Ligaria Beach is 25 km from Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis, HER) - a 20-25 minute drive along the E75 motorway. The fastest option is a private door-to-door transfer (from €35, fixed fare, 23 minutes); the cheapest is the KTEL bus (€2.80-€3.70, ~40 minutes with one change). Ligaria Beach sits northwest of Heraklion, making it one of the closest beach resorts to the airport. Four transport options connect you to Ligaria: private door-to-door transfer with a fixed fare, metered airport taxi, KTEL public bus, and self-drive rental car.
Choose your transfer based on budget and group size: a private transfer offers fixed fares and door-to-door service from €35; the bus costs under €4 but requires one change and takes around 40 minutes.
| Option | Journey time | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer (Best Crete Transfer) | 23 min | from €35, fixed fare | Families, groups, late-night arrivals |
| Taxi (metered) | 17-23 min | €35-€60 | Solo travellers, 2 pax |
| KTEL bus (blue + green) | ~40 min + wait | €2.80-€3.70 | Budget travellers |
| Rental car (self-drive) | 17-20 min | from €25/day + ~€6.50 fuel | Multi-day stays |
All options depart from Heraklion Airport arrivals. For night arrivals (after 9:15 pm), the KTEL bus is unavailable - choose a private transfer or taxi.
Disclaimer: Prices and journey times shown are estimates based on standard conditions (June 2026). Taxi fares may vary by time of day, luggage volume, and traffic. KTEL bus schedules are subject to seasonal changes - verify at e-ktel.com before travel. Private transfer prices shown are fixed fares booked through Best Crete Transfer.
A private transfer from Heraklion Airport to Ligaria takes 23 minutes, costs from €35 with a fixed fare, and includes door-to-door pickup with flight monitoring - no waiting, no luggage hassle.
A private airport transfer with Best Crete Transfer covers the 23-minute route to Ligaria for a fixed, all-inclusive fare with no hidden charges. Your driver monitors your flight and meets you at arrivals with a name board, so there is no waiting even if your flight is delayed. Ligaria sits right next to Agia Pelagia, and the route runs through beautiful mountains and exotic beaches; the driver passes through Heraklion city, so you can even stop to explore it before continuing to Ligaria.
A pre-booked private transfer carries you from the airport terminal directly to your Ligaria accommodation entrance - door-to-door, with a fixed fare you know before you book.
Why choose a private transfer:
Best Crete Transfer is licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO reg. 1039E60000310701) and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All vehicles are fully insured and regularly serviced. We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before your scheduled pickup and a no-hidden-costs price guarantee. Book your private transfer to Ligaria in advance to guarantee availability, especially during peak summer season (June-September).
"Our driver from Best Crete Transfer was waiting at arrivals with our name on a board. The car was clean, air-conditioned, and the driver pointed out Ligaria Beach as we arrived. Perfect start to the holiday." - Sarah M., UK (Google review, 2025)
The KTEL bus is the cheapest option at €2.80-€3.70: take the blue bus from the airport to Heraklion KTEL terminal (20 min), then switch to the green bus to Ligaria (17 min) - total around 40 minutes plus connection wait.
The KTEL bus saves you money - under €4 - but requires one transfer at the Heraklion KTEL terminal and means carrying your luggage through the city centre. To start, buy a ticket from the bus stop right outside the airport and catch the blue bus, the KTEL bus service. The blue bus departs roughly every 10 minutes, so you do not need to rush, and it carries you from the Heraklion airport terminal to the Heraklion KTEL terminal in 20 minutes.
At the KTEL terminal you switch from the blue bus to the green bus, which serves Ligaria and the surrounding Agia Pelagia area in 17 minutes. Note that you have to carry your luggage to the central road ring to board, as there are fewer bus stops in the city centre.
One thing to remember is that the bus schedule runs from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. If your flight lands any time after 9:15 pm, you will not be able to catch the connecting bus from the KTEL terminal and might end up waiting until 6:00 am - in which case a private transfer or taxi is the better choice. To confirm the current timetable, check the KTEL bus service website at e-ktel.com before you travel.
The ticket costs around €2.80 to €3.70 for the full blue-plus-green KTEL connection.
A Heraklion Airport taxi reaches Ligaria in 17-23 minutes; fares run €35-€60 for the standard daytime route (cash preferred, confirm the fare before boarding).
A Heraklion Airport taxi picks you up outside the arrivals terminal and delivers you to Ligaria in 17-23 minutes. The airport taxi rank is directly outside the airport exit - no reservation required, though pre-booking a taxi guarantees a vehicle for early-morning or late-night flights. A standard taxi fits up to four passengers including the driver; for larger groups or extra luggage, a pre-booked private transfer with a fixed fare is usually the better value.
A Heraklion taxi charges €35-€60 for the standard daytime route to Ligaria. Night surcharges and extra luggage can push the fare toward €60-€80. Unlike a metered taxi, a private transfer quotes a fixed fare up front, so you know the total cost before you travel.
Renting a car at Heraklion Airport lets you drive to Ligaria in 17-20 minutes via the E75 motorway - prices start at €25/day, plus around €6.50 fuel each way.
A rental car puts you behind the wheel for the 17-20 minute drive to Ligaria via the E75 motorway towards Rethymno - a straightforward, well-signed route. You will find car hire locations at the airport, and you can pre-book a car for delivery on arrival. A valid EU driving licence is accepted; non-EU travellers need an International Driving Permit.
Heraklion Airport car hire starts at €25/day for a compact and goes up to about €92/day depending on the car category. This price does not include fuel - the one-way Ligaria run costs approximately €6.50.
Getting from Heraklion Airport to Ligaria takes 20-40 minutes depending on your chosen transport. For stress-free, door-to-door travel with a fixed price and flight monitoring, book a private transfer with Best Crete Transfer. Bus travellers pay under €4 but need to change from the blue to the green KTEL bus and carry luggage to the road stop. Taxis are available on demand at the airport exit. Ready to book? Use the booking form above or call +30 6948 720000 - free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
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 cheapest way is the KTEL bus at €2.80-€3.70: take the blue bus from the airport to the Heraklion KTEL terminal, then change to the green bus to Ligaria (~40 minutes plus connection wait). It runs only between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm.
A private transfer quotes a fixed fare up front (from €35) and includes flight monitoring, meet and greet, and door-to-door service. A metered taxi (€35-€60 daytime) is convenient on demand but the final fare varies with time of day, luggage, and traffic. For groups, late-night arrivals, or budget certainty, the private transfer is usually better.
After 9:15 pm the connecting KTEL bus is unavailable, so a private transfer or taxi is your only realistic option. A pre-booked private transfer with flight monitoring is recommended for late-night arrivals, as your driver tracks your flight and waits at arrivals regardless of delays.
If you do not have a car, take a private transfer, an airport taxi, or the KTEL bus. The private transfer and taxi go direct; the bus requires one change at the Heraklion KTEL terminal.
Yes. Add your requirement in the instructions section when booking, and a vehicle will be sent with a child seat at no extra charge, so your baby travels safely.
You can cancel your pre-booked transfer up to 24 hours before pickup. We understand that emergencies happen, so we offer 100% free cancellation within that window.
Best Crete Transfer is fully licensed and accredited by the GNTO (Greek National Tourism Organisation), registered number 1039E60000310701 Address: L.P.93, Ikarou Avenue & Terpsichoris Str, Heraklion Airport, Crete, Greece, 71601 Phone: +30 6948 720000
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Fares on this route are fixed per vehicle rather than per person, and confirmed before you travel. You can check the current price for every vehicle size on the Heraklion Airport page.
