Cheap flights from Edinburgh to Heraklion from £90
Updated 2026-08-05
3147 km great-circle distance, typically flown in 4h 20m with 7 airlines operating direct service from Edinburgh (EDI) to Heraklion (HER). Fares on this corridor stay relatively stable across the year — booking 4–8 weeks ahead and choosing a midweek departure typically secures the best price.
Flying from Edinburgh
Edinburgh is Scotland's busiest airport and the gateway most international visitors choose for the Highlands as well as the city itself. The terminal sits 8 miles west of Edinburgh centre with frequent tram and Airlink bus service. easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair dominate short-haul; KLM, Lufthansa and BA add full-service connections to European hubs; Emirates and Qatar route long-haul through their own hubs. Atlantic weather can disrupt winter schedules — build in a buffer if you're connecting.
Arriving in Crete
Heraklion Airport is 4 km east of central Heraklion, the largest city in Crete. Bus 1 runs every 15 minutes to the city centre. The May–October leisure schedule is intense; winter capacity drops sharply but doesn't disappear. Crete's size means you can fly into Heraklion (HER) or Chania (CHQ) — match the airport to your accommodation cluster to save the 2-hour cross-island drive.
Who flies EDI to HER?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| easyJet | U2 | 4h 20m | Economy |
| Jet2.com | LS | 4h 20m | Economy |
| Ryanair | FR | 4h 20m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 4h 20m | Economy |
| KLM | KL | 4h 20m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 4h 20m | Economy |
| TUI Airways | BY | 4h 20m | Economy |
7 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Edinburgh to Crete FAQs
Direct flights from Edinburgh (EDI) to Heraklion (HER) take approximately 4h 20m for the 3147 km journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
7 carriers operate direct service from Edinburgh (EDI) to Heraklion (HER): easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, British Airways, KLM and 2 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — easyJet typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
UK passport holders generally do not need a visa for short stays in Greece (Schengen-area members allow 90 days in any 180-day window). ETIAS pre-authorisation will apply once live for European destinations. Always check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece before booking.
Heraklion (HER) is the primary international airport for Crete. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus or taxi, depending on traffic and time of day. Most European hub airports sit 10–25 km from their host city centre. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.
Anything at £108 or under sits in the cheapest quarter of recent fares on this route. The average return is £90, and the lowest we've tracked recently is £90. Fare data comes from Travelpayouts searches, refreshed on a 30-day cycle.