Heraklion: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 35 - 60 Mirabello Hotel
 Situated in the centre of Heraklion, Mirabello Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with balcony. Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is 4 km away and free Wi-Fi … MoreEUR 50 - 130 Marin Dream Hotel
 Combining a unique location, excellent service and a panoramic roof terrace with a view to the Venetian fortress, Marin Dream Hotel is just a stroll a… MoreEUR 40 - 90 Lena Hotel
 Established in 1977 and totally renovated in 2004, this hotel is ideally situated in Heraklion city centre amidst a quiet neighbourhood with easy acce… MoreEUR 50 - 234 Lato Boutique Hotel
 Overlooking Heraklion´s historic Venetian Fortress, Lato Boutique Hotel impresses with its stylish interior, stunning views and top facilities, … MoreEUR 52 - 90 Olympic Hotel
 Hotel Olympic is situated in the heart of the city of Heraklion at one of the most known squares, Kornarou Square. Hotel Olympic addresses those who t… MoreEUR 30 - 75 Park Hotel
 The year-round Park Hotel is located 250 metres from Amoudara Beach. It features a fresh-water swimming pool, snack bar and a restaurant serving loca… MoreEUR 58 - 98 Sofia Hotel
 This value-for-money hotel offers comfortable and functional accommodation in Heraklion, just 1.5 km from the airport.
Sofia Hotel provides a peacefu… MoreEUR 46 - 66 Poseidon
 A 10-minute walk from Heraklion’s centre, hotel Poseidon offers panoramic sea, mountain, and city views. It has free Wi-Fi, and features a garden an… MoreEUR 32 - 78 Pasiphae Hotel
 Pasiphae Hotel is situated in Poros, very close to Heraklion’s airport and port. It offers a 24-hour front desk and rooms with free Wi-Fi. Heraklion… MoreEUR 44 - 60 Kronos Hotel
 Hotel Kronos is a 2 star hotel, situated on the coast of Heraklio.
The hotel is ideally located 200 meters away from the city center, 700 meters from… MoreEUR 45 - 250 Kastro Hotel
 Within 100 metres from the city centre, Kastro Hotel is well-situated for exploring the ancient sites of Heraklion. It offers spacious, air-conditione… MoreEUR 38 - 65 El Greco
 El Greco Hotel is situated in the very centre of Irakleion, offering easy access to all points of interest, as well as public transportation, banks an… MoreEUR 44 - 105 Castello City Hotel
 The stylish Castello City Hotel is just a short walk from Heraklion beach. It offers a panoramic rooftop restaurant, personalised guest services and e… MoreEUR 60 - 160 Capsis Astoria Hotel
 Centrally located in the capital of Crete, this hotel is set next to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and within walking distance of the centre&… MoreEUR 62 - 131 Atrion Hotel
 Along with free internet access and a tasteful and modern décor, Atrion Hotel offers a central location in Heraklion, just a short walk from the prom… MoreEUR 60 - 210 Galaxy Iraklio Hotel
 Located in Heraklion´s elegant district, this 5-star hotel offers 2 gourmet restaurants, a free wellness centre and a large freshwater pool. Lux… MoreEUR 120 - 210 GDM Megaron Hotel
 Housed in a landmark building overlooking the Old Harbour of Heraklion, GDM Megaron is the city´s most prestigious hotel that blends unique arch… MoreEUR 42 - 67 Irini Hotel
 The centrally located Irini Hotel offers modern accommodation for both leisure and business travellers in Heraklion, Crete.
The hotel consists of spa… MoreEUR 38 - 95 Iraklion Hotel
 Featuring rooms with free Wi-Fi, spacious lounge with bar and a 24-hour front desk, Iraklion Hotel is a modern, family run hotel centrally located in … MoreEUR 28 - 105 Hotel Life
 Situated just 200 metres from Heraklion Port, Hotel Life offers quality central accommodation with modern amenities, including Wi-Fi access.
The hote… MoreEUR 35 - 67 Athinaiko
 Athinaiko Hotel occupies a central position in the heart of Heraklion, just a short stroll from the citys port, and offers comfortable, en suite rooms… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heraklion: Guide
Heraklion (Greek Ηράκλειο, also transliterated as Heraklio, Iraklion or Irakleio) is the major city and capital of the largest Greece|Greek island of Crete. Its Archaeological Museum holds the remains of the 3000-year old Minoan civilization, which grew aroud the nearby legendary palace of Knossos (of Minotaur fame), as well as Byzantine churches and a well-preserved Venice|Venetian wall and fortress from the 15th century.
Understand
Heraklion (or Herakleion, Iraklio, Irakleion) is the capital of Crete and an industrialised city of around 155,000 residents.
Get in
Located in the middle of the island, all roads lead to Heraklion. Heraklion has a busy harbour and very busy airport and usually is the starting point of travels to Crete and nearby islands.
By plane
Olympic Airways and Aegean-Cronus Airlines fly in from Athens and other major Greek cities.
By bus
By boat
There are ferries from Athens (Piraeus), Thessaloniki and the Cyclades. The frequency is reduced in the winter.
By car
Get around
See
Landmarks
The Minoan Palace of Knossos it the site of the most important and best known Minoan palace complex in Crete. It is located some 5 km south of Heraklion. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the legendary Cretan king Minos. The Palace is also connected with further legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, as well as the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. Excavation has revealed that the site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times.
Koules, the Venezian castle in the Harbour (Greek: Κούλες)
Venetian Walls
Loggia (Greek: Λότζια)
Lions Square (Greek: Πλατεία Λεόντων, or Λιοντάρια)
Museums and Galleries
Heraklion Archaeological Museum , 2 Xanthoudidou Street, tel +30-2810-224630, 280370, fax +30-2810-332610, open summer daily 8am-7.30pm, closed 1 January, 25 March, Easter, 1 May, 25-26 December, admission €10, concession €5 - includes admission to Knossos Palace - houses the most important and representative finds from Minoan civilisation and excavations across the island of Crete. Highlights include statues of the Snake Goddesses, the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco, the enigmatic and mysterious Phaistos Disk, and Minoan seals and jewellery. Also includes a number of finds from Classical Greek and Roman periods.
Greek coffee
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikitravel article "Heraklion". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license.
Museum of the Battle for Crete and National Resistance - recounts the tale of Cretan and Allied resistance against Nazi invaders in World War II
Museum of Natural History Homepage: http://www.nhmc.uoc.gr/
Historical MuseumDo
Heraklion Summer Arts Festival - from June to September
Amoudara the city's beach area; a three kilometer strip of sandy beach, lots of cafes, bars and hotels and the site of "Technopolis", a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theatre. Learn
Work
Buy
Visit the central open market in Meidani square and buy mountain herbs, spices and folk natural remedies.Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Heraklion Sailing Club (Greek language|Greek: Istioploikos or Ιστιοπλοϊκός) Heraklion Harbour, GR-71262 Heraklion. Tel: 0030 2810 22 8118, Fax: 0030 2810 24 2120. Simple and cute restaurant with fresh and quality seafood in relatively low prices. The Sailing Club's restaurant is an old time clasics and beloved by Heraklion's locals. Specialities: grilled sardines, Octapus salad, clam and mussel rissotos. Finding the sailing club is sometimes tricky, it is located in the harbour and opposite the Venezian castle (Koules). It occupies the former premises of the port refrigeration plant, standing east of the building of the Port Authority and can be identified by the frescoes of the two Minoan mythical heroes, Icarus and Daedalus, tumbling from heaven off the west facing wall. Sailing Club membership is not required for the restaurant.Drink
Tsikoudia (Greek, Τσικουδιά - also called Raki), the local spirit. Although it is always served in restaurants for free after all meals, it is worth trying any of the dedicated to tsikoudia small bars (Ρακάδικα - Rakadika)while listening to Cretan folk music.
Cretian wine. During the Venezian period of the island, the wine from the greater region of Heraklion was one of the most expensive wines in Europe. Although today it has lost its glory, you can still find very nice wine varieties and local labels. Local varieties include the very dark red kotsifali and mandilari.Sleep
Budget
Mid range
Splurge
Contact
Stay safe
Cope
Get out
Faistos
Samaria Gorge
Hania