Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Heraklion is the capital and largest city of Crete, on the central north coast of the island. Heraklion holds the main airport and harbour, the Archaeological Museum with its Minoan collection, and the road to the palace of Knossos, so most trips to central Crete start here. Hire a car to explore Crete at your own pace, covered in our Crete car hire guide.
Heraklion city
Heraklion is the largest city on Crete and home to roughly one quarter of the island's people - about 150,000 of the 600,000 residents. The city is busy and modern, filled with cars and noise, yet it keeps a lively covered market, some fine old streets and the most important museum on Crete. The harbour and the airport, 4 km outside the centre, make Heraklion the main tourist gateway of the island. Give the centre a day for its market, its churches and its museum, then use the city as a base for Knossos and the beaches on either side.
History and sights of Heraklion
Heraklion has been inhabited since ancient times, first as the harbour of Knossos. The city was fortified by the Arabs, ruled by the Byzantines, and made the economic and religious centre of Crete under the Venetians, before earthquakes and the Second World War destroyed many old buildings. In the harbour stands the Venetian fortress, built by the Arabs and rebuilt by the Venetians between 1523 and 1540. In the centre you can visit the Archaeological Museum, which holds the largest collection of Minoan artefacts, along with the Titus basilica, the Agios Minas church, the El Greco Park and several Venetian fountains.
Knossos and central Crete
Knossos is the great Minoan palace just outside Heraklion and the main reason many travellers come to central Crete. The palace was the centre of the Bronze Age Minoan civilisation, and its finds fill the Archaeological Museum in the city. South across the island lie more ancient sites in the Messara plain, including the palace of Phaistos and the Roman ruins of Gortyn. Tour the palace of Knossos first, then pair it with the museum in town to see the objects in context.
Beaches and resorts of Heraklion
The Heraklion region runs from busy north-coast resorts to quiet south-coast bays. The north coast east of the city holds the big package resorts, while the west and the south keep smaller, calmer villages. Pick a base by the pace you want.
- Stay in the cosy village of Agia Pelagia, 22 km from the city, or quieter Lygaria next door.
- Choose the long city beach of Ammoudara or the sands and Minoan site of Amnissos for an easy base near Heraklion.
- Head to the busy resorts of Gouves, Hersonissos and Malia for nightlife and long beaches.
- Cross to the south coast for Matala, with its cave-pocked cliffs, and the nearby sands of Kommos and Kalamaki.
