Business Class Flights to Heraklion, Greece

The largest city and capital of the Greek island of Crete, Heraklion is known for its rich archeological sites, some of which date back to the Bronze Age, about 3300 to 1200 BCE. The fourth-largest city in Greece, Heraklion has a population of about 200,000 people, with an additional 12,000 living outside the city in its suburban area.

Flights to Heraklion are served by Heraklion International Airport (HER), also known as Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport. The airport is the second-largest in Greece after Athens International Airport, with more than 8 million passengers passing through it each year. Heraklion International Airport is a hub for Bluebird Airways and Sky Express. 

Direct flights to Heraklion, Crete, are available from several large cities in Europe and the Middle East on a variety of air carriers. Some flights to Heraklion are seasonal, flying only during the height of the tourist season during the summer months. However, cheap flights to Heraklion are often available during the winter months, as well as during the fall and spring shoulder seasons. It’s a great time for tourists or visitors on a budget to travel and explore the splendor of this ancient city. 

Passengers who book flights to Heraklion but whose final destinations are outside the city can take advantage of direct ferry service to several Greek islands including Santorini, Ios Island, Paros, Mykonos, and Rhodes. Ferry service from Heraklion is also available to Athens, Piraeus, Naxos, Sitia, and Anafi among other destinations. 

Because of its coastal location, Heraklion is an important port city. In addition to businesses in the tourism industry, shipping and logistics companies are among Heraklion’s largest employers.

The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Tickets to Heraklion are booked by more than more than 3 million people each year. Most visitors to the city come to see Heraklion’s many historic sites and buildings. Heraklion is also home to several museums. 

Among the city’s most visited sites is the ancient Palace of Minos, which dates back to the Bronze Age. This palace is found in Knossos, an archaeological area with roots in the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. The Palace of Minos was originally constructed around 1900 BC and destroyed in 1350 BC. In the 1900s, it was excavated and has since been partially reconstructed and opened up for tourism. 

Other notable historic places in the city include the Church of Saint Peter of Dominicans, built in the 12th century; the medieval Cathedral of Saint Titus; and the Agios Minas Cathedral, built in the late 19th century in honor of Heraklion’s patron saint, Saint Menas.

Visitors who book flights to Heraklion also often visit the city’s museums. These include the Historical Museum of Crete, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Visual Arts, and the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the best-known museums in Greece, and it contains one of the most complete collections of Minoan civilization, including art and other archaeological wonders. 

Dedicated to the life and career of the famous author, the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum houses personal items, manuscripts, photographs, and works of art once belonging to the writer who was a native of Heraklion. Kazantzakis was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature nine times for his novels Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ.

In addition to Nikos Kazantzakis, several notable people are from or lived for a time in Heraklion. These include painter Domenicos Theotokopoulos, commonly known as El Greco, who was a significant contributor to the Spanish Renaissance during the 17th century. Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis, fashion model Maria Spiridaki, movie director Yannis Smaragdis, and architect Spyros Kokotos were all from Heraklion.