7 Best Things to Do in Heraklion, Crete
Nestled on the northern coast of Crete, Heraklion is a vibrant city that beautifully blends rich history with modern charm.
As the island’s largest city, it serves as a gateway to some of the most captivating sites in Greece.
From ancient ruins that whisper tales of the Minoan civilization to bustling markets filled with local delicacies, Heraklion offers a diverse array of experiences for every type of traveler.
Whether you’re an adventurer seeking hidden gems or a culture enthusiast eager to dive into the island’s storied past, this guide will unveil the seven best things to do in Heraklion, ensuring your visit is as memorable as it is enriching.
Get ready to explore, savor, and immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of Crete’s capital!
Table of Contents for Best Things to Do in Heraklion, Crete
Top 7 what to see in Heraklion?
Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and is certainly interesting from a historical point of view. Most likely, in your holiday in Crete, you will want to include a visit to this city, being very close to one of the most important airports in Crete, therefore easy to reach and close to Knossos, an almost obligatory stop for those coming to Crete.
Here is the list of the best things to see in Heraklion, also known as Heraklion
- Venetian fortress
- Knossos
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum
- Morosini Fountain
- Center with shops
- Historical Museum of Crete
- Aquarium
Venetian fortress
The Venetian Fortress in Heraklion stands tall as a captivating symbol of the city’s rich history. Its ancient walls whisper tales of battles won and lost, reflecting a bygone era of strength and resilience. Visitors are transported back in time as they explore the fortress’s intricate architecture and commanding views, making it a must-see destination for history enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
Walls of Heraklion and Knossos
Before the arrival of the archaeologists, the area of the ruins of Knossos was only a cultivated hill. People could then safely dig and take the material. Moreover, the material found was ideal to be reused as a building material: digging they found blocks already cut, ready to be reused. The older houses are made with just the material taken from Knossos.
Part of the Venetian walls of Heraklion are also made with stones taken from Knossos. In fact, the Venetians took a lot of material from Knossos at the beginning of the 16th century when they were building the fortifications.
Knossos
Knossos is generally one of the most famous archaeological sites and certainly the most famous in Crete. The visit to Knossos is certainly interesting, but it is better if done with a guide for a better understanding of what you see and the history of this city.
Once you have visited with the guide here at the palace of Knossos, the visit to the Heraklion museum will also make much more sense, as you will already know what you are looking at and what is best to focus on.
Discover the captivating journey that awaits you at the mesmerizing Palace of Knossos! Embark on an enchanting adventure as we delve into this architectural marvel’s rich history and secrets. Join us as we invite you to immerse yourself in the wonders of the Palace of Knossos through an engaging and informative post dedicated to this remarkable palace. Get ready to explore, experience, and be enthralled!
Discover the mysteries of Knossos Palace: Where Legends Come to Life
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
During the visit to Knossos, the guide will refer several times to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion as the original frescoes and other important artifacts found in Knossos are kept here in the museum.
For this reason it is useful to visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion after the visit to Knossos: in this way your visit will be more complete and you can further deepen your knowledge of the Minoan civilization.
At the Knossos ticket office, they sell the combined ticket for the excavations of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Morosini Fountain
The Morosini Fountain was built in 1629 during the Venetian period under the care of the commander Francesco Morosini. This fountain that once served the inhabitants of Heraklion as a supply point for drinking water is now a meeting place.
It is in fact located in the center of Heraklion in Venizelou square, where we see the fountain in the center and all around shops bars and restaurants.
Heraklion center with shops
In Heraklion there are some streets where you can go shopping such as Dedalou street and the nearby streets.
Heraklion parking
Where can I find covered parking in Heraklion that is also convenient for visiting the city center and the Venetian fortress? A good parking that you can use in Heraklion is Central Parking.
Address: Koroneou 26, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
Central Parking has slightly higher prices than other car parks but is more modern and is also covered.
You stop with the car at the entrance, and the valet parks your car and brings it back to you on the way back. As in most car parks, you have to leave your car keys here too.
How are the beaches in Heraklion?
How are the beaches in Heraklion or Heraklion? Heraklion is a purely urbanized city and is not extremely well known for its beaches, although not far from Heraklion, you will find large beachfront hotel complexes. In the following video, you see the coast east of Heraklion.
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You can still find some beautiful beaches not far from Heraklion, such as Agia Pelagia. You can find out more by consulting the section dedicated to beaches in this post.
Heraklion or Chania?
Heraklion and Chania are the two main cities of Crete as well as the two cities with airports. When planning your holiday in Crete, one of the first questions you can ask yourself is whether it is better to land in Heraklion or Chania. Also later you may wonder if it is worth visiting both cities or if one is better than the other.
As for the arrival airport, I can tell you that your choice depends a lot on the area of Crete you want to visit. If you want to concentrate your vacation in the Heraklion area, going to Agia Pelagia and visiting San Nicolò, then the Heraklion airport is the right choice. Heraklion airport is also convenient if you want to go to Matala.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to visit Chania itself, Balos, and Elafonisi, the Chania airport is certainly in a more convenient position for this itinerary.
And if our dilemma concerns which city is better to visit: Heraklion or Chania? To answer this question, you have to bear in mind that Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and, as such is the busiest. Chania, on the other hand, looks better, being a smaller and a little quieter city.
Just to give you an idea, I can tell you that someone from Crete advised us not to go to visit Heraklion because there is only so much traffic and nothing to see. I disagree because it is true that Heraklion is a metropolitan city, but if you love history, you will probably particularly appreciate the visit to the Palace of Knossos, the museum, and the Venetian fortress. If we had completely excluded Heraklion from our visit, we would have lost an important part of the history of Crete.
Then I agree, however, that it is better not to use too many days of our vacation for the visit to Heraklion.
Compared to Heraklion, the city of Chania is more pleasant for a stroll. Walking through the center’s streets is nice, discovering some very characteristic corners. Equally beautiful and relaxing both day and evening is having lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants in the old port.
In conclusion, where do we go? Are we going to Heraklion or Chania? We go to Heraklion if we are interested in visiting archaeological sites, but to Chania if we want a more pleasant town.