- Dakos: barley rusk, tomato, mizithra, olive oil. The Cretan starter.
- The old town tavernas around Lions Square.
- Raki after dinner: it arrives whether you order it or not.
Heraklion City Guide
The Venetian fortress of Koules, Heraklion. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Heraklion is Crete's capital and Greece's fourth city: a working port with Venetian walls, the Koules fortress at the harbor mouth, and the Lions Square at its center.
Two reasons dominate: the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the world's great Minoan collection, and Knossos, 5 km south. Most visitors pass through; the museum alone is worth the stop.
What to do in Heraklion
City
- 1
Heraklion Archaeological Museum The Minoan masterpieces: the Phaistos Disc, the Snake Goddess, the bull frescoes. - 2
Koules fortress The Venetian sea fortress at the old harbor. - 3
Lions Square and the Morosini Fountain The Venetian heart of the city. - 4
Venetian walls The great bastioned walls: walk the Martinengo bastion.
Day trip
- 1
Palace of Knossos The Minoan palace, 5 km south: go at opening with the museum ticket.
Heraklion Hotel Guide
How to choose the best places to stay in Heraklion. Verified properties below; for the full list, search live availability on Booking.com.
Mid-range
Galaxy Hotel Iraklio
The city hotel with the rooftop pool and the harbor views.
View on Booking.comWhere to eat
Getting there and around
Heraklion Airport Nikos Kazantzakis (HER) is 5 km east. The port has ferries to Piraeus and the Cyclades. Knossos is 5 km south by city bus.
Eating in Heraklion
Fledge Food has a full guide to how Heraklion eats: its defining dishes and how to order them, street food decoded, the markets, and the neighborhoods to eat in.