Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) has airport lounges after security where you can wait away from the crowds with comfortable seating, refreshments and Wi-Fi. You do not need a business-class ticket: most travellers get in with a lounge membership such as Priority Pass, or simply pay at the door. Here is what is available and how to use it.
Which lounges are at Heraklion Airport?
HER has a small number of airside lounges operated by the airport’s ground-handling companies. The best known are the Goldair Handling lounge (sometimes shown as the “Evropi” lounge) and the Filoxenia lounge, which runs separate areas for Schengen and non-Schengen departures depending on where your flight is going.
Because Heraklion is a strongly seasonal holiday airport, the exact lounges open — and their hours — vary between the busy summer and the quieter winter. Always check current status before you rely on one.
The Goldair (Evropi) lounge
The Goldair Handling lounge typically serves non-Schengen departures and is reached after passport control. It offers the usual seating, drinks and snacks, and is the lounge most often listed for pay-per-use and membership access at HER. In summer it generally opens from morning until late evening; in winter it may close with the drop in flights.
The Filoxenia lounge
The Filoxenia lounge operates intra-Schengen and extra-Schengen areas, so which one you use depends on your destination. It is also accessible on membership programmes and, usually, on a walk-up basis. As with any seasonal airport, confirm it is open for your travel dates rather than assuming from an older review.
Where are the lounges?
The lounges are airside, so you pass through security first, and through passport control as well for non-Schengen flights. The Goldair lounge is reached by heading to the lift or stairs up to the first floor after passport control. Follow the overhead signs once you are in the departures area — the single terminal is compact and easy to navigate.
How to get into a lounge
There are three common ways in:
- Lounge membership: Priority Pass and similar programmes are widely accepted; check your card’s app for the specific lounge and any guest rules.
- Pay at the door: walk-up access is usually available, starting from roughly €40–€50 per person at the time of writing.
- Airline or credit card: business-class passengers and eligible premium-card holders may enter free; confirm with your airline or card issuer.
Prices and access rules are set by the lounge operators and change, so confirm the current rate and whether children are admitted before you go.
Opening hours and seasonality
Lounge hours are built around the flight schedule. In the summer season a lounge may open from early morning until late evening (for example around 08:00 until just before midnight). In winter, when Heraklion runs far fewer flights, a lounge can close entirely for the season, so a summer review may not reflect what is open when you travel.
What is included?
Expect the usual lounge comforts: quiet seating, hot and cold drinks, light snacks, newspapers and free Wi-Fi, with some areas offering runway or apron views. It is a calmer place to wait, work, or keep children settled before boarding — useful during the summer peak when the main departures hall gets busy.
Wi-Fi, power and working
Free Wi-Fi is available across the terminal as well as in the lounges, and lounges usually have power sockets at or near the seating, which makes them a practical spot to charge devices and get some work done before a flight. If you only need to charge, note that there are also charging points out in the departures area.
Families and children
A lounge can be a welcome base for families during a long wait, with space to sit together and easy access to drinks and snacks. Child admission and any discount vary by lounge and by the membership you hold, so check the specific rules before counting on bringing everyone in.
How early should you arrive?
Give yourself enough time to clear check-in and security first — in peak summer these queues at HER can be long — and then enjoy the lounge for the remaining wait. Arriving at the recommended check-in time for your flight leaves a comfortable window without cutting boarding fine.
Is a lounge worth it at Heraklion?
If you have a long wait, an early start, or you are travelling with family and want a quiet base, the pay-per-use fee can be worth it — especially in peak season. If your connection is short or you are happy in a café, the money may be better spent elsewhere. For a quick turnaround, the terminal’s cafes and restaurants are a cheaper alternative.
If the lounge is closed or full
Outside the summer season, or if a lounge is at capacity, you can still wait comfortably in the departures area. There are seating zones, food outlets and shops airside. Our terminal guide shows what is where, and the food and drink guide lists the airside options.
Frequently asked questions
Does Heraklion Airport have a lounge?
Yes — airside lounges run by the ground handlers, including the Goldair (Evropi) and Filoxenia lounges, subject to season and flight type.
Can I pay to use the lounge without business class?
Usually yes. Walk-up access is available from roughly €40–€50 per person, and lounge memberships like Priority Pass are accepted.
Are the lounges before or after security?
After — they are airside, so clear security (and passport control for non-Schengen flights) first.
Is there Wi-Fi in the lounge?
Yes, free Wi-Fi is available in the lounges and across the terminal, with power sockets near the seating.
Are the lounges open in winter?
Not always. Heraklion is seasonal, and a lounge may close over winter, so check before you travel.