The 10 best Things to do in Crete’s capital Heraklion

Heraklion › The 10 best Things to do in Crete’s capital Heraklion

Explore the best things to do in Heraklion, Crete, where ancient history meets incredible food, beautiful landscapes and the warmest of welcomes. Follow me to explore ancient palaces and hidden caves, wine tastings, boat trips, blue skies and feast on authentic Cretan cuisine.

Crete is the largest and most southerly island in Greece. Is Heraklion worth a visit? The answer is a definite yes. Heraklion, Crete’s dynamic capital, fascinates visitors with its Minoan palaces, Venetian architecture and lively markets. You can explore world-class museums in the morning, stroll through colourful markets in the afternoon and dine by the sea in the evening.

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Heraklion – History, beaches and heritage in Crete

Heraklion, or Iraklio as the Greeks call it, invites you to discover its unique charm. The main attractions are the old town and the beautiful Venetian harbour. Heraklion’s central location also makes it an ideal gateway for exploring the island and its many attractions.

How many days for Heraklion? I recommend two to three days to explore the city and its surroundings, such as the Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum. If you want to explore Crete as a whole, you should plan at least 10 to 14 days, as the island is large and has many sights to offer.

Where to stay in Heraklion?

I stayed not far from the Venetian Loggia in the centre of Heraklion, which served as a great base for exploring Heraklion’s attractions and the rest of Crete.

The DOM Boutique Hotel is a small modern boutique hotel located between the port and the centre of town, convenient to all points of interest in Heraklion with the most marvellous view of the old harbour from the roof terrace. Rooms were clean, service was always impeccable, and above all I really loved the breakfast.

Heraklion – Things To Do

The amazing thing about Heraklion is that the whole city is like a living museum, and its Old Town is exceptionally well-known for housing many sights.

Heraklion Old Town

The center of Heraklion is the old town. The city was founded by the Saracens in the 9th century and has been the battleground of many empires, including the Venetians and Ottomans. Each one of them has left its mark on the city that is still visible today through architecture and culture.

The pedestrian zone runs along 25th August Street from the harbor directly into the old town to Lion Square. Along the way, you will pass several historic buildings and lots of bars, restaurants, cafés, shops, and souvenir stores.

Eleftheriou Venizelou Square & Morosini Fountain

Eleftheriou Venizelou Square, also known as Lion Square, is clearly the heart of Heraklion. This is where the residents of Heraklion like to meet to chat in the shade of the cafés. The centerpiece of the small square is the Morosini Fountain, which was built in 1628.

• Location: Morosini Fountain Heraklion

In Venetian times, the townspeople used to fetch their drinking water here. Today, the fountain is no longer used for drinking water, but it is still worth seeing: it consists of eight cisterns and is decorated with various stone reliefs from Greek mythology.

Tip: Just around the corner is Beer O’Clock. If you happen to be in the areain the afternoon, head there for some great craft beer and burgers.

Explore the Venetian city wall

My initial expectation of Heraklion was to see a version of Athens – busy, noisy and not too exciting. But Heraklion was a positive surprise for me with a lot more history than expected along with a rather relaxed vibe to it and many green spaces. The Venetian walls truly shaped that and you should not miss them.

When the Venetians settled in Heraklion, the city was surrounded by a massive fortress wall with a dozen bastions. This wall stretched around five kilometers around the city.

If you don’t fancy walking too far, you can easily board on one of the Hopp On Hopp Off buses in Heraklion at Elefteria Square.

Visit the Venetian Harbor

Heraklion has a long history as a port city. The first harbor constructions were carried out by the Arabs in the ninth and tenth centuries. During the Venetian era, the harbor developed into the most important in the eastern Mediterranean.

Today, it is one of the city’s most significant landmarks, especially the pier and the castle. Also known as Heraklion Fortress, the 14th-century Venetian castle is well worth seeing, especially for the view over the harbor, where yachts and boats bob on the water.

The castle was once part of the city fortifications that served as protection against the Turks. It took the Turks 21 years to conquer the city. Take your time to walk the two kilometers along the pier to the fortress. This is a highlight, especially in the evening at sunset!

Admire the Venetian Loggia

Every time they conquered a city, the Venetians would construct a luxurious building, where the nobles and lords could spend their time pleasantly. In Candia, this building was Loggia (open-air gallery).

• Location: Venetian Loggia

Loggia is the name of the building that currently houses the city hall of Heraklion. It is located on the most historic and beautiful pedestrian street of the city, at 25 August street. At the time of the Venetian rule, this beautiful building was a meeting place for nobles and lords, who met to talk various economic, commercial, and political issues that concerned the city.

It is considered one of the most elegant architectural monuments in Candia of the Venetian period, a representative example of the Palladian style. The Venetian Loggia is an elegant 17th century Venetian building that was a meeting point for nobility and is now home to the Town Hall. Step through the arcade to gaze up to the sky through the open roof, which is near to the old port of Heraklion.

Agios Titos Church

You can discover a large piece of history in the Agios Titos Church. Saint Titos was considered a disciple of the Apostle Paul. He preached the Gospel in Crete. The church was built in the sixth century, but only ruins remain today. Over the centuries, the building was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and was even used as a mosque at one point.

In 1923, the church was converted into a Greek Orthodox church and consecrated to Saint Titos in 1925. It is well worth visiting the interior: the church is magnificently decorated and displays the skull relic of Saint Titos in a glass dome.

Heraklion – Museums

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

I was lucky enough to visit the museum on the 18th of October which is the “Day of Monuments” on Crete where admission to all museums is free. Known as one the most important museums in Greece, the Heraklion Archeological Museum is home to a large collection of artefacts from the Minoan civilization. Pieces in the museum range from the Neolithic era to Roman times.

Be sure to visit this museum allow enough time: the museum is large and has an incredible number of exhibits. It’s totally worth it!

• The museum is open daily but hours depend on the season. Check the official website to plan your visit.
• Admission fee is €20 and €12 for children, seniors and groups.

Tip: there is a café in the museum where you can take a break while relaxing with a ciew of some excavations and the harbour.

Historical Museum of Crete

Another exciting museum in Heraklion is the Historical Museum, which has an exhibition on the history and art of the early Christian centuries up to the 20th century. The building itself is a highlight: the museum is located in a beautiful neoclassical house.

On display are collections of Byzantine ceramics and sculptures, coins, paintings by El Greco, religious relics from the Ottoman period, objects from various Cretan revolutions, portraits of Cretan fighters, and documents from World War II.

Heraklion – More Things To Do & See Around The City

The top destination for day trips in Heraklion is undoubtedly the famous Minoan palace of Knossos. If you prefer to soak up some sun, you don’t have to go far. The wide Ammoudara beach begins just outside the city limits of Heraklion. Here is an overview of the most popular sights for day trips from Heraklion.

Palace of Knossos – meet the Minoan civilisation

Crete’s biggest highlight is located just a few kilometers outside Heraklion and has an immense history: the ancient palace of Knossos is the largest Minoan palace in Crete. Here you can marvel at archaeological excavations from the time of Ancient Greece, which are among the most famous in the whole country. Between 2000 and 1450 BC, the ancient site of Knossos was considered the center of power and culture par excellence, with the palace serving as the seat of the ruler.

• Knossos opening times: varies through summer to winter, so check the Knossos Palace Website
• Getting there: Buses depart from the Old Town every 15 minutes during the summer on bus line 2. Otherwise, it’s just a short drive by car from the city centre.
• Location: Knossos 714 09, Crete, Greece

Tip: Go early to beat the crowds and book a guided tour or audio guide to make the most of your time at this popular Heraklion attraction.

During the Minoan period, several palaces were built on Crete, but the palace of Knossos was always the largest and most impressive. Although the palace was destroyed by a severe earthquake, it was rebuilt shortly afterwards and much of it was reconstructed. Many of the walls of the Minoan palace are still well-preserved. This gives you a great impression of what it must have looked like here in the 14th century BC.

Koules Fortress

• Location: Koules Fortress Rocca a Mare Heraklion

Koules Fortress, also known as Rocca a Mare, is an imposing Venetian structure that protects the harbour of Heraklion in Crete. Built in the 16th century, it served as both a military fortress and a warehouse and prison. Its thick walls and numerous gun emplacements testify to its strategic importance.

Today, the fortress is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors impressive views of the sea and the city from the upper floor, as well as insights into the history and architecture of the Venetian period in Crete. Admission is 4 euros.

Wine tasting in Archanes

The surrounding area of Heraklion mesmerizes its visitors with its picturesque nature and idyllic villages, surrounded by vineyards, and is therefore also known as a Cretan Tuscany. On a trip to the wine region around Archanes, you can visit numerous wineries and, in addition to tasting exquisite wines, gain insights into the island’s wine production in general.

Mount Juchtas Hike

Arguably the best view of Heraklion and the surrounding area is from the Mount Juchtas, which is located just above the small town of Archanes. You can either climb the 800-meter-high mountain from Archanes in about an hour on foot or drive up a gravel road in a 4×4 vehicle.

How to get to Heraklion, Crete

Getting to Crete from Europe is very convenient. Crete’s main airport, Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport (HER), is only about 3 km from the centre of Heraklion. During the tourist season between May and October, several European airlines offer daily direct flights to the airport. The flight time is approximately 3 hours.

When is the best time to visit Crete?

While you may have heard of this island being an amazing summer destination, I think the shoulder months are actually the best time to visit Crete!

The season is technically open and lasts between the start of April until November, and, there are plenty of things to do in Crete in the shoulder months. I visited in mid-October and had the best time!

Are there beaches around Heraklion?

Since the coast around Heraklion is rather rocky, there are no beaches in the immediate vicinity. However, there are two popular beaches near Heraklion, in the western suburb of Ammoudara and east of the airport in Kateros. Both are very popular with the locals and are serve for a relaxing swim in the sea during summer. Other notable beaches in the area include Agia Pelagia Beach and the beaches between the resorts of Hersonissos and Malia.

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