Heraklion Airport in Crete with rental cars parked outside

Heraklion Airport Car Rental Guide (HER)

Heraklion Airport Overview

Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport (IATA: HER) is Crete's main airport and the second-busiest in Greece after Athens. Located 5 km east of Heraklion city centre, it handles direct flights from across Europe during the tourist season (April–October) and year-round connections via Athens.

The airport serves as the primary gateway for visitors exploring central and eastern Crete, including Heraklion's top destinations, the Lasithi Plateau, and the south coast beaches. For western Crete (Chania, Rethymno), you can either drive from Heraklion (1.5–2.5 hours on the highway) or fly into Chania Airport (CHQ) instead.

Where to Pick Up Your Rental Car

There are two main options for picking up a rental car at Heraklion Airport:

1. Airport pickup (meet & greet) — most local agencies on SimplyBook offer a meet-and-greet service. An agent meets you in the arrivals hall or outside, drives you to the nearby office (usually 5–10 minutes from the terminal), and hands over the car. This is the most popular option and avoids the queues at the international chain desks inside the terminal.

2. In-terminal desks — international chains (Hertz, Avis, Europcar) have desks in the arrivals hall. Convenient, but typically more expensive than local agencies and often require a credit card for the deposit.

Don't have a credit card? Many local Crete agencies accept cash or debit card deposits. See our no credit card rental guide.

How to Book with SimplyBook

  1. Go to car rental in Heraklion and enter your dates

  2. Compare prices from local agencies sorted by price, vehicle type, and customer ratings

  3. Select your vehicle and confirm the booking — most agencies require little or no prepayment

  4. Receive a confirmation with the agency's meeting instructions for HER airport

  5. On arrival, meet the agent, sign the paperwork, and drive off

Driving from Heraklion Airport

The airport is right on the E75 national highway, making it easy to head in any direction:

  • West to Rethymno (80 km, 1.5 hours) — smooth highway driving. Continue to Chania (170 km, 2.5 hours).

  • East to Agios Nikolaos (65 km, 1 hour) — gateway to eastern Crete, Spinalonga, and Vai Beach.

  • South to Matala (67 km, 1.5 hours) — over the mountains to the famous hippie beach and south coast.

  • Into Heraklion city (5 km, 10 minutes) — for Knossos Palace, the Archaeological Museum, and the Venetian harbour.

For a comprehensive route guide, read our complete guide to driving in Crete.

Fuel and Return Policy

Most local agencies use a full-to-full fuel policy: you pick up the car with a full tank and return it full. The nearest petrol station to HER airport is on the main road just outside (within 1 km), so filling up before return is easy.

For return, simply drive back to the agency's airport office. Most agencies allow flexible drop-off times if your flight is early morning or late evening — confirm this when booking.

Tips for Renting at Heraklion Airport

  1. Book early for summer — Heraklion is extremely busy from June to September. Popular vehicles (automatic, SUV) sell out weeks in advance.

  2. Check insurance — basic CDW is usually included. For peace of mind, consider full coverage to reduce the excess.

  3. Inspect the car — walk around and photograph any existing damage before driving off. This protects you on return.

  4. Ask about one-way rental — some agencies allow pickup at HER and drop-off at Chania Airport (CHQ), perfect for a west-to-east Crete road trip.

  5. Download offline maps — signal can be weak in the mountains. Pre-download the Crete area in Google Maps or Maps.me.

Compare car rental prices at Heraklion Airport and start your Crete adventure.