The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Heraklion Airport (Crete)
Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis (official website of the airport - www.hcaa-eleng.gr) is a Greek airport; is located on Crete (at a distance of 5 km from the city of Heraklion). It is the largest airport on the island and the second largest and passenger traffic in Greece.
The history of Heraklion begins in 1937 (at that time its construction began on the Aegean Sea). Already in 1939, the airport received its first passengers.
Air traffic with the island of Crete was interrupted during the Second World War and resumed in 1946. In 1953, the first runway was created on the territory of Heraklion using artificial material (the length of the runway is about 1.8 km). In 1971, the airport building was rebuilt, additional buildings were added, parking appeared on the territory.
An interesting fact: the airport got its second name in honor of the Greek writer and poet, a classic of Greek literature, a philosopher born in Crete, near the city of Heraklion - Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957). To date, the annual passenger traffic of the airport is about 5 million people. Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis regularly receives various charter flights.
Heraklion has one terminal, which is a two-story building. On the territory of the airport there is a cafe, a restaurant, information desks, a waiting room, a Duty Free shop, an information desk, a medical center, exchange offices, luggage storage, free parking for 500 parking spaces. The building has free Wi-Fi.
How to get from the airport to the popular resorts of Crete.
Crete is the largest island in Greece, and there are many resorts on its territory for every taste and budget.
The most convenient way to travel from the airport in Crete to the nearest resort towns is by renting a car or by bus.
To travel by bus, you must first get from the airport to the city Heraklion. In this case, you need to use the bus route number 2 (the bus stop is located within walking distance from the airport building). Buses on this route run throughout the day (every 15-20 minutes) until 22:00, the fare is about 1.8 euros, the journey time is 15-20 minutes.
There are two bus stations: A and B.
From bus station A, buses depart to the north of Crete, and from bus station B to the south of the island. There are two types of buses in Crete: blue (within one city), green (intercity).
A taxi from the airport to the city center will cost about 10-15 euros.
If you don’t have the opportunity and desire to waste time waiting for buses and transfers, it’s better to use a rented car.
p>
Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is one of the most important ports in Greece; washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The main infrastructure facilities of the island are concentrated here; a large number of architectural monuments are located on the territory. The city is named after the hero of myths - Hercules.
There are several options for the route from the airport to the city center by car. Depending on the chosen path and traffic congestion, the route will take 8-10 minutes (from 2.9 to 4 km). You can see the route on the map below.
One of the most famous sandy resorts in Crete, Malia is the most popular youth resort in Greece. The route from the airport to the resort by car will take about 27 minutes (31 km). Malia is located to the east of Heraklion.
The small resort town of Rethymnon is located on the shores of Almyros Bay (Cretan Sea), located at an altitude of 17 meters above sea level, is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. Due to the location on the bay, there are practically no waves on the shore, so the resort is great for families with children.
The route by car from Heraklion Airport to the resort runs along the coast and takes about 1 hour (80 km).
How to find the office of the rental company at Heraklion Airport.
For the convenience of moving around the island of Crete while traveling, you can rent a car. Car rental in Greece is in great demand as millions of tourists visit Mediterranean resorts every year and rent a car to move around the area from comfort and not depend on the schedule and route of public transport.
There are several rental companies at Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport - Centauro, Europcar, Hertz, Alamo. The most preferred option is to book the necessary car in advance before arrival (by phone or via the Internet); also, rental is possible on the spot. Car rental companies have the opportunity to pick up a vehicle of any price range. You can choose a company to rent and book the necessary car by link. Racks of various rental companies are concentrated in one direction. In order to find them, upon arrival, you must follow the "Car rental" signs, which mark car rental.
Good to know
Most Popular Agency
Autos holidays
Most popular car class
Standard
Average price
34 € / Day
Best price
24 € / Day
How the price changes depending on the month
January
€155
February
€121
March
€110
April
€138
May
€198
June
€241
July
€372
August
€299
September
€124
October
€67
November
€226
December
€162
* Data is calculated based on car bookings for the previous 365 days.
In August rental companies located in Heraklion Airport (Crete) rent much more cars than in the rest of the year. This month marks the smallest range of cars on offer and the highest rental prices. In such a high season, when the number of available cars is minimal, you should arrange a rental as early as possible. This will allow you to get the best rental option at the most favorable price.
The best time to rent a car in Heraklion Airport (Crete) is November. This month, rental prices are minimal, below the annual average by 34%, and start from €26 for a Compact car.
Convertible cars in Heraklion Airport (Crete) are in high demand during the summer. This is not surprising. After all, a trip on such a car gives a feeling of freedom and independence, allows you to relax and forget about the problems of the world around you. Although you should be prepared for an increase in rental prices and possible problems with the range of available cars. If we talk about the price Ford Mustang - it will be from €68 per 1 day.
Most popular car models in Heraklion Airport (Crete)
Bookingautos offers a wide range of cars of any class. In Heraklion Airport (Crete) you can rent a convertible, SUV, sedan, minivan, as well as a business class car. Our rental fleet consists of new cars manufactured in 2024 year.
The cost of renting a car depends, first of all, on its class and period of use. The longer the rental, the lower its daily rate. The price for economy class cars in high season starts from €15 per day, for a medium class car you will have to pay €41-€45, for a business class car - €67 and above. In summer, during the high season, the cost of renting increases significantly, especially convertibles and rare models. For example, the minimum daily rental price for Ford Mustang, a very popular in Heraklion Airport (Crete), would be around €68 per day.
Recently, in Heraklion Airport (Crete) has seen a rise in demand for electric car rentals. They do not pollute nature and save money. The city has free parking and cheap charging stations. To rent an electric car in Heraklion Airport (Crete), select the appropriate filter in the car search and fill in the dates you need. The best option could be KIA E-Niro.
Documents required for car rental
Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!
A valid international driver's license is required!
Top 10 Tips You Should Know
Download Google maps offline
Before the trip, we recommend that you download the necessary maps to the Google Maps application on your smartphone. This will allow you to build travel routes and use offline navigation on the ground. Thus, you can significantly save on Internet roaming charges, as well as on the "Navigator" service. Downloading the map is easy. You should select the required area, set the desired scale and enter "ok maps" in the search field.
Book a car in advance
Heraklion Airport (Crete) is now in ever-increasing demand, which affects the high demand for car rental. By booking online, you can avoid any unpleasant surprises after you arrive at your destination. Both with the car itself and with its rent.
It is better to book a car at least one and a half months before the trip. As the required date approaches, the number of available offers is reduced, and the cost of the remaining models increases. If plans change and the trip is postponed, then you can cancel the rental without any sanctions 2 days before it starts.
Which car to choose for rent
Tourists who expect to drive only around the city and its immediate surroundings prefer to rent compact cars, Toyota Aygo or Opel Astra. For trips to the mountains, you need a car with increased power. You should go on such a trip with a full tank, as fuel consumption in the mountains increases one and a half to two times. An all-wheel drive crossover would be the ideal car for this. Renting BMW 5 Series Estate in Heraklion Airport (Crete) will cost €32 per day.
What you need to pay attention to when receiving a car
Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.
The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.
Insurance recommendations
Rental companies in Heraklion Airport (Crete) may offer different insurance options. They differ in price and set of options. Here are the basic types:
Third Party Liability (TPL)/Third Liability Protection (TLP). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Insurance (TI)/Theft Protection (TP)/Theft Waiver (TW). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Super Loss Damage Waiver (SLDW)/Theft Protection+Collision Damage Waiver (TP+CDW). Full protection against theft and damage, even if you are the culprit of the accident.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.
If you want to save money and choose the cheapest insurance, carefully inspect the car upon receipt. Make sure the machine is not damaged.
Fuel prepayment terms
For trips over long distances, it is better to choose the option with the already included payment for a full tank. If you have a short trip, then this service is inappropriate. Be sure to read the fuel policy before making a booking:
If necessary, use the special filter to select the most convenient option for you.
Mileage without limits
Before renting a car, you should check with the rental company if there is a limit on the daily mileage for a car. Typically, tourists use a rental car to travel not only around the city, but also to travel to neighboring cities and even countries. If such a restriction exists, it is recommended to choose a rental option where there is no limit. In this case, the total cost of mileage will be lower, since you will not have to pay extra for exceeding the mileage. On our site, in the search results, check the filter "Unlimited mileage" to see the offers you need.
Compare conditions of different rental companies
When choosing a rental car in Heraklion Airport (Crete), you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.
Which rental company to choose
When renting a car in Heraklion Airport (Crete), you should carefully read all the conditions offered by the rental company. Depending on the specific company, they may differ in mileage, insurance coverage, deposit amount, accompanying services and their cost. You should choose proven and reliable companies that offer new cars and stand out due to the well-thought-out organization of work with customers. Additionally, you can study the rating of distributors, which is also available on our website.
If we talk about the best companies in Heraklion Airport (Crete), then it is worth highlighting EUROPCAR with a rating 9.9 and SIXT, the average rating of which is 9 points.
Car pick-up procedure
Before signing a car rental agreement, it should be carefully checked for damage and defects. Do not be shy to point out the identified problems and problems - then you will not have to answer for them. When returning, pay attention to the fuel in the tank. Its volume must correspond to that prescribed in the agreement.
Also, do not ignore the phone number provided by the technical support representative when concluding the contract. After all, even the most experienced driver is not insured against a breakdown, accident or other force majeure event. In such a case, contact a specialist before the arrival of the police.
Our main advantages
24/7 support in all popular languages
Change or cancel within 48 hours for free!
No additional fees
Car rental reviews: Heraklion Airport (Crete)
Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.
Download the BookingAutos mobile app
Download our mobile app and get access to special offers and discounts in Heraklion Airport (Crete).