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.

Sightseeing in Heraklion splits into two halves: the Minoan sites, which are Knossos and the Archaeological Museum, and the Venetian city of walls, fountains and a fortress. A good plan gives the Minoan half one morning and the old town an afternoon. Euro is the currency, and cards are accepted at state sites. Palace of Knossos Knossos is about 5 km south of the centre and part of the UNESCO-listed Minoan Palatial Centres, inscribed in July 2025.

Heraklion is the working capital and main port of Crete, and it is better described as a city with a few good evenings than as a romantic retreat. The pleasures are small: a walk along old Venetian walls, a harbour view, a long dinner in a square. For a stronger romantic stay, many couples use the city as a base for a day on the south coast or among the wine villages.

Heraklion is the island’s main airport and ferry hub, which makes it a natural starting point for trips of two nights or more. Most multi-day plans follow the island’s north coast road, add a ferry, or use Heraklion as one base among several. Allow time for driving, because Crete is larger than it looks on a map. Island road trips Two chains work well. The first runs west: Heraklion, Rethymno, then Chania, with about 135 km between Heraklion and Chania.

Heraklion is a busy port city rather than a resort, and its best family outings are an aquarium, a science-style museum and a sea fortress. Plan one main stop per day, because summer heat is strong and shade is limited. All prices are in euros. Cretaquarium Cretaquarium is at Gournes, about 15 km east of the city, and it is the easiest big day out. It is open every day of the year.

Heraklion sits roughly in the middle of Crete’s north coast, so good day trips fan out in three directions: south to the Messara Plain, east along the coast, and west to Rethymno. Distances below are approximate road figures. Buses leave from two stations. KTEL Station A, near the old port on Ikarou Avenue, serves the north coast, the east and the west. Station B at Chanioporta serves the south, including Phaistos, Gortyn, Matala and Agia Galini.

Guided tours from Heraklion centre on Minoan sites, with a few longer coach excursions to the south and east of Crete. Tours are run by local operators, and this page only describes what to expect. Entry tickets to state sites are usually paid separately, so ask what a tour price includes. Knossos with a guide Knossos is about 5 km south of the city, and licensed guides wait at the gate.

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and a working port, so most of what is worth doing here is indoors or inside old stone walls. The strongest days combine the Archaeological Museum, the Palace of Knossos and a walk along the Venetian harbour. Euro is the currency. Cards work at the state sites, while small boats, kiosks and village tavernas often want cash. Heraklion Archaeological Museum The museum is at Xanthoudidou 2, next to Eleftherias Square.