Local Information

How to reach Crete | From airport to the city | How to reach FORTH | Hotels | Weather

How to reach Crete

• By air: Nikos Kazantzakis airport (airport code: HER) is the only one located in Heraklion. Heraklion has 8-10 direct flights daily from Athens (ATH), and 2-4 direct flights daily from Thessaloniki (SKG). Between April and September there are also frequent charter flights from most major European cities. Taxi service is available 24 hours a day just outside the airport.
• By sea: There are two major ship companies on the line: Athens-Heraklion. Minoan lines and ANEK lines provide daily service to and from Crete. There are taxis and buses available near the port.

Getting from the airport to the city

When you arrive at the Heraklion airport, you have two options to get to the city and to your hotel: You can either use public transportation (a bus) or a taxi. We highly recommend the taxi option, since you will be able to find one immediately outside the arrivals building and it will take you directly to your destination. Estimates of the taxi fares depending on the hotel you have booked can be found further down this page, under hotel information.

How to reach ICS-FORTH

By Taxi:

Approximate taxi fares for some common routes are as following:

• Airport to ICS-FORTH: 20€ (including airport surcharges)
• Airport to Eleftherias Square (city centre): 9€ (including airport surcharges)
• Eleftherias Square to ICS-FORTH: 12€

There is an additional of 1.92€ when calling the taxi by phone or 3€ when booking it in advance (rendezvous). Additional charges apply if you are late for your appointment. The telephone number for calling a taxi is (+30) 2810-321330.

By Car:

Should you wish to rent a car, the following map will give you a perspective on how to reach FORTH. The destination point is FORTH's entrance. Ask for the ICS building at the gate.

View Larger Map

A low resolution map is also available:

By Public Bus:

There are two city bus lines that you can use to get to FORTH. The one-way ticket price is 1.50€ for either lines. Ticket vending machines are located next to most bus stations. You can also buy tickets from most kiosks around the city. A convenient bus stop for taking the bus to FORTH is the one located in front of Astoria Hotel at Eleftherias Square . Please keep in mind that city traffic may affect departure and arrival times.

• Line 8 takes you directly to FORTH. The sign on the bus reads "I.T.E." and its schedule is:

  • Airport - FORTH:
    07:20,  08:30,  11:30,  14:00,  15:00,  17:20
  • Astoria Hotel - FORTH (approximately):
    07:30,  08:40,  11:40,  14:10,  15:10,  17:30
  • FORTH - Airport
    08:00,  09:15,  12:15,  14:40,  15:40,  18:00

  Line 8 is not available on weekends.

• Line 11 leaves you ~300m away from FORTH . A couple of late buses also pickup passengers from outside FORTH. The sign on the bus reads "ΠΑ.Γ.Ν.Η." (the University Hospital) and its schedule is:

  • Airport - University Hospital:
    06:25,  every 60' from 07:50 to 18:50,  21:45
  • Astoria Hotel - University Hospital (approximately):
    06:30,  every 60' from 08.00 to 19:00,  21:55
  • Bus Stop near FORTH - Airport :
    06:55,  each hour from 08:30 to 19:30,  21:25
  • FORTH - Port:
    20:00,  21.35

  The above schedule for Line 11 does not apply for weekends.

Hotel Information

We recommend the following hotels in Heraklion for their quality and location.

Capsis Astoria	Atrion
Address Eleftherias Square Heraklion 71201, Hellas Phone/Fax +30 2810 343080 / +30 2810 229078 Email info _at_ astoriacapsis _dot_ gr Airport distance 5km Taxi fare to airport 9-11€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 0km Direct bus to FORTH bus stop outside the hotel Internet access available in rooms Special rates Please fill in this accommodation form and send it to rena _at_ katrea _dot_ gr.	Address 9 Chronaki Street, Heraklion 71202, Hellas Phone/Fax +30 2810 246000 / +30 2810 223292 Email info _at_ atrion _dot_ gr Airport distance 5km Taxi fare to airport 9-11€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 0.5km Direct bus to FORTH bus stop at 700m from hotel Internet access available in rooms Special rates Please fill in this accommodation form and send it to rena _at_ katrea _dot_ gr.
Lato	Marin Dream
Address 15 Epimenidou Street, Heraklion 71202, Hellas Phone/Fax +30 2810 228103 / +30 2810 240350 Email info _at_ lato _dot_ gr Airport distance 5km Taxi fare to airport 9-11€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 0.2km Direct bus to FORTH bus stop at 300m from hotel Internet access available in rooms Special rates Book by phone, specifying that you are a collaborator of FORTH, to receive a special room rate.	Address 12 Doukos Beaufort, Heraklion 71202, Hellas Phone/Fax + 30 2810 300019 / +30 2810 300018 Email info _at_ marinhotel _dot_ gr Airport distance 5km Taxi fare to airport 9-11€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 0.2km Direct bus to FORTH bus stop at 300m from hotel Internet access available in rooms Special rates Please fill in this accommodation form and send it to rena _at_ katrea _dot_ gr.
Megaron	Mövenpick Resort & Thalasso Crete
Address 9 Doukos Beaufort, Heraklion 71202, Hellas Phone/Fax +30 2810 305300 / +30 2810 305400 Email megaron _at_ otenet _dot_ gr Airport distance 5km Taxi fare to airport 9-11€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 0.5km Direct bus to FORTH bus stop at 700m from hotel Internet access available in rooms Special rates Book by phone, specifying that you are a collaborator of FORTH, to receive a special room rate.	Address 72 Andreas Papandreou Street, Gazi 71414, Heraklion, Hellas Phone/Fax +30 2810 377000 / +30 2810 250669 Email resort _dot_ crete _at_ moevenpick _dot_ com Airport distance 11km Taxi fare to airport 19-22€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 5.2km Direct bus to FORTH: N/A Internet access available in rooms Special rates Please fill in this accommodation form and send it to rena _at_ katrea _dot_ gr.
Santa Marina Hotel
Address P.O. Box 32, Amoudara 71414, Heraklion, Hellas Phone/Fax +30 2810 261103 / +30 2810 261369 Email s-marina _at_ her _dot_ forthnet _dot_ gr Airport distance 15.5km Taxi fare to airport 19-22€ (add 1.92€ if ordered by phone) Distance from city center 6.5km Direct bus to FORTH: N/A Internet access available in rooms Special rates Book by phone, specifying that you are a collaborator of FORTH, to receive a special room rate.

Local Weather

You can find information regarding the local weather on the dates you are visiting Crete, through the following link.