Holiday in Heraklion

What makes Heraklion special as a destination?

Heraklion, the capital and largest city of Crete, is much more than just a gateway to the legendary Palace of Knossos. The lively port city has developed into an exciting gastronomic and cultural metropolis of Crete in recent years, uniquely blending history and modernity. The Venetian fortress Koules has watched over the old harbor since the 16th century, while the powerful city walls are among the best-preserved Venetian fortifications in the entire Mediterranean. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is the most significant in Greece after the National Museum in Athens and houses the world's largest collection of Minoan art: The Disc of Phaistos, the Snake Goddess, the frescoes from Knossos, and intricate goldsmith works from around 1600 BC tell the story of the oldest high culture in Europe. The Palace of Knossos itself is only five kilometers south — with its reconstructed halls, the throne room, and the labyrinth that inspired the Minotaur legend. The old town surprises with hidden treasures: The Loggia, once a meeting place for the Venetian nobility, the Morosini Fountain with its lion heads on Plateia Venizelou, and the Cathedral of Agios Minas form the historical heart. In the side streets around Odos 1866 and the market, authentic Heraklion pulses with Mezedopolia, Raki bars, and shops selling Cretan honey, Graviera cheese, and olive oil. The grave of the writer Nikos Kazantzakis (Alexis Sorbas) on the Martinengo Bastion offers the best panoramic view of the city and sea.