The main port of entry is Heraklion, and direct flights operate to there from many UK and continental European airports during the summer season (approximately April to October).

To find cheap flights to Heraklion, select your preferred departure airport on the map below, then click on "SHOW FLIGHTS". If no map is displayed in your browser, click the link for "Cheap Flights to Heraklion, Crete"

If you click on "SHOW FLIGHTS" without selecting an airport, you will be presented with a list of flights to Heraklion from all UK airports.

After you click on "SHOW FLIGHTS", you will be able to change your departure country/airport, and select your own language and currency.

Outside of the summer season, the only flights available to Heraklion are via Athens. There is also a year-round option to connect via Athens to Sitia airport. Although Sitia is closer, it is a municipal airport with limited services. It is being upgraded to accept international arrivals, but there is as yet no firm news on when this development will be completed.

Airport transfers to Makrigialos can be arranged with...
Private taxi (up to 4 people sharing)
Private minibus (up to 8 people sharing)
Rented car
Public transport (see Bus Information below)

For a more leisurely arrival in Crete, a number of ferry services are available. Direct services between Pireus (the port of Athens, port code TZE) and Heraklion (HCR) are run by a number of companies. The service is frequent and comparatively fast, taking under seven hours.

The most convenient ports for Makrigialos are Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, both around a thirty minute drive away on the north coast, although the ferry service from Pireus is slower and less frequent. LANE Lines operate a twice-weekly overnight island hopping service to both ports (journey times of around 14 and 16 hours respectively).

For those who are completely averse to air travel, it is possible to reach Makrigialos overland from the UK in 5 days, using trains, ferries and busses (and it has been done, at least as far as Heraklion).

Bus travel in Crete, operated by KTEL, is inexpensive, clean, comfortable and safe. Bus travel from and to Heraklion, with a stop at the airport (about 100 yards up the access road from the terminal entrance) is via Ierapetra, where there is a change of bus. Locally, there is a service between Ierapetra and Makrigialos, and the Ierapetra - Sitia service also stops here.

If you want more independent travel during your stay in Makrigialos, there are a number of options. You can of course rent a car at your port of entry to Crete. If your requirement is to visit a specific spot outside town you might consider using one of the local taxis. If you want to do a bit more exploring then there are a number of places in town that offer car and/or motorbike rental.

Makrigialos does not appear in any major travel operator brochure. There are, however, a number of travel agents throughout Europe who can assist with booking a holiday (each agent's preferred spelling for the town supplied in brackets)...

Cachet Travel (Makriyialos)
Simply Crete Holidays (Makrigialos)
Attika Reisen (Makri Gialos)
Sierramar (Makri Gialos)
Aeolus Cestovná kancelária (Makris Yialos)
Aeolus Cestovní kancelář (Makris Yialos)
Aeolus Utazási iroda (Makris Yialos)

Do you have any tips about travel to Makrigialos? Maybe you've heard about a good deal on airfares to Heraklion, or know of a cheap way to transfer between here and the airport, or perhaps you have a favourite taxi driver. Share your travel tips with others by submitting a comment...