Hellenic Duty Free Shops

Last call to burn extra euros on Cretan goodies

The main Hellenic Duty Free Shops airside in T1 at Heraklion is where UK and EU leisure crowds dump their final €10–€50 on Cretan food: olive oil, thyme honey, vacuum‑packed herbs, sesame bars, and kids’ sweets. It sits just past security on the standard path to the non‑Schengen gates, so you almost can’t miss it. Liquor and perfume are here too, but regulars say prices match or beat town only rarely, especially on big spirits brands.

Reviews from 2023–2024 repeatedly call alcohol and cosmetics “tourist prices” or “same as high street,” with one traveller noting raki and wine were cheaper in Heraklion supermarkets. If you want proper Cretan olive oil, most frequent HER users buy their 1L and 2L tins in town and use duty free only for 100 ml travel‑safe bottles and gift packs. Snacks, packaged sweets, and small herb mixes come in sealed bags and boxes sized for cabin baggage.

At peak UK charter waves, roughly 06:00–10:00 and again late afternoon, people with big trolleys clog the aisles and queues back up at the tills. One reviewer said they “killed an hour browsing” mainly because the terminal felt chaotic, not because the deals were strong. Layout is tight, and pushing a full‑size suitcase through the cosmetics and liquor sections can be slow.

Regulars with morning departures clear security in T1, walk straight through duty free in 5–10 minutes, then hunt for scarce gate seating. If you forgot small gifts, grab sealed herbs, honey, or chocolates here and skip the big glass liquor bottles. Tip: check prices on your phone against a Greek supermarket before buying anything over about €20.