International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis Reviews

Think of the toilet in trainspotting, then multiple by 10 gives you an idea of how bad this S-ole is avoid, a message to the government spend the rip off tourist tax on this so called airport, it should be closed, then they will wake up to the smell emulating from here.

After reading some of the reviews we were filled with trepidation!!
Arrived at the beginning of the holiday to be greeted by our driver with our names on a sign. Straight off and to our hotel.
On our return we dropped off our rental car at the appropriate parking space. Be warned there are at least 50 drop off points with very small signs !!
Inside it s all very simple with baggage drop off as usual. I m sure at the peak of the season it will be much busier , so what ? What does anyone expect !
The security was fine and duty free as normal in any small airport. Plenty of food available at reasonable prices . The toilets are constantly cleaned but they don t see to use bleach or air freshener!
All in all a completely different experience to one we were expecting. Thank you.

October 2018:
Quick registration with Easyjet.
Passage to the customs rather fast.
There are not enough seats at the boarding gates but after a while it is released.
No Wifi or impossible to connect.
I did not try the snacks or drinks, nor the toilets, given the negative reviews on it.
Dirty airport.

Obviously overwhelmed with covid measures. Completely packed, no way to keep a safe distance to people.

I have never seen such a confusing, disorderly and dirty airport. Not to mention the toilets, I realize that public toilets are never completely clean, but this is unreasonable ...
Consequently, the airport has earned 0 stars

He did not deserve any more. One is already too much!

Everything is not as cruel as posted here, obviously the toilets are not really the blast
The Greeks are but very relaxed and helpful and one is then first by the controls, then everything is reasonably clean.
One point, however, really shocked me, an open junction box (in front of control area) within reach of children's hands is an absolute no go

Worst airport i've ever been in. Dirty, bad organization, way too small!

A disaster for years. No real rows, no markings, just a mess at check-in. Therefore no distance is possible. Toilets without a toilet seat! No paper towels, hand dryer does not work - everything on several toilets.

Great atmosphere! Great light and super cheap pizza!

Heraklion Airport is kept very simple. The states of the sanit. Facilities are disastrous! There are no toilet seats or glasses. Paper dispensers for toilet and hand drying are empty and broken! There are no smoking corners here! My advice: get your luggage and get out!

Worst airport i've ever visited!! Rude and unhelpful staff, most of them look like they don't want to be there. Also, the layout of the airport does not seem well planned at all.

No air conditioning, hot tempratures in the airport!

Absolutely chaotic conditions, with the dirty and defective sanitary facilities being the least of the problems.

Airport very unhealthy, no electrical outlet available or out of service to be able to charge his device. Avoid the toilets, anyway, they are closed because off-duty. The airport looks big but the roads are very closed. Forced to make long journeys to consult the flight plans.

The worst airport I have ever been to. Old and dirty. Unfriendly employees. Security control is a disaster - you are rushed and it's tight. The baggage claim is also catastrophic. The room is very narrow and warm. The suitcases are thrown very unprofessional on the tape. Value range also very small and no power supply. This airport is still stuck in the 60s.

In no way accettable. Leaving out the size that is clearly not proportioned to the amount of passengers and flights. The airport is dirty and not well kept. Most people we interacted with were rude or unable to communicate in English. Once you pass the security checks there is only one stand where is possible to get something to eat/drink and not having any options the prices are not in any way fair/competitive. Terrible experience upon our arrival as well. Loved the time in Crete but this airport has a long way to go!

Unstable WiFi, not exactly up to date and somewhat chaotically confusing check-in guide. But you don't want to stay long at the airport. It's OK.

Air conditioning seems to be working now, but leaving all emergency exit doors open is not helping. Also, having the clock just beside the arrival and departure boards showing the correct time might be a good idea (it's off by almost 2h right now).

Not a bad airport. Everything in the building is compactly distributed.

Very quick arrivals, painfully average depatures, lacklustre departure area/duty free shop.

10.05. Return flight to Stuttgart - check-in with baggage claim within 15 minutes after arrival; Security check took about 30 minutes, owed many travelers. Great DutyFree area, seating in the gates unfortunately very quickly occupied. The airport is a bit chaotic, you have to take it with humor and serenity - but it works and you get into contact with other travelers. All in all, but really come through - for the hour delay on the tarmac because of technical problems on the plane, the airport nothing.

Heraklion Airport is one of the worse airports. I was there in the preseason (early May), when it was already so busy that the departure hall looked like an anthill. The toilets in the departure hall are too dirty for words. There is not enough space in the gate for all passengers, seats are a luxury and it is far too busy. Staff at the gate excels at being busy with doing nothing. Our device landed 10 minutes earlier than planned. Still left with a half hour delay because everything is going so slowly and because a suitcase, stacked toweringly, fell off the luggage cart on the platform. We did not receive the seats that we had booked through Transavia at an additional cost because there was a problem at check-in and the ground staff assigned everyone else. So again chaos in the device because passengers did not know which seats they should now sit on. Then our green suitcase arrived in Rotterdam wet and with thick black stripes. The only positive thing about Heraklion Airport is the tax free shop that is beautiful, spacious and affordable. For the tourists, I hope that the airport will soon be expanded and professionalized.

Aged airport.
Positive: after landing, luggage is available very quickly. Staff very friendly.
Negative: chaos at check-in. The luggage is first weighed and then has to be taken to the X-ray across the queues. In addition, the prices from the caterer are outrageously expensive.

Arrival still ok, although the luggage straps are tight. When it comes to departure, I have never experienced such a chaotic airport. My flight was only on one of two information boards. Long queues at check-in, which are already writhing like snakes. Suitcases must then be returned to another location. Once at the gate, it is like an anthill. Everything too narrow and far too few seats. And that at the end of October. I do not like to imagine how things are going here in high season.

Easily the worst airport I have ever been to. Totally overcrowded, only few and expensive shops and it seems that all investment has gone into the duty free shop. It looks like they clean the restrooms twice a week. Generally avoid to come here too early because it is not pleasant to spend time here

The only good thing I find is that getting into the lounge makes a real journey through time, as everything has been the same for many decades!

Very poorly organized there were no clear lines and almost nothing is clearly indicated very chaotic .. it was also very stuffy many people in a small space.

Something could certainly be changed.

This airport is a disaster. Toilets in absolutely disgusting condition and not lockable. Gate change without announcement. At least the duty-free shines ...

Came to airport 3 hours before flight, almost got late for boarding because of all the waiting at bag drop-off and check in queues. For three easyjet flights there was ONE guy checking passports. Also no a/c on the airport. Very bad experience for me and people I traveled with, I'd rather take a boat next time.

Delays and filthy toilets. 40mins waiting for bags on arrival. In departures the toilets are the most disgusting that I have ever seen. The airport and staff should be ashamed of themselves. Last memory of Crete is a dirty image.

23h, announcement of a delay of 1:30 for 6 flights and all pseudos restaurants (nothing else correct) ferment. The class.

simple and close to everything, car rental and buses

Absolute disaster this airport totally disorganized. And the worst thing is the cleanliness. If you leave this airport without illness here you are lucky. If you get away.

Bring a stool. You wont have a seat for the flights at stupid hours

Fast handling on departure today. Despite Corona, overcrowded waiting areas without sufficient seating / space. Not a single cafe / bar with seats. Just to go. Duty free overpriced. Every now and then quickly gone.

Absolute disaster this airport. Old, much too small for the passenger traffic and completely chaotically organized! Never again!

No corona measures!! It is super full - nobody can keep a distance and nobody cares.. very weird feeling

I've been in airports in 3rd world countries more comfortable than Heraklion airport. The staff were fine, but the lines for checking in and security were miserable. Could someone please install some fans?!? The bathroom facilities were disgusting and not well stocked with soap or handtowels. The gates are overcrowded, and there are no charging facilities. The duty free takes up as much space as the gates. There is no soft surface to dampen sounds, so the gate areas seem more frenetic and busy than needed. There is air-conditioning in the gate area, and lots of natural light. I head a new airport will be built further from Heraklion, and I hope they consider the passenger comfort as much as they seem to care for the retail environment.

The airport is a complete disaster. Non-air-conditioned arrival hall, extremely dirty toilets ... that's really disgusting. Departure hall totally overcrowded, deep blankets stuffy. Creepy. Preferably minus 5 stars

I am sitting here now (18.5.19) and waiting for the flight and I can not understand the negative reviews so, had the biggest concerns because of the bad reviews.
Check in was quick and easy.
Toilets are getting old but it was ok and we did not stand in our own urine as I have often read here.
After the security check you get into the renovated duty free area and here I actually have something to choose as well as cleanliness nothing to complain about!
Here you can get souvenirs, cosmetics and food. Prices are normal high, bargains you do not tend to;)

The airport looks very old and quite run down. Above all, the toilets are extremely uncomfortable. (Whether it's really "new" dirt or just the siff of decades, I do not know and I do not want to know.)
The clearance was completely problem-free.
The suitcases were delivered at the check-in (and not just weighed and then given back!) And the security check was very fast and easy.
Correct, seats in the departure lounge are in short supply, as has been stated here. But there are some. And in which airport is there enough of the check-in counters? At least in the waiting area at the gate were exactly as many seats available as at any other airport.

Overall not a nice airport, that's true but Rhodes was e.g. clearly more chaotic when we are already at Greek airports.

small and very messy Airport.
The toilet among the worst of the visited airports, paper is always missing, stink and soap sometimes but only sometimes found in recycled plastic bottles from those for water

Unfortunately very full gates currently. Little attention to Covid rules at departure.

Better than expected. We were there at 7:15 a.m. Baggage counter (Aegaen) and security control went very quickly. Staff is friendly. Airport is rather old, apart from the modernized shopping area. The waiting area at the gate, on the other hand, is very dirty, trash cans crowded.

What can you say, a very unusual airport, here are different impressions. First impression after landing is bad, the toilets are a disaster (Dirty, no toilet seat and can not be locked, etc ...), while waiting for the luggage, it is extremely crowded, warm and stuffy. On the day of departure, the queues are partly very long and it is a bit uncoordinated expired, the toilets are already better, staff on site but friendly and partly helpful, but also quite warm and felt badly ventilated. However, the situation changes abruptly after the security control, as if you were suddenly in another airport, everything is relatively new and modern the rooms are well air conditioned, staff here also quite friendly and helpful, the toilets are again a bit better. The only drawback for me as a smoker ...... there is no way to smoke in this area, so no smoking area, so would still want to smoke a smoke before the security check.

You should bring a lot of time and patience with you on departure. Queue for the suitcase slip, queue again for baggage drop-off, queue for securitycheck, take the bus to the plane. 2 hours are quickly not enough. High prices for drinks and food after the security check, drinks can best be bought in the dutyfree shop! All in all rocked down.

I was there at Pentecost / Holiday season with probably increased passenger traffic. Maybe it's better outside the holiday season?

Per:
- Moderate to fast checkin including baggage
- Fast security check
- small compact airport with many car rental companies right outside the door, as well as shuttle buses, taxi ...

con:
- Very dirty
- completely smeared windows (inside and outside)
- no toilet paper
- outdated (age-old checkin counters, luggage conveyors at check in, ...)
- only partially air conditioned
- Barriers and security is so-so
- Little to no good way to relax and have something to eat (no restaurant after the security check, just before)
- purely functional
- not a great picture for arrivals and departures

Super fast baggage and customs clearance. Large Duty Free area

New Year's Eve, Heraklion Airport, Arrivals Early Morning ...
A Christmas tree next to the gate and somewhere the festive mood ends. In a cold and dirty room, impersonal and obsessed with luck, with two open doors leading to the toilets and live transmission whenever the cistern ...
Necks of the tomb silence ... ask ... silence ... three seats for the lucky ones .. all the others standing in the third-party arrival hall of one of the most important airports in the country .. If you want water to drink, you lost!
I do not even think it will be moving ...
Shameful gentlemen!

In view of the crowds, good management of travelers .... Timing respected, well done!

When we went to Crete by two people at the end of October, we used it.
Depending on whether it is during the season or off season, I think that busyness will change a lot. Since the time we used was nearly off season, the airport was not so busy and we acted with too much margin so there was no bad impression on the convenience.
However, WiFi connection is terrible. There is WiFi at the airport, but I have not connected most of it. Other I felt low specs compared to Athens International Airport, but it may be such a thing if I think whether it is such a thing. Because it was neither good nor bad, I will keep it three.

5 stars for employees who do everything to serve. the rest to be seen by those who rule us. small airport with miserable installation

Catastrophe. Management does not work, feels like it's the first time you do it ..

The worst airport I have ever visited.
Overall airport looks dirty. Toilets are super dirty and have disgusting look. Overall design of airport is like you have visted cheap market-where is the sign if EU developed country?

SHAME for Crete, because turistical overcrouded place should have pleasant, clean and modern look with wilingness to return. This airport doesn't wring any further willings to return and enjoy the time.

I believe that greeks could make more and invest in the "air arteria" of Heraklion.
Please make some improvements to deliver the pleasant stay.

Subpar layout. Lines for the travel arrangement stalls outside run back into the building and clog the arrivals workflow.

Really a dirty and terrible place, toilets are clogged and stink an hour in the wind .. Sanitary extremely dirty. Have never been to such a filthy place. Close this tent and demolish and rebuild with qualified personnel.

Also no smoking areas after checking in, and also after checking in dirty rooms no air conditioning a large debris tray.

Suitcases that were driven after the plane fell off the trolley. Our suitcase was also damaged.

Heraklion airport is a shame for Greece!

As a globetrotter, I've seen and experienced a lot.


But anyone who has ever landed in Tegel at the hot time also wonders whether that is still normal. And that's our capital.

The organization in Crete is completely chaotic but with a system. Only we Germans are abroad, the biggest and greatest.
Yes, we can do everything better. Yes of course we are too.
We're just too stupid to build a new airport.
One should think about the performance of the local employees there.

The technology in HER does not always work, but the Greeks also master that.
Announcements? Yes, if there were any we didn't hear them.
Did we come home Oh look at jaaaa, that's us.
So pull yourself together or drive the car next time. So at least I don't meet all the super Germans abroad.
In this sense, have a great time

Fine. A little long wait for luggage. It was difficult to get a feel for where to go. Apart from without reservations.

The worst airport I have ever had the misfortune of being in, we had one of the last flights out of this dump & still took ages to check in baggage, one desk for 3 easyjet flights, took 45 mins to get though that, then getting though security into departure lounge, toilets awful, ran out of basic food, so baguette was only option, then called to gate & took 50 minutes to get though passport control as there were only two guards checking over 400 passports, people were missing final boarding announcements & pushing in, arguments happening between passengers & staff, all in all it was a complete nightmare & will never fly in or out of this airport again. Every one should avoid at all costs & use chains airport instead

Toilets unclean, lack of toilet paper, staff constantly on strike. I will not travel to Greece any more, despite very nice countrymen. Duration of stay 6 hours.

Isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Personnel is quite inefficient and queues are long but it's not any worse than any other airport.

A very basic airport, very old and run down. During the peak season it s full and air conditioning don t seem to be able to handle the heat. Surprisingly, the departure lounge that you can use with Priority Pass is before the security/passport control - once you get past security, you can t go back to it.
Try not to come to the airport too early as there is literally nothing to do there

This airport is mercilessly overwhelmed with everything. It starts at the check in and ends with the boarding. Landing was still okay with a suitcase tape. Toilets are well as everywhere if it's too much. Too little seating at the gate. Everything was very chaotic and little organized

Small disorganized and poorly managed. The gate was not marked on the board

Airport in Crete. No less and no more. They land and take off. Not for shopping, not for meals or for spending time. Arrival and departure are convenient and simple, there are dates when the field is small on the contents and the lines go out. Besides, we came for a vacation / excursion and did not enjoy the airport. No?

Too small airport with too many people. Indoor air really bad. EU inspectors should go for measurements.

Unsuitable for thousands of passengers. One over the other with mad delays due to the small piste for the aircraft. Stays in the room, waiting at the buses, waiting in the aircraft. Unacceptable

A shame of the sleeping not possible landing 10 am to 11 am no baggage carpet still started intermittently in short a horror

Toilets dirty, no soap, no hand dryer. No real restaurant after security. Crowdy, busy, noisy.

Small old-fashioned airport that does the job. The facilities are on the whole correct but insufficient to cope with the influx of tourists from the high season. Recurring delays, we left with 50 minutes late. To deplore: the toilet in a lamentable state, no paper, nobody seems to care. Apart from a few rare exceptions, the airport staff is unfriendly, the smile is not part of ... maybe the worst of the peak season? For an island whose economy depends a lot on tourism, one would have to wake up a bit ...

My favorite arrival airport, even if it's completely desolate

Good relatively fast handling, nice staff, super cheap drinking water (50ct). After checking in cleaner. Still a bit chaotic, not enough seats or too small gates. What is catastrophic are the toilets. Missing toilet paper, no toilet seat, barely soap, rusted
Taps, the doors were partly not closed, broken automaton and dirty. The toilets were so bad last year. They should rather ask for money but for it all right.

If I put a title, it would be: Dirt, lack of organization and decline! The toilets are tragic ... I wanted to dry them, never clean them? In airports abroad there is someone or an employee on a nearly permanent basis outside of the toilets, going from one side to another with all the cleaning equipment on a large, wheelchair and cleaning ... It's impossible for me to believe that his airport Heraklion does not have the ability to recruit people who will work exclusively in this field, since it has so great a passenger traffic! It's a painful place for travelers and workers! I put 2 stars instead of 1 because of the recent renovation and somewhat upgraded the departure area ... But organizing zero! During the boarding of our flight, there were wheelchair users who needed the assistance of ground staff, and one employee called the other, were looking for the driver at the A4 gate to pick up the people with the mobility difficulties ... At the same time we all expected already passed the check-in process of boarding passes on the departure gate stairs looking at an airport in disintegration and in complete disorganization ...

Just bad. Cramped and not sufficient seating space. Only an overpriced duty free shop - it s huge - well done with priorities!

Small airport with collapse flow .... quite messed up ....