HER→ATHHeraklion to AthensNikos KazantzakistoAthens International Eleftherios Venizelos

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Heraklion to Athens. While takeoff from Heraklion favors the right, the landing approach into Athens from the left provides more dramatic and sustained scenery—the Saronic Gulf crossing, Mount Hymettus, and the sprawling Athenian landscape are more visually compelling than the initial Cretan departure.

During takeoff from Nikos Kazantzakis (HER), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of Crete's northern coastline and the Aegean Sea immediately after departure. The aircraft climbs northwestward toward Athens, so right-facing windows capture the island's rugged terrain, coastal towns, and the open water you'll cross. Notable sights include: Heraklion city and harbor (directly below initially), northern Crete coastline with white limestone cliffs, Aegean Sea stretching north toward the Greek mainland.

When landing at Athens International Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide excellent views during the descent approach into Athens. The aircraft descends from the northeast over the Saronic Gulf, and left-facing windows capture the Attica coastline, Mount Hymettus, and the urban sprawl of Athens and its suburbs before touchdown. Notable sights include: Mount Hymettus (blue-grey mountain ridge southeast of Athens), Saronic Gulf coastline with islands, Athens urban area and Attica plain, Mount Penteli to the north.

The flight from Nikos Kazantzakis (HER) to Athens International Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) takes 0h 50m.

Aegean Sea crossing with scattered Greek islands (Kea, Kythnos visible to the east), the transition from open water to the Attica coastline, approaching the Saronic Gulf with its island chains