The capital of Crete is a lively university town with unparalleled historical landmarks and an energetic atmosphere.
The city’s harbour once served as a port for Knossos, the Bronze Age capital of the Minoan civilization and later, an ancient city called Heraklion. The port was fortified in the Middle Ages, when the city came under the control of Saracen pirates who chose it as their main base in Crete, calling it Chandakas. Then came the Venetians, who kept the city as the island’s capital, but renamed it Candia and built many many beautiful buildings that are still visible. Under the Ottomans, it was known as Megalo Kastro (“Big Castle”), only to revert back to the OG Greek name Heraklion again once the free Cretan State was established in 1898. The entire island became a part of the Greek state in 1913. Modern Heraklion is a bit of a concrete mish-mash thanks to hasty rebuilding after extensive damage during WWII, so it takes a little exploring to discover its hidden charms.
Heraklion is home to Crete’s blockbuster sights. The capital of Crete is a lively university town with unparalleled historical landmarks and an energetic atmosphere.
It may not be a ‘classic beauty’, there’s plenty going on if you know where to look.
One of the most important of Greece’s archaeological sites (we’ll admit that the Acropolis is arguably more important, but it’s a close call!) and the best possible place to start learning about the extraordinary history of ancient Crete. This was the Minoans’ central palace (ca. 1900-1375 BC), first excavated by Sir Arthur Evans in 1900. Knossos contains more than 1,000 rooms and winding corridors in a maze-like layout that may originally have inspired the myth of the labyrinth and the Minotaur.
Heraklion has many museums (there’s the Museum of Natural History, the Historical Museum of Crete, the Museum of Christian Art) but this one is the one you should put right on the top of the list. It’s the second largest museum in Greece and the best place to learn about the awe-inspiring Minoan civilization. There’s a huge collection of pottery, jewellery, figurines and frescoes as well as the mysterious Phaistos Disc, an inscribed circular tablet that was uncovered in 1908 and only recently partially deciphered.
The legendary Venetian Fortress of Heraklion, which is also called Koules (meaning ‘fortress’ in Turkish) or Castello a Mare (meaning ‘castle on the sea’ in Italian), is an impressive fortress that surrounds the city’s harbor. The massive fortress was built by the Venetians in the early 13th century, when they conquered the town. It costs just €2 to get in, and we reckon it’s worth it for the great views back towards the city.
Amnissos is located 9 km east of Heraklion city, close to Amnissos village. It is a beautiful, sandy beach with nice, clean waters. In summer, this beach is very popular due to its well-organized water sports facilities, sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, and seaside fish taverns.
Overlooking Iraklion’s harbour, Ippokampos is our favourite fish restaurant in the city, specialising in fish dishes such as seafood en papillote and lobster spaghetti. If you fancy a more traditional affair, Peskesi is tucked away in a little photogenic alley, which is all plants and fairy lights and upturned barrels. The menu is purely Cretan, and highlights include slow roasted goat in yoghurt and pork roasted with honey and thyme.
Indigo – Unusually for Greek cafes, Indigo goes beyond the usual frappe and freddo cappuccino with its long menu of single estate coffees and interesting teas. You can take a seat outside which looks out onto the Church of St Titus and while away hours watching the world go by.
In a University town, you can rest assured that there is a lot of fun to be had after dark. The historic centre (Korai, Dedalou, Perdikari, Androgeo and all the pedestrian streets east of Lions’ Square) are jam-packed with small bars and raki joints. We recommend getting amongst it; following your nose, and seeking out the buzziest bars!
The legendary Venetian Fortress of Heraklion, which is also called Koules (meaning ‘fortress’ in Turkish) or Castello a Mare (meaning ‘castle on the sea’ in Italian), is an impressive fortress that surrounds the city’s harbor. The massive fortress was built by the Venetians in the early 13th century, when they conquered the town. It costs just €2 to get in, and we reckon it’s worth it for the great views back towards the city.
Heraklion has many museums (there’s the Museum of Natural History, the Historical Museum of Crete, the Museum of Christian Art) but this one is the one you should put right on the top of the list. It’s the second-largest museum in Greece and the best place to learn about the awe-inspiring Minoan civilization. There’s a huge collection of pottery, jewellery, figurines, and frescoes as well as the mysterious Phaistos Disc, an inscribed circular tablet that was uncovered in 1908 and only recently partially deciphered.
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