Heraklion Airport Car Rental
Car rental at Heraklion Airport (HER)
Heraklion Airport (HER) is Crete's busiest airport and the natural pickup point for central and eastern Crete. It is about 5 km east of Heraklion city: Hersonissos is about 25 minutes away, Malia 30–35 and Agios Nikolaos about an hour. Many local offers need no deposit and no credit card, and zero-excess cover is common.
Airport
Heraklion International (HER), Nikos Kazantzakis
Distance to centre
About 5 km, 10–15 min
Best for
Central and east Crete
Pickup
Meet at arrivals or a short shuttle
How pickup works at Heraklion Airport
Heraklion airport sits right on the coast east of the city and gets very busy in summer. Local suppliers usually meet you outside arrivals with a sign and walk you to the car park, or take you by shuttle to an office a few minutes away.
Add your flight number when booking, and keep your phone on after landing so the supplier can reach you. On the return, the airport approach roads can be congested: allow extra time, refuel beforehand and leave 20–30 minutes for the handover. A new airport is under construction at Kastelli; until it opens, HER remains the arrival airport.
Drive times from Heraklion Airport
- Heraklion centre: 10–15 min
- Knossos: about 20 min
- Hersonissos: about 25 min
- Malia: 30–35 min
- Agios Nikolaos: about 1 h
- Elounda: about 1 h 10
- Matala and Phaistos: about 1 h 15
- Rethymno: about 1 h 15
- Ierapetra: about 1 h 30
- Chania: about 2 h 15–2 h 30
Check live prices and availability
Enter your dates to compare cars, deposits, payment methods and insurance for Heraklion Airport (HER).
Which car to choose
Most resort stays between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos are easy with a small car. Choose a compact or family car for longer road trips to the south coast or the far east, and book automatics early for July and August. For the Lasithi plateau and mountain villages, a slightly more powerful engine makes the climbs more comfortable.
No deposit, no credit card and zero excess at HER
Plenty of local suppliers at Heraklion Airport offer cars with no deposit, accept debit cards or cash, and include zero-excess insurance. These are per-car conditions: check the deposit, payment method and excess for the exact car before booking, and read the exclusions (tyres, glass, underbody, unpaved roads).
Local driving tips for central and east Crete
From the airport you join the north-coast highway (VOAK) directly. It is busy in summer with many junctions; slower vehicles often pull onto the hard shoulder to let others pass. In Heraklion city, traffic and parking are difficult: use paid car parks and walk in the centre. The roads up to the Lasithi plateau and down to the south coast are winding but paved.
Documents and driving rules in Crete
- Licence: valid licences from the EU/EEA, the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia are recognised in Greece for visitors. Some rental suppliers or their insurers may still ask for an International Driving Permit, and a licence not in Latin script may need one, so check the rental terms before you travel.
- Age: most suppliers ask for a minimum age of 21–23 and a licence held for at least a year; drivers under 25 may pay a young-driver fee.
- Driving: on the right. Typical limits are 50 km/h in towns and 70–90 km/h on the north-coast highway (follow the signs). The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, and 0.2 g/l for drivers in their first two years.
- No tolls on Crete. Fuel stations are frequent on the north coast but sparse in the mountains and on the south coast, and many village stations close on Sunday afternoons.
For how deposits, payment methods and insurance excess work, see no deposit, no credit card and zero excess car rental in Crete.
Car rental across Crete
Tours & experiences
Heraklion Airport (HER) car rental: questions
How far is Heraklion Airport from the city centre?
About 5 km, 10–15 minutes by car.
Can I rent a car at Heraklion Airport without a credit card?
Yes. Many local suppliers accept a debit card or cash and ask for no deposit; check the terms on the car you choose.
Is Heraklion or Chania airport better for my trip?
Heraklion for central and eastern Crete; Chania for the west, including Balos and Elafonisi.
How long is the drive from Heraklion Airport to Agios Nikolaos?
About an hour on the north-coast highway.
Is zero-excess insurance available at Heraklion Airport?
Yes, on many offers. Read the exclusions before booking.
Should I book an automatic in advance?
Yes. Automatics sell out first in summer.