Heraklion

There are four different regions in Crete, each of them with its own unique characteristics, fantastic landscape, and a collection for great things to do. Heraklion is the most important, developed, and populated of all four. It also hosts the capital of the island and this page is dedicated to everything there’s to know about it.

One of the best things to do in Heraklion is to discover all the cultural centers, museums, and archaeological sites in the region. To do so comfortably, it’s better to visit during Spring, when the temperatures are lower and the number of tourists too. This way, you will avoid waiting in line and will also take advantage of more convenient fees.

Summer is probably the best moment in the year to visit Heraklion (and the whole of Crete!) if you don’t mind the crowds. Archanes, in the center of the wine region, celebrates the upcoming harvesting season. Other than that, the city hosts an important Art Festival that includes local dances, music, open air cinema, and theater plays.

Wine lovers will enjoy the busy months of Fall, when local wineries bottle the stunning wines produced on the island. During November, instead, you can be lucky enough to witness the joyful moment of raki distillation.

The capital of Crete and the fourth important city in Greece doesn’t close for Winter. Life goes on as usual in Heraklion. Lots of students from all over Greece move to town to attend the university. Shops, several hotels, restaurants, bars, cinemas, and museums remain open for business all year long.

The capital has an extensive, advanced bus service that takes you around town and small villages outside the city center. Therefore, a bus will be your best friend if you wish to enjoy sightseeing while traveling around town. Being government-regulated, the fares are reasonable by European standards.

The fast northern highway connects Heraklion to all the other regions. Driving along the National Road is necessary to reach the different coastal villages. From Heraklion, a road connects the city to the Messara Plain in the south. Another vital road passes right opposite Knossos Palace and through Heraklion’s wine region. Heraklion has an extensive public bus network connecting towns and villages all year round, with increased frequencies during the high season.

The new KTEL bus terminal in town, Bus Station B, is at 102 Efessou Street. From here depart most long-distance buses. The station has comfortable facilities, including a restaurant and a luggage storage service. You can take the bus to Chania, Rethymnon, and Agios Nikolaos from here.

The old bus station is opposite the Megaro Hotel (63 Efessou Street). From here, the buses depart to Knossos Palace. To reach the airport by bus, you have to walk to the back of this new station, the stop is correct at the Shell gas station.

If you travel to Heraklion with kids, changing buses and taxis to go sightseeing might be irritating. With so much to explore in town, hiring a car offers ease of mobility and also allows one to explore lesser-known locations where public transport does not stop. Waiting for public transport is another issue which can be solved with a car hire.