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| c/o Cretravel.com |
Looking for tourist spots in Heraklion, Crete in Greece? Look no further. We have made your travel planning as easy as it can. Heraklion is the largest and the capital city of Crete. It is also the fourth largest city in Greece. Heraklion is one great spot if you love to see ruins, cathedrals, castellos and a lot more. From Heraklion, guests can take ferries to other famous Greek destinations such as Santorini, Ios Island, Paros, Mykonos, and Rhodes.
Things to See and Do in Heraklion, Crete
1. Minoan Palace of Knossos
This old palace was built around 2, 000 BC. Legend has it that this palace was the source of the Labyrinth myth. It was a structure that was made by King Minos of Crete, to keep away the mythical creature Minotaur, who was half bull and half man. Eventually the creature was killed by Theseus.
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| c/o InterKriti.org |
Hours: Daily - 8am-6pm
Price: €10 (entrance fee)
Address: Knossos Avenue, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
2. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most European museums. It houses representative artefacts regarding Cretan history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum prides itself for its unique Minoan collection.
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| c/o Tripadvisor |
Price: €10 (entrance fee)
Address: Xanthoudidou & Hatzidaki str. 712 02 Heraklion – Crete, Greece
3. Saint Minas Cathedral or Agios Minas Cathedral
The Agios Minas Cathedral is a Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Heraklion, Greece, serving as the seat of the Archbishop of Crete. Ιt is dedicated to Saint Menas who is the patron saint of Heraklion. The church has a cruciform architecture with a central dome. It is the the largest cathedral in Crete and one of the largest in Greece.
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| c/o allinCrete.com |
Hours: Daily 8am until sunset
Price: FREE entrance fee
Address: Heraklion 712 01, Greece
4. Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos
Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos is a public aquarium located near the town of Gournes in Crete, Greece, 15 km east of Heraklion City. Built in 2005, it is home to 2, 500 animals and 250 species. It was conceived by employees of the former Institute of Marine Biology of Crete to create the first large aquarium in Greece, as part of a marine park for researc and education.
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| c/o CreteAquarium.org |
Hours: Daily 9:30am-5pm
Price: €9 - adults FREE - 0-4 years old
Address: Heraklion 710 03, Greece
Price: €9 - adults FREE - 0-4 years old
Address: Heraklion 710 03, Greece
5. Amoudara Beach / Resort
Amoudara is a popular beach some 5 km west of Heraklion. It features the longest beach (5 km) perfect for sun seekers and sports enthusiasts. It is known for its long stretch of roadside hotels and apartments, cafes and restaurants. Along the coast you'll find sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars, lifeguard and you can indulge to water sports such as windsurfing.
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| c/o CretanBeaches.com |
Hours: Daily - from sunrise to sunset
Price: FREE
Address: Heraklion, Crete, Greece
The 25th of August Street is the most historical and beautiful street in Heraklion because of the beautiful neoclassical buildings, the Venetian Loggia and the church of Agios Titos, connecting the Venetian harbor to the Square of Lions.
Hours: 24/7
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| c/o Tripadvisor |
Price: FREE
Address: 25th of August Street, Heraklion, Crete 712 02, Greece
7. Castello del Molo Koules
The Castello del Molo is an impressive two-story sea fort castle that protected the Heraklion harbour on the Island of Crete, Greece. This castle is crowned with the impressive Lion of St Mark above the entrance.
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| c/o Tripadvisor |
Hours: Apr-Oct: Tue-Sun 8:30am - 7pm; Nov-Mar, daily 8:30am - 3pm
Price: €2
Address: North end of 25 Avgoustou, Heraklion, Crete
The Basilica of Saint Mark is one of the most important Venetian monuments in Heraklion. It is directly opposite the Lions Fountain, in Eleftheriou Venizelou Square in the centre of Heraklion. Today it houses the Municipal Art Gallery and is open to the public almost all day, every day.
Price: FREE
Address: Pl. Kallergon 100, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
9. The Venetian Loggia
The Venetian Loggia on 25th August Street ("Avgoostoo Eekosi Penday"), 50 metres down the street from "Lion Square" (Morosini or Venizelos Square on maps) on the right, is now the city hall of Heraklion. You can walk in a take a quick look. This is a two-storeay Venetian mansion completed in 1628, whch used to be a meeting place for the nobles of Crete.
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| c/o Tripadvisor |
Archaeological site of Phaistos
The palace of Phaistos was built around 2.000 A.D and it’s the second largest palace in Crete after Knossos. It is located on a hill with beautiful views of the Messara plain and Psiloritis mountain. The site of Phaistos is 60 km away from Heraklion city. You can get there by public bus that you can take from the bus station next to the port.
Hours: Daily - 8am to 8pm
Price: €8
Address: 70200 Festos, Heraklio, Greece
10. Venetian Walls of Heraklion
Venetian walls of Heraklion are an excellent example and one of the best preserved monuments in the Mediterranean basin, concerning the fortification architecture of the 16th century A.D. These walls were first strengthened, and then rebuilt on their present site from 1462 and took a hundred years to finish.
Hours: 24/7
11. Historical Museum of Heraklion
10. Venetian Walls of Heraklion
Venetian walls of Heraklion are an excellent example and one of the best preserved monuments in the Mediterranean basin, concerning the fortification architecture of the 16th century A.D. These walls were first strengthened, and then rebuilt on their present site from 1462 and took a hundred years to finish.
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| c/o DestinationCrete.gr |
Price: FREE
Address: Leof. Plastira 25, Iraklio 712 01, Greece11. Historical Museum of Heraklion
The Historical Museum of Crete was founded by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies in 1953 and is housed in a neoclassical building of significant architectural merit in the city of Heraklion on Crete, an island of Greece.
12. Douloufakis Winery
This winery is open by appointment. The visitors' wine experience starts even before arriving at the winery, as the route and the surrounded landscape is filled with images that emphasize the viticulturist character of the region. The tour starts from the production area, then at the cellar and ends at the tasting room where the guest can taste wines.
Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-3:30pm Scheduled tours at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00
13. El Greco Museum
In the 16th century, Heraklion produced one of the world's most iconic religious painters named Domenikos Theotokopoulos or better known as El Greco. He was born in the humble village of Fodele, set amid orange groves 28 kilometers west of Heraklion. Today, the stone cottage where he was born is a museum. His paintings are noted for their intense color and drama.
Hours: Daily 9am-7pm
Price: €2.50
Address: Ethniki Odos 9 2, Pirgos 271 00, Greece
14. Acqua Plus Water Park
ACQUA PLUS is the most popular water park on the island of Crete. It is situated 5km from Hersonissos and only 30km from the city of Heraklion. It’s next to the Crete Golf Club. It's split in to two section connected to each other. The one section is for adults and includes a large number of extreme slides with high adrenaline and the other section for children.
Hours: Daily: 10am-6pm
Price: Depends on what kind of water games you'll choose. Please check http://www.acquaplus.gr for direct information.
Address: 5th Km From Hersonissos - Kastelli | Rousos Lakos, Hersonissos, Crete 700 14, Greece
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| c/o Tripadvisor |
This winery is open by appointment. The visitors' wine experience starts even before arriving at the winery, as the route and the surrounded landscape is filled with images that emphasize the viticulturist character of the region. The tour starts from the production area, then at the cellar and ends at the tasting room where the guest can taste wines.
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| c / o Douloufakis Cretan Winery |
Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-3:30pm Scheduled tours at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00
Price: €5
Address: Dafnes, Heraklion, Crete 70011, Greece13. El Greco Museum
In the 16th century, Heraklion produced one of the world's most iconic religious painters named Domenikos Theotokopoulos or better known as El Greco. He was born in the humble village of Fodele, set amid orange groves 28 kilometers west of Heraklion. Today, the stone cottage where he was born is a museum. His paintings are noted for their intense color and drama.
 |
| C/o Tripadvisor |
Price: €2.50
Address: Ethniki Odos 9 2, Pirgos 271 00, Greece
14. Acqua Plus Water Park
ACQUA PLUS is the most popular water park on the island of Crete. It is situated 5km from Hersonissos and only 30km from the city of Heraklion. It’s next to the Crete Golf Club. It's split in to two section connected to each other. The one section is for adults and includes a large number of extreme slides with high adrenaline and the other section for children.
Hours: Daily: 10am-6pm
Price: Depends on what kind of water games you'll choose. Please check http://www.acquaplus.gr for direct information.
Address: 5th Km From Hersonissos - Kastelli | Rousos Lakos, Hersonissos, Crete 700 14, Greece
Getting around Heraklion, Crete
Are you ready for your trip to Crete? For car hire in Heraklion, we only recommend Rental Center Crete.
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