Bus, taxi or car? The three options side by side
| Option | Price | Time | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🚌KTEL bus | €2.50 | 30–40 min | You travel light and the timetable suits you. Drops at Chania's KTEL station (Kydonias), ~10 min walk from the old town. Roughly 06:00–23:45, but the grid shifts by season.Times and exact stop |
| 🚕Taxi / transfer | €25–35 metered | ~20 min | Night flight, luggage, or a tired family. There is no fixed official fare on this route: the meter rules, with a night and Sunday surcharge. A pre-booked transfer locks the price in advance and skips the queue.See a transfer's fixed price |
| 🚗Rental car | Varies — compare | 20 min + pickup | You're leaving Chania in the following days (Balos, Elafonissi, the south). On a short stay centred on the old town it mostly costs you parking: Chania is walkable.Compare rental firms |
Prices recorded in August 2026. The bus fare is a posted price; the taxi range is a metered observation, not a regulated tariff — ask for an estimate before getting in, or check the FREENOW app.
Partner link · commission at no extra cost to you.
🚐 Private door-to-door transfer
How much is a transfer from the airport?
Fixed price for the whole car (not per person), a driver waiting with a sign, child seat on request. Often the smart choice in a group, with luggage, over a long distance or on a night arrival — exactly where the metered taxi climbs fast.
On Kiwitaxi, enter your exact route and passenger count for the firm price.
Per-vehicle prices checked in August 2026 on Kiwitaxi (whole car, one way). Indicative: the exact fare depends on date and availability. Partner link — commission at no extra cost to you.
Transport options from the airport
Metered taxi: €25–35 to Chania's old town, around 20 minutes. Official, metered, pickup right outside the terminal. Night or Sunday: 10–20% surcharge.
KTEL bus: €2.50 to Chania, about 30–40 minutes. It stops outside the terminal and drops you at Chania's KTEL station (Kydonias), a 10-minute walk from the old town and the Venetian harbour. Runs roughly 06:00–23:45, several departures a day — but exact times shift by season, so check the current timetable on e-ktel.gr. It also serves Souda and Rethymno.
Pre-booked private transfer: fixed price, driver waiting with a sign, no stress if your flight is delayed. Most useful if you're arriving late at night, with children, or your accommodation is hard to find.
Car hire: if you've already booked a car, agencies are accessible from the airport or via a quick shuttle to their nearby depot. No need to take a taxi on top.
Getting to Heraklion (and the rest of the island) from the airport
There's no direct airport → Heraklion bus. The logical route: KTEL bus to Chania's station (€2.50), then the Chania → Heraklion coach — about €15–16, ~2h30 (four non-stop express services a day do it in ~2h). Air-conditioned coaches with onboard WiFi.
By car: about 140 km on the northern national road (E75), a little over 2 hours. If you're heading to the centre or east, picking up your rental at the airport saves the double trip — see our guide to renting without getting caught out.
To be honest about it: only the bus has a fixed fare (€2.50). Taxi and private-transfer prices are provider ranges (~€25–35 by day to the centre, higher at night) — a prepaid fixed-price transfer is the most predictable, especially at night, with children or heavy luggage.
What other sites don't tell you
Chania airport is small and takes 5 minutes to cross. Baggage claim is directly opposite the main exit. There's no giant waiting hall or confusing zone — that's an advantage.
At night, there are fewer taxis. If your flight arrives after 10pm, a pre-booked transfer removes a real source of stress. Not mandatory, but comfortable.
Airport WiFi works but is slow. If you plan to use Google Maps to find your accommodation on the way out, either get an eSIM or make sure your EU plan is active.
Chania's old town isn't directly accessible by car to hotels in the narrow lanes — plan on walking 5–10 minutes with luggage from the drop-off point.
Chania at night: what you can do from arrival
If you arrive in the evening and your accommodation is in the old town, the Venetian harbour is 10 minutes on foot. The night walk along the harbour is often the first highlight of the trip — free, no booking needed.
Tavernas around the lighthouse stay open until 11pm–midnight in high season. No need to book for an impromptu first dinner.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Chania airport to the old town?
Metered taxi (€25–35, 20 min), KTEL bus (€2.50, 30–40 min, dropping at Chania station 10 min from the old town) or pre-booked private transfer. At night with luggage, a private transfer is the least stressful option.
Is there a bus from Chania airport?
Yes, the KTEL bus runs to Chania for €2.50 and drops you at the KTEL station (Kydonias), a 10-minute walk from the old town. It runs roughly 06:00–23:45, but exact times shift by season — check e-ktel.gr before relying on it.
Does Chania airport have car hire desks?
Yes, major agencies (Europcar, Hertz, Budget, Sixt) have a desk at the airport or a quick shuttle to their nearby depot. Book in advance in high season.
How much is a taxi from Chania airport?
The official metered taxi is about €25–35 to Chania's old town (~20 min), with a 10–20% surcharge at night and on Sundays. The taxi rank is right outside the terminal — no need to book by day. For a fixed price locked in advance, choose a pre-booked private transfer.
How far is Chania airport from town?
Chania airport (CHQ), on the Akrotiri peninsula, is about 14 km east of the old town — roughly 20 minutes by taxi, one of the closest Greek airports to its city centre. To Rethymno, allow 1h; to Kissamos and the west, 45 min to 1h.