New Delhi to Heraklion (DEL–HER) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa to enter Greece. Apply through VFS Global centres in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata). A short-stay tourist visa (Type C) costs EUR 80 (about INR 7,200) for adults, EUR 40 for children aged 6 to 12, plus a VFS service fee of around INR 2,100. Processing takes 15 calendar days, extending to 30 to 45 days during summer peak (May to August).

Required documents include a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned Schengen departure with two blank pages, completed application form, two passport photos (35x45mm), travel medical insurance covering EUR 30,000, confirmed round-trip flights, hotel reservations for each night, bank statements for the last 3 months showing sufficient funds (roughly EUR 80 to 100 per day), income tax returns, employment letter with salary and leave approval, and a day-by-day itinerary. If visiting multiple Schengen countries, apply at the Greek mission only if Greece is the main destination (most nights spent).

No direct flights connect India to Greece. Connections through Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, or Istanbul to Athens run 9 to 13 hours total. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines serve these routings with good frequency. Seasonal charter routes to the islands (Santorini, Mykonos, Crete) connect through European hubs. Greece uses the euro. No mandatory vaccinations. Athens airport (ATH) has a metro to Syntagma Square in 40 minutes for EUR 9 (single) or EUR 4.50 with a reduced fare card. Taxis from the airport run at a flat rate of EUR 40 to the city center (EUR 55 between midnight and 5am).

Delhi Metro Airport Express runs from New Delhi Railway Station to T3 in 18–20 minutes (₹60 one-way). From Shivaji Stadium (central Delhi) it takes 24 minutes. The line has four stations: New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan, and IGI Airport (T3). T1 (domestic) is not directly served; take the metro to T3 and the free airport bus shuttle to T1.Prepaid taxis from the terminal use a metered system with fixed rates; central Delhi costs ₹400–600. Ola and Uber operate widely and are often cheaper. Auto-rickshaws are not permitted on the expressway.