All the very best things to do in Heraklion, Crete

Heraklion is the Capital of Crete and is one of the busiest towns on the Island. It’s a city full of delicious food, stunning architecture and a lively atmosphere. Read on to discover the best things to do in Heraklion and why it’s a great place to base yourselves on your next holiday in Crete.

This post covers all the best things to do in Heraklion plus some fantastic day trips further afield, where to stay in Heraklion and also how to get there. If there is something specific you are looking for click on the table of contents below and jump to the relevant section.

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Top things to do in Heraklion

Europes oldest civilisation, The Minoans lived in and around Heraklion as early as 2700 BC so the whole area is rich in historical findings and archaeological ruins.

Knossos Palace

Knossos Palace is really where ancient Greek History comes alive. Without doubt one of the most famous archaeological finds in Greece legend has it that this was the home to King Minos and his terrifying minotaur. It’s red pillars and stunning frescoes are absolutely worth a visit. read more about our visit to Knossos Palace.

Minoan Palace of Phaistos

50 minutes south of Heraklion you’ll find another important Minoan excavation, Phaistos, the second largest palace on Crete. Whilst the buildings are less impressive being mainly ruins it still feels like a very special place to visit and offers amazing views of the surrounding mountains plus its normally a lot less crowded than Knossos.

Wander the Venetian port

The ancient harbour of Heraklion is full of stunning Venetian architecture and was once the largest in Crete. Now you’ll find tiny fishing boats, seafood restaurants and moored up yachts. It won’t take you long to walk all along the port or out to the fortress, once you’ve had your fill head away from sea along one of the many narrow alleys to the main town.

Spend time in the main town square

The Eleftheriou Venizelou Square in the centre of Heraklion is where the town seems to come alive. Here you’ll find another throwback to Venetian rule, the Fontana Morosini, a beautiful fountain decorated with four lion heads which once supplied Heraklion with 1,000 barrels of water per day.

It’s always busy in the square with it’s many restaurants, bars and cafes and it’s my favourite place in Heraklion for people watching.

It’s also here you’ll find the impressive Basilica of St Mark which is currently used as an art gallery.

Walk out to Koules Fort

The huge Venetian fortress guards the entrance to the port and dates back to the 16th century. A climb up to the impressive battlements offers amazing views of the city. Kids are free to visit and adults just two euros. Or you can walk right up to the walls without going in for nothing.

Head to the beach

There are some truly beautiful beaches in and around Heraklion. It’s one of the best areas on Crete to find soft sand and gently lapping waves. Ammoudara is the closest to the city and has plenty of activities to keep you entertained all day.

Heading North of Heraklion you’ll come across some great options for days at the beach. Agia Pelagia is a lovely little seaside town with a wide stretch of protected sand. It’s bordered by some lovely bars and restaurants and the view across the sea of Crete is just stunning.

Vathianos Kambos is around 15km East of Heraklion and is a popular one with locals. It stretches past several villages and boasts soft sand and gorgeous turquoise water.

An hours drive South from Heraklion is Ammos beach in Agios Nikolaos. This is one of the largest in the area and has plenty of sand to cope with the crowds. This is a town beach and a good one to visit if you’re in Heraklion with kids as there are heaps of restaurants, bars and shops incase you forget anything.

Discover more great things to do in Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Get your culture fix in one of the many museums

Heraklion is home to several excellent museums which will give you a great insight into the history of Crete. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion showcases heaps of Minoan artefacts discovered in the surrounding area. Or visit the historical museum of Crete to explore some of the islands more modern history. And kids are bound to love the earthquake simulator at the Natural History Museum of Crete which is also located in Heraklion.

Open top bus tour of the city

I love a good city bus tour. They’re such great ways to figure out the lay of the land. The one in Heraklion will take you all the way to the Palace of Knossos, Ammoudara beach and all through the old town. Tickets are valid for 48 hours, the perfect amount of time for exploring the city.

Pre order your tickets online.

Grab a gelato from Hans Gretel

Kids will popping into Hans Gretel sweet shop for a sugar fix. The Heraklion store is located in Eleftheriou Venizelou Square and sells some of the best gelato on the whole island and the shop itself is absolutely magical.

Get lost in the markets

Heraklion is home to some of the most colourful markets in Crete. They’re perfect for picking up unusual souvenirs from your trip. You can pick up spices and leather goods from Pateles market on Saturdays and Thursday. Or for something you probably wont want to take home but is no less of a great experience try the Heraklion Fish Market.

Discover some street art

Heraklion is a colourful and creative city and that is reflected on walls all across the city. You don’t have to walk far before coming across another beautiful or insightful mural. A wander round town can be just as good as visiting am art gallery. Plus it’s completely free!

Read next: Visiting Chania with kids

Best Day trips from Heraklion

Whilst theres loads to keep you entertained in Heraklion town, the surrounding area is beautiful and well worth getting out to explore. These are my favourite day trips from Heraklion.

Explore the charming Fishing Villages

The best way to discover the secret spots in and around Heraklion is to get in your car a follow your nose, stop somewhere you like the look of, explore and repeat. If you follow the coast road East from Heraklion you’ll definitely find some along the way. We absolutely fell in love with Sissi and its stunning sheltered bay so that’s a good place to start.

Read Next: Guide to Sissi, Crete

Crete Aquarium

If you’re in Heraklion with kids then you’re definitely going to want to visit CretAquarium. Located in Gournes, twenty minutes drive from Heraklion this is a sweet little adventure under the sea. It’s home to over 2,000 sea creatures from jellyfish to sea turtles and you can rent an audio guide which describes the various ecosystems as you go round.

Pre-order your tickets to CretAquarium.

Hunt for windmills

Crete is full of beautiful old windmills, the most famous of which are located on the Lassithi Plateau, about an hours drive inland from Heraklion. They date back to the Venetian period and helped irrigate the crops to make up for the lack of rivers. We also found some pretty ones in Elounda, an hour East of Heraklion on the coast.

Dinosauria Park

Another great one if you’re  looking for things to do in Heraklion with kids. Again located in Gournes this will delight dinosaur fans young and old. Home to 50 “dinosaurs”, a 5D cinema and a fantastic playground and excavation area. This would be a good one to combine with a visit to the aquarium.

Planet Crete

Planet Crete is a great learning experience for kids and offers a brilliant hour of escapism for adults. The domed planetarium transports you to the stars, explaining some secrets of the solar system and beyond.

You can pre-order combination tickets to Dinosauria Park and Planet Crete on Get your Guide.

Agios Nikolaos

The town of Agios Nikolaos is not only home to two beaches but also a small lake. This feels very much like a holiday town with bustling restaurants and beachside cafes. It’s easy to wander the whole town on foot and there’s easily enough to do to entertain yourselves for the best part of a day.

Take a boat trip

Heraklion is a brilliant city from where to hop on a boat trip. There are heaps of options ranging from full day trips to to just a few hours. A day trip to Santorini to explore the gorgeous blue and white villages is a popular choice or if you only have a morning you could hop[ on a boat to stunning Dia Island.

Have a look at all the boat trips available from Heraklion on Get Your Guide.

Chania Town

Chania is located at the North of the island of Crete and is a beautiful city to visit. Again it is home to a stunning Venetian harbour with fabulous restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. I think it’s prettier than Heraklion and well worth the two hour drive North.

Read next: Visiting Chania with kids

Where to stay in Heraklion

We absolutely loved our stay at the Mitsis Rinela Resort and Spa. It’s definitely one of the best family hotels Crete has. Located just twenty minutes drive from Heraklion this ultra all inclusive hotel has several al a carte restaurants, amazing design and plenty of family friendly entertainment. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Heraklion with kids, this is a great choice.

Book your stay at the Mitsis Rinela.

If you’re looking for something in the town centre then I recommend you try the DOM Boutique hotel. It’s within walking distance of all the attractions in town and around a mile and a half from the beach. The design is just stunning and they have triple rooms available for families of three.

Book your stay at the DOM Boutique hotel.

How to get to Heraklion, Crete

Heraklion is really easy to get to from all over Europe. It has an International airport located just 15 minutes from the town centre. There is also another international airport further North in Chania which will take you around two hours to drive to Heraklion. I always use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights. I love that you can see all the prices for each day so you can plan the best price for within a date range.

If you are already in Greece Crete is a good place to add to your island hopping itinerary. The port in Heraklion is the third busiest in Greece, its around two hours sail from Santorini and 10 hours from Athens.

How to get around Heraklion

The actual city of Heraklion is easily walkable. Most of the top sights are within 20 minutes slow stroll of each other. However, if you fancy visiting the aquarium, Knossos or quieter beaches it’s best to have your own car. I recommend booking a rental car before you arrive to secure the best prices and ensure you don’t miss out. Have a look at Discover Cars to find the best value for your dates.

Best time to visit Heraklion

As with most of Greece Heraklion enjoys baking hot summers and pretty cold winters. It gets extremely busy over the UK school summer holiday weeks and I feel it’s actually a bit to hot to visit. If you’re tied to the school holidays then the May half term is a great time. Easter and October half term can be amazing although the sea and pools may be a little cool. If you can organise your trip during school time then May and September are my favourite months, the weather is lovely but not too hot, hotels are fairly cheap and the beaches pretty quiet.

A lot of activities, shops and restaurants close during the winter months – between mid October and the start of the season at Easter. If you do choose to visit over these months, don’t worry, there will be plenty of things still open for the locals.

Have I covered all the best things to do in Heraklion. Please do leave me a comment below if I’ve missed off your favourite.

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