Before you go

Your trip to Heraclião.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Heraclião – Creta Destination Creta Capital

How to get there

Aeroporto Internacional de Heraclião Nikos Kazantzakis (HER) 5 km
Porto de Heraclião (Limani Irakliou) 1 km
Estação de ônibus KTEL de Heraclião (Porto) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before you buy. From Athens, the flight to Heraclião airport takes about an hour; the airport is roughly 5 km from the centre, with city buses and taxis. The night ferry departs from Pireu and arrives at Heraclião's port in the morning; check the season. KTEL buses link Heraclião with Rethymno and Chania via the northern highway, and another line goes to Cnossos.

How many days

Two days: one for Cnossos in the morning and the Museu Arqueológico in the afternoon; another for the centre, the fortress of Koules, the walls and the Museu Histórico. With a third day you can add the aquarium of Gournes or a trip to the vineyards south of the city.

When to go

From April to October, with long days and dry weather; summer runs from June to September and July and August are the hottest months, when Cnossos should be visited right at opening. In spring, April and May, the fields around are green. In winter, December to February, it rains more and opening hours at sites are shorter.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

You don't need a car for the city, nor for Cnossos, which is served by a city bus. The historic centre is compact and largely pedestrian, and parking inside the walls is difficult. A car makes sense for getting out of the city: vineyards, southern beaches and the rest of the island.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Heraclião

Morning
Palácio de Cnossos
Take the city bus or a taxi to Cnossos right at opening, before the heat and the tour groups. Walk through the central courtyard, the throne room and the staircases of the Minoan palace; the visit takes two to three hours.
Afternoon
Museu Arqueológico de Heraclião
Back in the centre, have lunch near Praça dos Leões and visit the Museu Arqueológico to see the frescoes from Cnossos, the Phaistos Disc and the figurines of the snake goddess. Allow at least two hours.
Late afternoon
Praça dos Leões and rua 1866
Walk through Praça dos Leões, with the Morosini fountain and the Loggia, and go down rua 1866 from the market to praça Kornarou. Pass by the church of Agios Titos on the way.
Evening
Puerto antiguo y Koules
Walk down rua 25 de Agosto to the old harbour. The fortress of Koules is lit up at night, and the tavernas around the harbour serve fish and Cretan dishes.

2 days in Heraclião

Day 1

Morning
Palácio de Cnossos
Start at Cnossos at opening; the Minoan palace takes two to three hours, with little shade.
Afternoon
Archaeological Museum
Return to the centre to visit the Museu Arqueológico, where the finds from Cnossos and the other Minoan palaces are kept.
Late afternoon
Praça dos Leões and Agios Titos
Morosini fountain, the Loggia, Agios Titos and rua 1866 down to praça Kornarou.
Evening
Puerto antiguo
Dinner in the tavernas near the old harbour, with the fortress illuminated.

Day 2

Morning
Fortaleza de Koules and Museu Histórico
Visit the Fortaleza de Koules inside and climb to the terrace for harbour views. Then walk along the waterfront to the Museu Histórico de Creta, with paintings by El Greco and the Kazantzakis room.
Afternoon
Murallas y tumba de Kazantzakis
Have lunch in the centre and walk along the southern stretch of the Venetian walls to the Martinengo bastion, where the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis is located, with views over the city and the mountains.
Late afternoon
Catedral de Agios Minas
See the catedral de Agios Minas and the small old church beside it, and finish the walk at the Museu de História Natural on the waterfront if you have time.
Evening
Centre
The streets around praça Korai and rua Daidalou concentrate bars and restaurants.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Heraclião airport to the centre?

The airport is about 5 km from the centre. There is a city bus to the harbour area and taxis outside the terminal. The trip takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic.

How to go from Heraclião to Cnossos without a car?

By city bus, which departs from the harbour area and praça da Liberdade and reaches the site's car park in about 20 to 30 minutes. A taxi is the faster alternative. Check the line and timetables before you go.

Is it worth visiting Cnossos and the Museu Arqueológico on the same day?

Yes, and it is the recommended order: the palace in the morning when it's cooler, and the museum in the afternoon to see the frescoes and original objects that came from there. There is a combined ticket for both at certain times; confirm at the ticket office.

Is Heraclião as pretty as Chania?

It is a larger, more modern and noisier city, with less charm in the centre. Its best features are the museums, Cnossos, the fortress and the walls. Many people stay one or two nights and then continue to Chania or Rethymno.

How long is the bus from Heraclião to Chania and Rethymno?

KTEL buses take about an hour and a half to Rethymno and nearly three hours to Chania via the northern highway, with frequent daytime departures. Check timetables at the station.

Back to Heraclião