- Heraklion Port sees thousands of holidaymakers departing for the Cyclades and Piraeus ahead of August 15th.
- Port authorities expect 31 ship arrivals and 31 departures between August 11–16, moving nearly 60,000 passengers.
- Heraklion Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” surpassed 6 million total passengers from the start of the year through August 10.
- July passenger movement hit 1.7 million, with peak weekend days handling over 400 flights and 67,000 travelers.
- Officials project 2026 total passenger traffic will surpass last year’s record of 10.05 million.
Heraklion is in the middle of its busiest stretch of the summer travel season, with thousands of passengers leaving Crete by ferry ahead of August 15, while Heraklion Airport is heading toward another record year after already handling more than six million passengers since the beginning of 2026.
The Port of Heraklion is seeing particularly heavy traffic as travelers head toward Piraeus and the Cyclades for the long August holiday weekend. Others are making the journey in the opposite direction, leaving Crete after their summer holidays with memories of the island in tow.
Between August 11 and 16, an estimated 31 ferry arrivals are scheduled at Heraklion, carrying around 32,000 passengers and 6,000 vehicles. During the same period, 31 departures are planned, with approximately 27,000 passengers expected to leave the port.
Traffic is expected to increase further from August 16, particularly on services to Piraeus. Both daytime and overnight ferries scheduled to depart on August 16 are reported to be operating at full capacity.
Port authorities are advising passengers to arrive at least one hour before their scheduled departure because of the increased traffic. Travelers are also being asked to follow instructions from port authorities and ferry crews to help keep passenger and vehicle movements running smoothly.
Airport heads for another record
The intense movement at the port comes as Heraklion’s Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is also experiencing exceptionally high passenger traffic.
More than six million passengers had passed through the airport between January 1 and August 10, according to Heraklion Airport Director Iakovos Ouranos. July alone saw approximately 1.7 million passengers.
The busiest days have seen more than 65,000 passengers moving through the terminal for arrivals and departures, alongside more than 400 flights in a single day.
On August 1, the airport handled more than 67,000 passengers, while August 2 saw 406 flights.
International arrivals are currently running around 4% higher than last year, while total arrivals are up approximately 4.5%. Domestic arrivals have recorded growth of around 7%.
Ouranos said passenger traffic since the beginning of the year is approximately 5% higher than during the same period in 2025, putting the airport on course to surpass last year’s record.
Heraklion Airport handled approximately 10.05 million passengers in 2025. Based on current traffic, airline schedules and booking levels, that figure is expected to be exceeded in 2026.
The strong performance is not limited to August. Airport officials expect high passenger volumes to continue through September and October, with airline load factors remaining strong.
At the busiest times, aircraft movements can be scheduled just one minute apart, while at other times flights arrive or depart every three to four minutes.
The figures underline the scale of Crete’s summer tourism season. While the island’s ferry terminal handles the traditional August exodus to mainland Greece and the Cyclades, its main airport continues to set new benchmarks for international and domestic travel.
For passengers traveling through Heraklion during the peak period, the message is simple: arrive early, expect crowds, and allow extra time for the journey through one of Greece’s busiest gateways.
