Istanbul to Irákleion flights
Irákleion lies 714 km (444 mi) south-west of Istanbul, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 40 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Istanbul | Irákleion | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Turkey | Greece |
| Population | 15.7 million | 137,154 |
| Elevation | 39 m (128 ft) | 60 m (197 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Europe/Istanbul) | UTC+3 (Europe/Athens) |
| Nearest large airport | SAW, 33 km out | HER, 4 km out |
What changes when you arrive in Irákleion
Crossing from Turkey into Greece: money changes from the Lira to the Euro (EUR); the dialling code becomes +30; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648793.
Airports at each end
Leaving Istanbul
Istanbul is served by 4 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), 33 km (21 mi) from the centre, whose 11,614-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are İstanbul Airport (IST, 34 km), Tekirdağ Çorlu Airport (TEQ, 87 km), Bursa Yenişehir Airport (YEI, 99 km).
Arriving in Irákleion
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 |
Book a flight to Irákleion
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Irákleion
Live rooms and prices for Irákleion are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Irákleion
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Irákleion from Istanbul?
714 km (444 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Istanbul.
How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Irákleion by air?
About 1 h 40 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Istanbul and Irákleion?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
Which airports are used for Istanbul to Irákleion flights?
Typically Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER); Irákleion also has CHQ, JSH.
What currency do I need in Irákleion?
The Euro (EUR).
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.