The 11 essential things to do in Heraklion

Are you going to Crete for vacation? Here is our selection of 8 things to do and see in Heraklion!

You booked a plane ticket for Crete soon and you don’t know what to do? We've been looking for an indicative list of essential activities to visit Heraklion and its surroundings. Located on the north coast in the center of Crete, Heraklion is the capital of the island and the fifth largest city in all of Greece. It is the city’s industrial, cultural, administrative, commercial and agricultural lung. With a population of 140,730 inhabitants and an area of 120 km2, Heraklion derives its name from the legendary Greek hero Heracles, to whom the Cretans confessed worship in this place.

Founded under Antiquity, the city of Heraklion was occupied by the Roman Empire, the Byantin Empire, the Arabs, the Venetians, the Ottoman Empire, until it was integrated into the independent Greek state in 1913. Heraklion is also the first Cretan port, from which cruise ships chartered from the Cyclades and Le Pirée of Athens. Heraklion is still relatively unspoiled by mass tourism, in addition to numerous archaeological sites and historical monuments. The surroundings of the city, between the rugged mountains of olive trees contrast with the uncontrolled urbanization of the north coast.

Do you know what to do in Heraklion during your stay? Here is a list of X must-sees from the Cretan capital!

1. The Palace of Knossos

Knossos Palace is located 5 kilometres south of Heraklion. As much as to mention it first, because it is probably the site that sparked your desire to visit Heraklion. A must-see site of a visit to Crete, the palace of Knossos – or Cnossos – retraces the Minoan civilization, which developed on the Greek islands (from Crete to Santorini), between 2700 and 1200 BC.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the archaeologist Arthur Evans thought he was dealing with a palace of the Mycean kings, and then realized that it was another unknown civilization. By reference to King Minos – who once ruled the island – he named this civilization “Minoan”. The refurbishment – controversy – remnants and representations of bulls resurrected the myth of minotaur and labyrinth.

The ruins of the site and their complexity allow us to see how powerful, ingenious and complex this city was between the third and the first millennium before our era. This shows the enormous dimensions of the site: the palace extends over 20,000 m2!

2. Heraklion city centre

In the city centre, you will not miss the street of August 25, which crosses the center of the north to the south, from the old port to the Place des Lions . It is in fact the central and commercial artery of downtown. The street is sprinkled with small restaurants, bars, cafés, tourist agencies and souvenir shops (spices, carpets, leathers and crafts).

On the street is the church Agios Titos , built in the Byzantine period in 961. The building is surrounded by a multitude of bars and cafes. At the level of the Place des Lions, is the tourist heart of Heraklion, where the locals mix with tourists around the Morosini fountain – the Fountain of Lions – installed by the Venetians.

3. The Fortress of Heraklion

Building built by the Venetians between 1523 and 1540 in order to defend the entrance of the port of Candie (name of the city in the feudal era), the fortress – also known as “ Fortress of Koules – is a high tourist place overlooking the port. It thus represents the different civilizations that have influenced the culture and identity of the island (Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Ottomans). The building, which was preserved from the times, provides an overview of what daily life could be in the Venetian and Ottoman era. If you love history, exhibitions and evocations retrace the history of the fortress.

4. Venetian loggia

It attracts the look of all those who came to visit Heraklion: imposing, it is the city hotel of the commune. Built between 1626 and 1628 in a Palladian style (named Italian Andrea Palladio), the loggia served as the main public building of the city for the nobles and Venetian aristocrats. It was the place of political and commercial decision-making. The building has two floors, with its doric and ionic colonnades. Transformed into a mosque under the Ottoman Empire, bombed during the Second World War, it recaptured human conflicts and destruction, to become the Heraklion City Hall today.

5. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

Do you like history and look for what to do in Heraklion? Go to the museum, for example, a day of great heat. Founded in 1883 and renovated between 1937 and 1940 at the site of a former Catholic monastery, the Archaeological Museum is one of the most important museums in Greece, and even in Europe. It houses collections and objects dating from the prehistory and history of Crete, from Neolithic to the Roman and Minoan era. The museum has a wide collection of minoan objects that the archaeologists found at the palaces of Cnossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros or Aghia Triada.

The current museum, opened in 1952, has 22 exhibition rooms in chronological order. There are also offices, laboratories, a library.

6. The Natural History Museum of Crete

Located on Sfokli Venizelou Avenue In an old power plant, the Natural History Museum was founded in 1981. Its surface area of 3,500 m2 makes it the largest exhibition of this type in the Mediterranean. It is therefore a must-see museum when you visit Heraklion. The museum presents to its guests the environment and natural capital of the island, and offers the opportunity to explore Cretan ecosystems, with natural landscape-sized models.

Among other things, we find the "giant" deinotherium » – the largest known prehistoric animal in Crete -, the "Erevnotopos" discovery center – an area for the youngest to dig fossils and discover the Cretan nature -, the "living Museum" – an exhibition of animals typical of Crete – and the Enceladus, a seismic simulator where one can relive those who have shaken the island in the past. What to please everyone, regardless of age!

7. The Fortifications of Heraklion

The city of Heraklion is surrounded by medieval walls, which logically served to push back enemies and protect the city. Heraklion was therefore considered difficult to besieged in medieval times. The inhabitants resisted the seat of the Ottoman Turks for 21 years before being taken by the Turks in 1669! Walking on these walls nowadays allows to have an interesting point of view on the city.

8. The markets of Heraklion

What is better, when you travel, than to go to the popular places, where do local products and small producers exchange? The Heraklion bazaars offer a festival of shimmering colors, scents and attractive flavours. Errer and glaning in local markets is a good barometer to feel the atmosphere of a people, a neighbourhood, its history, its sociology.

To make in Heraklion, the Pateles market, every Saturday morning, is a mirror of the city: they sell spices, leather, local products, fresh fruit and vegetables, books, art objects. The central market of Heraklion, located Street 1866 ( Odos 1866) , sells about everything: souvenirs, clothes, shoes, fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, cheese, meat, fish, etc. Close to the markets, there are obviously coffee terraces where to stroll, but station with tourist traps.

9. Shopping

To go shopping if you don’t want to visit museums (one doesn’t prevent the other), wander around Dedalou street , between Place des lions and Place Eleftherias: it is the center of designer boutiques and large shopping malls. Finally, the city centre is a must-see for the tour of the cafés and bars, which resonate in the shopping streets.

10. Ammourada Beach

It is not the most beautiful of the island, but the Ammourada beach remains the closest to Heraklion if you want to enjoy a parenthesis stuffing your feet in the sand. Here, on 3 kilometers, you have the opportunity to give you water sports such as waterskiing, jetskiing, ascent parachute or canoeing. Several paillotes, bars and restaurants also line the beach for those who want to prolong the relaxing moment!

11. A boat ride

Finally, why not take advantage of your stay in Heraklion to go by boat?

Indeed, rent a boat In Heraklion you will be able to explore the island and its surroundings. Thus, you will have the opportunity to discover the landscape in another way, seen from the waters. A great experience to live with your loved ones to perfect your stay in Heraklion!

How to get to Heraklion?

To come and visit Heraklion, the easiest is to arrive by air at Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport, the largest airport in Crete, located east of the city. Several companies operate flights from France: Aegean Airlines, Air Berlin, Air France, Easyjet, Olympic Air or Transavia. See our favorite flight comparison, Ulysses , to get the best rates according to flexible dates.

If you leave Athens, know that you can reach La Crete and so Heraklion by ferry : count an average of 9h of crossing.

Where to stay in Heraklion?

To stay and visit Heraklion easily, try downtown, where most shopping streets and historical monuments are located. Attention, the accommodations can be more expensive in Heraklion than elsewhere in Crete, and especially in summer, so think about anticipateing your dates of stay for a more economical trip.

The offer of accommodation in Heraklion goes from the hostel to the campsite, to the luxury hotels, apartments and houses. If you opt for the hotel, prefer them hotel comparisons that host the best offers, regardless of your selection criteria. For more atypical housing, think Airbnb Who's full of little pearls!