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER) is the closest large airport at 4 km (2 mi). The others, CHQ, JSH, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is HER from Irákleion city centre?
4 km (2 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Irákleion on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.