An airport that serves the summer months almost as much as El. Venizelos. To put it mildly, the bulk of the world is scary, especially if you look at the size of the plant. There are obviously many problems. Delays, waiting etc etc. We all see the need for many improvements.
I think with this data the airport is doing well.
A relatively small and caotischer airport, where you quickly loses the overview. On our return flight, some passengers were taken from the security check directly to the gate, because the snakes were so long and they would not have made it otherwise. The baggage claim is a similar picture, everything is full of people so you can hardly get to his luggage and the gates are also incredibly crowded. However, I also have to say that personally, I was at the gate on time despite the crowds.
Not good . Broken toilets and leaking everywhere . No working taps or toilet paper. No working hand dryers . Extortionate cost of food and drinks . Completely un-organised chaos on check in and security . Was horrible on arrival and Ruined the end of a great holiday . Such a beautiful country but memories of the airport would certainly make me think twice .
It would be time to think about building a larger departure lounge, once Corona is over, the onslaught will not be manageable without very long queues.
The airport certainly is not big, there are a lot of people, but in which they are few? I flew in the morning, it was not hot, there were places like everything, if you do not want to stand, you can open the card prior to the pass and wait in the lounge area. In general, for C grade, the view is good, but the airport is really old, although it does not matter to me.
Way too small for the amount of people flying (experience in June - not even the very high season), no sitting space, aircon can t cool the air down, so additionally it s hot. Toilet facilities really old and not taken care of. Quite sad state for such an airport.
Not something, check in is fine, in an old building, amenities not something (smelly and unpowered), close car rental and in perfect order.
Dining services Cafe restaurants and the like.
Duty fruit with a very nice selection of local foods, chocolates, liqueurs and the like.
The most incompetent incompetence of the handling staff I experienced at an airport.
Not enough seats at the gates. An aviator has an average of 180 seats and not 50. An extension is urgently needed.
That's exactly how I imagined myself coming to hell.
The worst airport on the planet.
The worst airport I was in, we spent 2 hours passing from the queue to hand luggage, then through the security gates, then to the gate to the plane etc. .... zero organization one big chaos - shock !!!
The worst ever! Lack of air conditioning. Filthy bathrooms. Long, crowded lines. Luggage chaos. Unfriendly staff. Overpriced snacks. Bad smell. I recommend not to go here. Instead use Chalia!
I do not agree with a large number of negative reviews. Despite the compactness of the airport, they work smartly. Upon arrival (July 2019), they went through passport control rather quickly and received luggage, and on the way back, they went through registration, customs and passport controls. At the airport itself is quite clean, the only thing I agree with the negative comments about the toilets.
Small airport, but what backstage ... Just a fairy tale. The blue sea at the runway is impressive! Very polite staff, I liked everything, thank you guys, you are great !!!
A lot of good work has been done in recent years. Congratulations.
Shame on so many tourists coming to this architectural creature called an airport
Very friendly staff. Big shop.
Fast processing at the counter and gate. Supi
The only nice thing about this airport is actually the landing over the sea with a view over the coastline. On arrival friendly said very clear and visually since the 80s not renovated. But you really can not recommend a departure here. The airport is far too small for the masses of travelers. The queues at check-in give rise to a murderous crowd and then it gets really funny after the security check. I have never seen airport toilets in a really clean condition, but I have rarely found anything so nasty in terms of public sanitary facilities. In front of the urinal, you stick smoothly and it stinks like Otterbuck. Washing your hands works on one of the six bowls, all others are out of order or broken. Only the Duty Free sales area does not look like it has from the last century. Finally, one may wait in the also quite grubby, hopelessly crowded but well ventilated waiting area for the hopefully early departure.
Perfect service, no queues, very clean and very careful for epidemic issues
Facilities, gate changes all the time, not enough space (especially when with kid)
Pure chaos!
Although we were at the airport 3.5 hours before departure, we made it to the plane at the last minute - thanks to overstrained staff and chaotic conditions.
The recreational effect of the vacation is destroyed at the airport even before leaving Crete :(
Totally crowded and messy. Only the security check is commendable and super fast. Lack of seats are the biggest criticism.
Shity place, really changing all the time the gate - - '
The younger woman at the check-in seems to have a problem in understanding what passports are. She demands citizens to provide visa because she does not grasp that passports are not based on race.
Unbearable! All toilets were dirty and had no soap or disinfectant. It was also very narrow and overcrowded. Distance could not be kept at any time.
There is no WiFi and on the return the pricess are overcharged. Don't plan to do any shopping
You know nothing on this airport!
Information where we could checkin has never appeared on info board.
Moreover you need to stay in two queues to drop your bag. First checkin and then X-ray. WAT?
At the time of boarding, our gate number has just disappeared and at the time of departure we still didn't get any info about new gate number. If possible avoid this airport.
There's nothing positive, dirty bathrooms, unprofessional organization, eighty percent of flights delayed even longer than three hours. For nothing to recommend.
Dirty totally. In bathrooms, most things are broken, the floor almost all in paper. In the corridors, fewer seats, rubbish on the floor, on seats, everywhere. Service in the "restaurant" unpleasant .. Throwing baggage like sacks of potatoes .. In summary - a failure.
No drinking fountain after security and 4.20 for a 500ml bottle. Practice should be illegal.
Maybe the worst airport I've ever been at.
Unclean, unfunctional and with a very bad organizzation.
Once you land there is no control before going outside, flights always delayed and sometimes even cancelled. I highly recommend to visit the island, but if possibile, I recommend to land in Chania where there is the other airport of the island. If you feel bad (as i felt), don't go to the toilet, because them have probably never been cleaned
Informative review on my vacation to Greece about Heraklion airport.
Airport in Heraklion is one of the worst I have visited, lacking in basic amenities if you are going to relieve yourself, wait to board the flight because at this airport the toilets are hideous, there is no Toilet Paper, even if you urgently want to go to toilet your body will react in such a way that it will stop you from relieving yourself.
About renting a car, it is best to order before you arrive at the airport, there are handful of car rental services inside the airport, make sure to check all of them get a price estimate from them, write them down, outside of the airport you have more as you exit the airport building on the right-hand side you have a small gate, cross the gate and the main road and 20-50 meters from there you will see more car rentals.
Get a data plan from Vodafone 15-20 euros you can get 2 GB and few minutes of phone call this will come in handy, it is better you take a mobile plan beforehand since the Greek don t keep shops open a lot, you can buy it in the morning and after 5 PM so plan it beforehand.
Roads are in good condition but very congested and small if you are not used to tight roads it will take some time to get used to it, main roads are good, with a lot of speed trap cameras so drive in speed limits, road signs are mostly in Greek hard to navigate without Google Maps.
If you are on the darker side of your skin color like me you might face a little suspicious look from the Greek people I had few encounters at departure from this airport, they inspected by hand my body which is normal however what was abnormal of my security check, they also checked by hand my underwear side as if my Testicles are Grenades, after my check I observed them checking other people and saw different approach on white skinned people, don t be suppressed with this treatment, they judge by the color of your skin, how deep are your pockets, at the airport itself you might get questioned by undercover police, they look like gangsters at first, my encounter with them was almost going to be a fight because three very suspicious looking people approached me, I was in position to fight them in case they pull a knife or a gun on me, they didn t approach me with a Police ID card and going into self-defense mode they saw my body position and after that they showed me a card, just to let you know the card looks like it is printed at home with an inkjet printer on a plastic card, in any case, be careful, the airport looks very poor more like a central bus station in an undeveloped country, stay alert, this is my advice.
This Destination is good for a stay in a resort and enjoying the view of the island you need at least 2-3 weeks to explore the Island with different resorts planned on the way and a car is a must taxi charges are high.
I hope this review is helpful.
Worst airport ever. Very busy and hectic. Nasty toilets. Unclear signposting. Little amount of bars/restaurants.
Very busy during the summer. They should definetly improve air conditioning and toilet quality.
Worst airport ive ever been to in Europe.
Extremely expensive food, few facilities, airport doesnt seem to have updated since 1950.
Go to Chania if you have a choice.
Worst airport experience, ever. Totally crowded and very chaotic.
The airport is apparently completely unable to manage the passanger streams.
In normal times that just annoying - in times of a pandemic that's a risk for public health and not acceptable.
There were zero precautions been taken to keep distance
This airport is a mess, when we asked the staff for help where we need to check in exactly now only "I'm not sure".
It is best to be there 2.5 hours before the flight because the snakes are way too long and you have to go to the toilet first! The toilets in the airport are an impertinence!
It's okay, that's the exact description of the airport. As an example, I would like to mention the speed of check-in. Due to the size and contact with the airport. After all, you will not be able to walk around the plane and have a look at it from a close distance in Prague. Well, the toilet - it's not completely in, but I was in Prague after arrival, and that I felt better there, too can not say. Just GO!
Great efficient airport. Easy to use. Helpful staff.
80s. Gastronomy, freeshop, everything overpriced. They don't want to sell anything.
Totally unorganized, there is no information desk and working stuff is so arrogant and unpolite.
What a badly organized, grumpy stuff is it there. A shame for Crete to deal with the people who spend a lot of money there. And then send them home in such a way !! I was there 14 years ago and then it was not really that good, but now the staff has become even more unfriendly.
Even a star is too much here. The worst airport I have ever experienced. Loud, full, stressful. Ladies and gentlemen who prefer chatting than checking in the luggage. Full waiting halls, you can not find a place. Dirty sitting areas at the shacks and probably the worst toilets I've ever seen
Very small, confusing, nobody seems to know the Corona rules, the departure hall very stuffy, prices in the shops excessive. But what do you want to do when you want to go to beautiful Crete.
Absolute catastrophe completely this airport, totally run down from the A-Z.Hier ruled the Chaos.Da really considered if you want to do that again there hinzufliegen.Sorry but you finally have something to happen.
I was a little afraid of the negative comments. Airport certainly small but functional, no difficulties to find the boarding gate. Enough seating, recent duty free. Travel in May so not the same affluence as in summer.
LEARN TO SMILE MORE STAFF ITS TAXFREE
Greets,
An amazing cheerful guy
Basic, all-round and OK airport with the various facilities and amenities you would expect.
Great location, nice sea view and the nicest and most attentive staff from all of Greece
Bad, undersized, dirty. In addition, the prices of bars and cafes are unfortunate: the triple that outside, even Everest.
In times of Corona it is very badly organized there. Everyone is close together ... The baggage claim also didn't go really smoothly.
Disgusting, dirty without end, run-down, unfriendly employees, because of "It's all consistent in the EU.". But such a barren island, I do not have to travel anyway.
A personal souvenir, a key chain, was taken from me. Funny only that the part accompanied me for ten years, on every flight in all possible countries, also to and from Greece. I am very sad about that.
Disorganization absolute. In the few bars from jewelery prices (es.brioches 3.15 euro).
Hopefully the first and last time I stop by this airport.
Chaotic conditions.
Terrible, little space, little wc, few cash desks, little everything, a million people and endless queues for everything.
The most horribile, dirty and expensive airpprt i've seen in my Life! We've spent the night there because of The Bad organization of the rental car agency named "Superprice" which in 2019 they still work on paper with no computers and so we had serious problems with the booked reservation! We are lucke to move in chains, hopefully it is gonna be better than here!
On arrival: Complete choas
On departure: Complete chaos
No information desk
Much too small (rows of 300 meters)
Dirty
Deprecated
Air ports in India are better organized
The greatest fears were due to the covid procedure. No problem. And no delays. The exit followed in rows. Never got out so relaxed. But let's see if more tourists come again.
Upon arrival, the QR code control was super fast after landing, you had your luggage quickly and could leave the airport relatively quickly.
On the return journey there were long queues at the check-in counter and due to a technical defect you had to take your suitcase back with you and drop it off at another counter - which of course overwhelmed some people the security check was quick and efficient, the toilets in the departure area were okay. Of course, you can't keep the distance everywhere, but that wasn't the case in Hanover either. After all, you can't keep your distance on an airplane. Some should probably stay at home
Security checks take a really long time and cause long queues. After the inspection, the field is not easy to be. Post-inspection area non-smoking. And our flight was delayed by about 30min because not all passengers got through the check in time.
The worst airport in Greece. It also hurts Crete and Greece. Old-fashioned, with signs ready to fall into your head, queues that exceed one hour to go to your gate. Toilets are damaged while those that work have tails as well.
Unfortunately a catastrophic, completely outdated airport. Cleanliness does not exist, changing rooms an impertinence.
The airport is simple. What I liked - the prices in Duty Free seemed really lower than in the city (as it should be - minus taxes )
Very clean , plenty of food options which to be fair are very very expensive , the burger place at gate B 10 is good , the chicken fillet meal is the best value and a good size.
Beautiful space duty free.to very dirty toilets !!! shuttles to join the planes
This airport is really the last. Old run down, dirty, dirty. Flights are being postponed and changed without informing the passengers. Corona rules are not followed at all.
The airport is a disgrace for such a gem of natural beauty that Crete is. The toilets stink, the waiting areas are dirty and overcrowded. Well done to the Greek government for managing this.
Messy and dirty. The queues to check in are chaotic and the bathrooms are disgusting.
Appropriate.
The staff is very friendly and competent and therefore worth two stars. The third is for the toilet facilities. Most of them are super clean.
Unfortunately, the rest is in need of a bit of renovation. The display boards are big enough, but they have to be discovered first. Air conditioning or better ventilation would also be worth the other stars.
Disgusting airport. Finding a toilet with toilet seat was already difficult. But then find one to close is really a big task. In addition, everything is dirty and vollgepinkelt. Fortunately, TUI has offered us a VIP access. Of course not cheap. But it was worth it. So we could escape the chaos and leave immediately in the company of an airport employee bags. Then he took us to the air-conditioned VIP lounge where our physical well-being was taken care of. The nice staff then picked us up there again and of course brought us back to the boarding without security. Without this, we would be lost in the chaos.
Checking in is inefficient but does not take extremely long, for checking in suitcase you have to be at the next desk and so back in a new row. The toilets are very dirty, old and dilapidated, no toilet seat
Rude lazy staff, no shops or options to eat. The only place is Everest cafe swarming with flies serving dried out pastries and crusty hot dogs.
The duty free is more like duty plus, its very expensive.
Car rental nearby. Small airport, easy Access zo gates, everything goes fast usually
Far too small airport for tourism. Way too busy, chaos and very dirty toilets ...
After the security check there is apparently no more Corona ... Hundreds of people cuddle together!
Totally messy and dirty. Nobody can tell you to which Gade you have to, which in the end doesn't seem to matter because everything is connected and the Gades are selected at random and then passed through in incomprehensible announcements.
Just an ugly end to the trip!
Literally the worst airport I ve ever been to. I ve been here about 4 times over the past 5 years and every single time without fail - it s the worst.
Facilities are dirty, everything seems unclean and drab, wait times are long for even the simplistic of things. Staff don t really care, prices are expensive and they have recently added a new 13million duty free bit to the airport - I think instead they should have concentrated on improving the check in areas. They are laughable. 50mins to check in (to a flight I have already checked in for) and then another 20minutes just to get through security... before waiting at departures for a plane that will defiantly be delayed.
This airport is the deciding factor on whether I will ever return to Crete. Unless something changes, I m not coming back...
Go to Chania. Avoid Heraklion
I don t usually care much for the airports I pass through but this one really need a warning: if you can help it, do not use the bathrooms pre security in departures. I have never seen anything like it at an airport. Not only was it unclean, the number of broken toilet covers and broken hanging hooks were unbelievable. And there was one soap dispenser to share between maybe 5 or so sinks. Please upgrade the airport facilities, this is the first / last view of beautiful Heraklion that some visitors would have! Post security was cleaner but also lacking hooks etc. WiFi was also unreliable and could not be connected to at times.
The departure terminal has been modernized and filled with nice shops and ok space to wait. Check-in and Security slide ok fast.
The arrival terminal is in a terrible condition. That you will welcome tourists that way .... Worn and disgusting with dirty toilets, where you must be lucky if you find an intact that works.
Get a toilet visit done on the plane.
The individual who took it has done a good job. No relationship to the former.
heraklion-airport.info