Heraklion Walking Routes: Harbour and Walls

Heraklion’s centre is compact and mostly flat, so it suits self-guided walking. The routes below can each be done in an hour or two. Summer is hot with strong north winds, and spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Wear good shoes, because the old paving is uneven.

Harbour to Lions Square

Start at the old port and follow 25th of August Street uphill. It is the main pedestrian axis of the old town and ends at Lions Square, also called Eleftheriou Venizelou Square. On the way you pass the Venetian Loggia, now the town hall, and the church of Agios Titos. The square has the Morosini Fountain. The cathedral, Agios Minas, is a separate building a short walk away. Allow about an hour with stops.

The rampart walk

The Venetian walls run about 3 km around the old city, and the rampart walk is free and open at any time. The south side includes the Martinengo Bastion, where the writer Nikos Kazantzakis is buried. Treat his grave as a quiet memorial. The Jesus Gate in the south and the New Gate are different gates, so do not mix them up when you ask for directions. A full circuit with photo stops takes two to three hours.

The breakwater

A long mole runs out from the Koules end of the harbour, about 2.4 km. It makes a pleasant walk in calm weather with the sea on both sides. In rough seas, waves wash over it and it is unsafe, so turn back if you see spray. Koules Fortress at the harbour end costs EUR 10, or EUR 5 reduced, and it is closed every Tuesday.

Museum quarter

Eleftherias Square sits beside the Archaeological Museum at Xanthoudidou 2. Entry is EUR 20 from 1 April to 31 October and EUR 12 from 1 November to 31 March. Wednesday hours differ, running 13:00 to 20:00 in summer and 10:00 to 17:00 in winter. From here you can walk down to the waterfront avenue, Sofokli Venizelou, where the Historical Museum of Crete and the Natural History Museum of Crete stand close together.

Guided walks

Group walking tours of the old town and museum quarter are sold by several local companies. Ask about the length and the languages offered, and whether museum tickets are included. Free walks on the ramparts and along 25th of August Street need no booking at all.

Practical tips

  • Take water and a hat from May to October.
  • Start early in summer, before the heat and the wind build.
  • Carry small euro notes and coins for kiosks and cafes.

Wildfire risk is high from April to October, so follow local closures on any walk outside the city.

Read more: Sightseeing in Heraklion gives the details for each landmark.

Fortress hours are on the Hellenic Heritage page . Walking tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .