The port of Heraklion is the shipping capital of Crete and one of Greece’s ten ports of national importance with a prominent geostrategic position, located in the center of the southeast Mediterranean basin, at the crossroad of three continents. It is the main gate for the island of Crete and the city of Heraklion. It is located within the city’s perimeter and has direct road connection to:
- Heraklion’s international airport “Nikos Kazantzakis”
- Crete’s Northern Highway A90
The Heraklion Port Authority provides high quality competitive services in the cruise sector. Heraklion, being one of the most important cruise destination ports in Greece, played in autumn 2020 a crucial role in the cruise resumption in the Mediterranean, both as homeport as well as transit port. On piers II, III and IV-V of the port up to 5 cruise ships can be berthed safely, in accordance with ISPS Code, while the port’s two passenger terminals can accommodate more than 10,000 passengers and crew members during a day.
Moreover, there are specially organized and designated parking areas for the tour buses and the safe loading and unloading of passengers.
The newly constructed (2017) Cruise Passenger Terminal at Pier IV-V has a crucial role for the port’s Cruise sector development, covering the needs of turnaround calls and establishing Heraklion as a turnaround port.
The Port of Heraklion is the main and the most modern gateway for the transport of passengers on the island of Crete, and it is located right in the middle of the east Mediterranean sea. Heraklion is a large modern city, busy all year round; an important economic center with a rich cultural history.
