Heraklion has no metro. The five main ways to get around are: the KTEL city bus (€1.20–1.70 per ride), taxi (€15–20 from the airport to the centre), pre-booked private transfer (from €25), car rental (from €30/day), and walking for the old town area. There is a direct KTEL bus from the airport every 10–15 minutes, taking about 20 minutes. This guide covers every option with costs and journey times.
You can move easily around Heraklion by bus, taxi, or on foot - five transport modes are available, each suited to different budgets and distances.
The fastest and easiest way to get around Heraklion from the airport is a taxi (€15–20, 10–15 minutes) or pre-booked private transfer (from €25); the cheapest is the KTEL airport bus (approx. €2, 20 minutes).
| Mode | Journey Time (Airport→City) | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTEL Bus (Line 78) | ~20 min | ~€2 | Budget travellers |
| Taxi | 10–15 min | €15–20 | Small groups, night arrivals |
| Private Transfer | 10–15 min | from €25 | Families, transfers with luggage |
| Car Rental | 10–15 min + collection | from €30/day | Exploring wider Crete |
| Walking | N/A from airport | Free | Old town sightseeing only |
Heraklion Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis, HER) is approximately 4 km east of the city centre - close enough that a taxi costs €15–20 and a bus takes around 20 minutes. You can reach the city by KTEL bus, taxi, or pre-booked private transfer.
KTEL operates Bus Line 78 between Heraklion Airport and the city centre. Buses run every 10–15 minutes year-round (more frequently in summer). The single-journey fare is approximately €2. The journey takes around 20 minutes in normal traffic. Buses depart from outside the arrivals terminal and stop at Plateia Eleftherias (Liberty Square) in the city centre. The airport shuttle is the cheapest way into Heraklion and runs from early morning until late evening.
You pay €15–20 for a metered taxi from Heraklion Airport to the city centre - the 4 km trip takes 10–15 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis are available around the clock, with a dedicated taxi rank directly in front of the arrivals terminal. A taxi suits small groups and night arrivals when bus frequency drops. You can also book a taxi by phone with Best Crete Transfer or arrange one online in advance.
A private taxi transfer from Heraklion Airport to the city centre typically costs €25–45 for a standard saloon, depending on vehicle size and time of travel. Unlike taxis, a private transfer is booked in advance: your driver meets you at arrivals with a name board, handles your luggage, and takes you directly to your hotel - no queuing, no meter. You arrive at Heraklion Airport and find your Best Crete Transfer driver at arrivals with a name board - no queuing for a taxi, no navigating public transport with heavy luggage. Best Crete Transfer operates pre-booked private transfers from HER Airport to Heraklion city and 60+ locations across Crete.
The compact old town of Heraklion is walkable - most historic sites, the port, and the main market street are within a 20-minute walk of each other. For longer trips you can use KTEL city buses, taxis, or a ride-hailing app.
Heraklion's old town is compact and pedestrian-friendly. From Plateia Eleftherias (the main square) to the Venetian Harbour is a 10-minute walk. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the Morozini Fountain, and the covered market (1866 Street) are all within a 15-minute walking radius. Walking is the best way to explore the old town - but the hills and summer heat (July–August regularly tops 33°C) make buses or taxis preferable for longer distances.
You can reach most city areas and nearby villages by KTEL local bus for approximately €1.20–1.70 per journey. KTEL operates Heraklion's city bus network year-round. The No. 2 bus (Knossos–old harbour) and airport Bus 78 connect the main tourist points, so you can take the Knossos bus straight from the city centre to the Minoan palace site. Frequency on the airport route is every 10–15 minutes; city routes run every 15–30 minutes depending on the line. Local bus routes in Heraklion cover both the city and adjacent villages, making the network a practical low-cost option for day trips near the city.
You can hail a taxi in Heraklion at any of the main taxi ranks (Plateia Eleftherias, the port, and Heraklion Bus Station A) or book one by phone. Expect to pay the daytime tariff of €0.74/km within the city, with a minimum fare of approximately €3.50. The night tariff (midnight–5am) is approximately 40% higher. Most short trips within the centre cost €5–10. To avoid metered surprises, you can book a fixed-price transfer online with Best Crete Transfer instead.
Uber does not operate in Crete. The Beat app (formerly Taxibeat) is available in Heraklion and works like Uber - you can book and track a licensed taxi from your phone, with the fare based on the standard city taxi tariff. Ride-hailing in Heraklion is a convenient alternative to hailing on the street, especially at night.
KTEL buses connect Heraklion to Chania (approx. €14, 2.5 hours), Rethymno (approx. €8, 1.5 hours), and Agios Nikolaos (approx. €8, 75 minutes) from Bus Station A near the port. You can also travel by private transfer, rental car, or - for some destinations - ferry from Heraklion Port.
You can reach Chania from Heraklion by: (a) KTEL bus - approx. €14 one-way, 2.5 hours, departing from Heraklion Bus Station A (near the port) roughly every hour; (b) private transfer - approx. €90–130 for a saloon, 145 km along the E75 coastal highway; or (c) car rental - the same drive takes around 2 hours and passes through Rethymno, which makes an easy stop. The journey follows Crete's northern coast, with Rethymno's Venetian port and fortress a popular midway break.
The least expensive way to reach Elounda from Heraklion is by bus, but there is no direct route. You first take a KTEL bus from Heraklion Bus Station A to Agios Nikolaos (approx. €8, around 75 minutes), then switch to a connecting bus from Agios Nikolaos to Elounda (around 30 minutes). Total journey time is roughly 105 minutes plus connection time. A private transfer covers the route directly without the change.
You can reach Rethymno from Heraklion by KTEL bus for approximately €8, with a journey time of around 1.5 hours from Bus Station A. Buses run frequently along the E75 coastal highway. By car, the drive takes about an hour and is a convenient stop on the way to Chania.
Heraklion Port handles ferries that connect Crete with mainland Greece and the Aegean islands. Ferries are a cheap and convenient way to travel beyond Crete, and the port is within walking distance of the old town and Bus Station A. Check current schedules with the ferry operators, as routes and frequencies change by season.
Renting a car in Heraklion gives you the freedom to explore Crete's inland villages and southern beaches that no bus route reaches; daily rates start from approximately €30 in shoulder season. Several rental agencies operate at Heraklion Airport, so you can compare costs on arrival, though local rental offices in the city often offer better rates depending on the season. A rental car is the most flexible option for travellers planning to cover wider Crete on their own schedule.
Free municipal parking in Heraklion is available at six locations in and around the city centre, including Vourvachon and Dimokratias Avenue. The full list of free municipal spots includes Vourvachon (city centre), Chatzimichali Giannari, Mavrolenis, Dimokratias Avenue, Bofor Avenue, and Talos. If you prefer paid premium parking, options include Megaro Handax, Iraklio Center Parking, Kallergis, and Marasis Parking.
Best Crete Transfer provides door-to-door private transfers across Crete for every group size and occasion:
See our full fleet of vehicles or book your Crete airport transfer online.
The most common questions travellers ask about getting around Heraklion concern taxi costs, bus fares, and whether apps like Uber work in Crete.
No, Heraklion has no metro or tram system. City buses (KTEL) are the main public transport alternative, complemented by taxis, ride-hailing via the Beat app, and walking for the compact old town.
Within the city, taxis use a meter (Tariff 1: approximately €0.74/km daytime, with a minimum fare of around €3.50). Most short trips within the centre cost €5–10. The night tariff (midnight–5am) is around 40% higher. A taxi from Heraklion Airport to the city centre costs €15–20.
Uber does not operate in Crete. The Beat app (formerly Taxibeat) is available in Heraklion and works like Uber - you can book and track a licensed taxi from your phone.
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