2024 Heraklion Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)

Koules Fortress - Crete Island, Greece

After six years of restoration, the symbol of Heraklion was reopened in August 2016. The symbol is the fortress-museum of the 16th century, which the Venetians called Rocca al Mare.The exposition of the museum tells about the history of the building and milestones in the history of the city. The collection of exhibits includes ancient amphoras, Venetian cannons and other finds found by Jacques Cousteau in 1976 near the island of Dia. The special atmosphere of the fortress is given by the subdued light penetrating through the old cannon holes. Address: Koules Fortress, Heraklion 712 02, Greece. #bucketlistreboot #greece

Heraklion

Getting There - by bus number 1 it is only about 15 minutes from the airport! to Heraklion! ticket is Euro 1.10. there is also a day ticket for unlimited trips on all routes for only 5 Euros Attractions - Venetian Wall, Old Town, Fort, Knossos archaeological sight, Tito’s church Hotels - Castello City Hotel 4* Euro 46 including breakfast on 5th floor with a wonderful view over the city and the deep blue Mediterranean sea Food & Restaurants - try gyros which is chicken meat, onions, tomatoes, cucumber on a yoghurt sauce at any Greek restaurants in the city center Shopping - in the old town there are many souvenir shops

Crete, Greece - Heraklion, the City of Art

👍️Recommended reason: The nearby Knossos labyrinth is a must-visit to understand the beginnings of ancient Greek civilization. 📅Travel guide: 1-5 days, in-depth slow travel 🍜Food guide: The small restaurants here are good and inexpensive 🏨Accommodation guide: Homestay 💗Other tips: Heraklion is not a beauty at first glance. The airport is old, and the buildings in the old town are simple cement structures without much character. The churches are not grand enough, with only the occasional fountain and Venetian-style building reminding people of its recent European heritage. The biggest attraction in the old town is the 16th-century Venetian-built sea fortress Rocca a Mare Fortress, which extends about 2 kilometers into the sea, forming a harbor. Although grand, it is somewhat monotonous. Walking at night is a good choice, but compared to other harbors, it is not particularly special. If you only stay for one or two days, you won't have a deep impression. However, if you stay for a week, go shopping at the local supermarket, take a morning walk by the sea, and have a beer at a local tavern in the evening, the feeling will be completely different. You will discover the quietly blooming paintings and food on the street corners, and the rich soul beneath the simple exterior. In most European cities, as long as you leave the affluent areas and well-maintained tourist zones, the walls are covered with graffiti, most of which are messy drawings and curses, more shocking than the small ads in our country. In Athens, except for the affluent areas near the Acropolis, other neighborhoods are not spared from graffiti. But Heraklion is an exception. We stayed in a homestay in the south of the old town, with many crisscrossing alleys. A few steps and a turn, you will encounter beautiful murals on the walls, jumping into view under the cover of flowers. Some originally dilapidated walls, painted green, with a window added, a tree planted, immediately become different.

Heraklion Port 🇬🇷

#summerdestinations This summer, I spent some time at Heraklion Port in Crete, and it was a wonderful experience. Located in the heart of Heraklion, the port is free to explore, and it offers a mix of history, culture, and stunning sea views. I loved walking along the Venetian Walls and visiting the Koules Fortress, which stands proudly at the entrance to the port. The fortress, with its thick stone walls and sweeping views of the Aegean Sea, is a must-see and costs only €4 to enter. The area around the port is bustling with activity, from fishing boats to ferries heading to other Greek islands. There are also plenty of cafes and tavernas nearby where you can enjoy fresh seafood with a view. After exploring the port, I wandered through Heraklion's old town, visiting the vibrant markets and historical sites like the nearby Knossos Palace. Heraklion Port is the perfect spot to soak up the local vibe and enjoy some of Crete's rich history. #HeraklionPort #Crete #VenetianFortress #SummerInGreece #ExploreHeraklion #GreekIslands #SeaViews #TravelGreece #CretanCulture #IslandLife

Greece Trip Day 53

Greece Trip Day 53 On 2024.06.09 at 12:10 Greek time, the Panorama tour group finished their visit to the Knossos Labyrinth and arrived at the second stop on Crete Island: the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. This museum is the most important in Greece after the National Archaeological Museum, housing artifacts spanning 5500 years from the Neolithic to the Roman period, particularly renowned for its rich collection of Minoan civilization.

Greece Trip Day 50

Greece Trip Day 50 On June 8, 2024, at 19:30 Greek time, the Greece Panorama Tour group departed from the Santorini Island pier at 16:30 aboard the SEAJTES roll-on/roll-off fast ferry to Crete in the Heraklion region. After a journey of over three hours, they arrived smoothly at their destination and checked into the Capsis Astoria Hotel on Crete Island. Coincidentally, today is the birthday of a tour member named Zixue Piaoxiang. After learning this information from the tour leader Wang Ning and the guide Qi Wei, everyone happily celebrated in the hotel restaurant, wishing her a joy-filled birthday in a foreign land.

Greece Trip 51

Greece Trip 51 On June 8, 2024, at 18:50 Greek time, the Greece Panorama Tour group will arrive at Crete Island in Heraklion Prefecture by passenger ferry and stay at the Capsis Astoria Hotel on Crete Island. Crete Island is located in the central Mediterranean, known as 'the crown of the southern Aegean Sea', with mountains, deep valleys, and beaches, as well as cliffs, rocky capes, and sandy beaches forming its coastline. The scenery is beautiful and the resources are abundant, surrounded by sea water, with vast blue waves, flowers everywhere, and a Mediterranean climate with mild sunshine and evergreen plants, making it a high-quality producer of olives (oil), citrus, and grapes (wine). After having a buffet dinner at the hotel, head to the city center of Heraklion for a stroll, enjoying the pleasure of wandering through another small Aegean seaside city in Greece.

#2024wish One of the best restaurants I've been to in Greece. Right at Mikrolimano. The food was excellent. A must visit! #awesomepic #awesomepic #athens#greece

Crete, Greece

🖼️ Crete and Santorini are the two most compared holiday destinations in Greece. The first day in Santorini was amazing, but it got a bit boring on the second day. Crete, on the other hand, was full of surprises all the way. 🛥️ We took a ferry from Santorini to Crete, rented a car in Heraklion, and returned the car at Chania Airport, which was very convenient. Although the ferry is good, the dock management is a disaster, so it is recommended that those who take the ferry must ask in advance which gate the ferry will dock at. 🧉 On the first night in Crete, we were first amazed by the enthusiastic waiters, and then amazed by the large amount of food and cheap meals! 🗺️ The two most worthwhile places to visit in Crete are: 1. Heraklion It is the capital of Crete and the birthplace of the Minoan civilization: I recommend everyone to visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the ruins of the Palace of Knossos (both of these attractions are free on Saturdays) 🏛️ Although the Archaeological Museum is not large, it has a large collection of items spanning 5500 years, making it one of the most important museums of Minoan civilization in the world. The only downside is that there is no audio guide. 💍 There is a small jewelry shop directly opposite the museum, which is the most tasteful jewelry shop I have visited on the entire island, but I forgot to take a picture. It's the first shop on the left when you cross the road from the museum, you won't miss it. 🛕 The ruins of the Palace of Knossos are in the suburbs of Heraklion, and not much of the original palace remains. There is a wooden model of the palace (Figure 8) in the Heraklion Museum, which is very impressive. I suggest everyone to visit the Heraklion Museum first, and then go to the ruins of the Palace of Knossos. 2. Chania Chania is the second largest city on Crete, and the locals recommended us to visit, saying that the architecture is very special. When we arrived in Chania, we found out that these were Venetian buildings, and Chania is a small Venice. The city center and the old town are very good for strolling. 🌄 We drove for 1.5 hours on a mountain road, and arrived at the famous pink beach with fear and trepidation, but it was not as good as the legend, probably because we arrived at the beach relatively late, so we could only see a little bit of the pink beach. It is recommended that those who have brought swimsuits and are not afraid of the sun can leave Chania earlier, and it is a good time to arrive at 2 pm. 🏨 Accommodation If you are in Chania, I highly recommend an Airbnb called Michalis Stonehouse. It is the best experience we have had in all the homestays we have stayed in Greece. In addition to the beautiful house and the exclusive parking space outside the door, the host also thoughtfully provided us with cereal, condensed milk, bread, ham, cheese, and local rose wine. It is a very warm homestay.

nice island city

nice island city to visit whether in spring or summer season. good food good people. very nice and cozy place which I want to come back again. this is from balcony and can see the whole city of Herakleion town the west side of island of Crete in Greece. nice island city to visit whether in spring or summer season. I really appreciate you can come to the house and beach here #beachlife

Heraklion Archaeological museum

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Greek history and culture. The museum is home to an impressive collection of artifacts from the Minoan civilization, which was one of the earliest and most advanced societies in the Mediterranean region. The museum's exhibits are well-organized and informative, and the displays are accompanied by clear and concise explanations in English.

Sunny Greek Island

Location: Heraklion on the island of Crete in Greece. This is a beautiful holiday island in southern Greece in the south east of Europe. Heraklion has many modern affordable hotels to stay at. There are many beaches to relax, an old town for shopping and a really nice harbour to enjoy the summer breeze and boats. You can also take a day trip to the well known Santorini island. #heraklion #crete #greece

Dia Island - Greece

Dia Island is a small island, only 5 km long and 3 km wide, which is located not far from the capital of Crete, Heraklion, in the center of the northern coast of the island. Its small size allows visitors to explore the island in one day. Lovers of history and the beauty of nature willingly go on an excursion to this charming island to learn a lot of interesting things and enjoy the sea, sun and magnificent landscapes. The island of Dia is a great day trip from Heraklion and its surrounding areas. You can go on this fascinating excursion both from the port of Heraklion, and from the ports of Gouves and Hersonissos. This is one of the fantastic destinations within easy reach, so be sure to include this trip in your holiday plan in Crete. #bucketlistreboot #greece

Heraklion Archaeological Museum - Greece

This magnificent museum is one of the largest and most important in all of Greece. The two-story renovated building from the 1930s, which was awarded the international Bauhaus Prize, houses priceless artefacts spanning 5,500 years of the island's history, from the Neolithic and Minoan periods to Roman domination. Rooms are marked with different colors, and showcases with exhibits are arranged both in chronological and thematic order with descriptions in English. A visit to this museum will greatly enhance your knowledge of the rich history of Crete. I highly recommend. Address: Archaeological Museum, Heraklion, Greece. #bucketlistreboot #greece #museumquest

Dinner: Peskesi Address: Kapetan Haralampi 6-8