9 Best Things to Do in Heraklion

Heraklion’s Old Town is an excellent place for sightseeing and getting a feel of the local culture. Some of its most notable landmarks include 16th-century Koules Fortress, Jesus Gate and the Venetian City Wall. The Heraklion Archeological Museum and Historical Museum of Crete are must-visits if you want to learn about the port city’s history.

A popular meetup point in the Old Town is the Morosini Fountain in Lions’ Square. The stone fountain dates back to 1628, with an octagonal pedestal that’s mounted by 4 lions and a lower basin with 8 lobes and reliefs of Greek mythological icons.

Koules Fortress (Rocca a Mare Fortress) is an impressive Venetian structure near the entrance of Heraklion Port. Built in the early 16th century, the imposing fortress houses around 26 rooms and vaults displaying old cannons, period pieces, and cannonballs. You’ll also find information panels and a short film showcasing Koules’s history.

You can climb to the top of Rocca a Mare Fortress for impressive views of Heraklion and the Aegean Sea. There’s a lighthouse on the northern part of the fortress, about 2 km away.

Ammoudara is a beach resort around 5 km west of Heraklion Town. Its Blue Flag-awarded beach spans around 5 km in length, offering clean sands and waters, as well as excellent conditions for windsurfing.

You can find secluded spots on Ammoudara Beach if you explore far west, but stay closer towards Heraklion to enjoy amenities like sunbeds and umbrellas for rent, lifeguards, showers and changing rooms. If you’re into hiking, head toward the western edge of Ammoudara to explore Almiros Gorge and Mount Stroumboulas.

The Minoan Palace of Knossos is the largest and best-preserved Minoan site on Crete Island. Most of the ruins date back to 1,450 BC, with several reconstructions from the early 20th century dotting the site. Relics from past excavations are displayed at the Heraklion Archeological Museum.

The Minoan Palace of Knossos has 4 wings surrounding a central courtyard – these buildings have reception halls, living areas, a throne room, and a complex drainage system. Knossos is around 5 km southeast of Heraklion. Buses depart from the Old Town every 15 minutes during the summer.

1866 Street is a narrow alley lined with tightly packed shops selling all sorts of goods. Known as the Central Market, it’s only open to pedestrians for safe shopping in Heraklion. You can shop for clothes, souvenirs, fridge magnets, jewelry, linens at rather reasonable prices.

Locals often visit the market in the early mornings to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs, cheese, seafood and meat. 1866 Street remains rather traditional throughout the years – Kornarou Square and the Venetian archway City Wall are within a 5-minute walk of the marketplace.

Agios Minas Cathedral is an impressive holy place in Heraklion Town. Built in the late 19th century, the Greek Orthodox cathedral’s 8,000-capacity makes it among the largest complexes on Crete Island.

Inside, you’ll find Byzantine murals depicting apostles, tales from the Bible, and Christ Pantocrator decorating the main dome. A must-see is the marble wall of icons and religious paintings, which replaced the original wooden iconostasis during the 20th century.

Located in the middle of Heraklion’s Old Town, Lions Square has a rather vibrant nightlife scene. You can find several all-night clubs, but the area is mostly famous for its laidback bars, which often have locals playing Greek bouzouki-style music until late.

Summertime in Heraklion often sees taverns offering outdoor seating overlooking the Old Town’s historical landmarks. If you prefer a quiet night out, taverns around Morosini Fountain serve authentic Greek dishes, local wines, and tsikoudia (Crete brandy).

The hilly landscape on the southern part of Heraklion has miles of quality vineyards. While most produce Greek Vilana, Mandilaria and Vidiano wines, you can also find a few wineries specializing in Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Book a wine tour at the award-winning Lyrarakis Vineyards, which was founded by Manolis and Sotiris Lyrarakis in 1966. The tour includes a visit to the 14th-century Karoula wine press and the vineyard’s facilities, as well as first-hand information from the owners. You also get a guided tasting session of various cheeses and Lyrarakis’ excellent wines, which are made with local grape varieties, Plyto and Dafni.

Bougatsa is basically a cream-filled phyllo pastry with a light dusting of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top. While this popular Greek breakfast treat usually contains custard, Heraklion’s version is filled with mizithra cheese and honey – you might also be able to find a savory bougatsa that comes with minced meat.

Many cafes in Lion Square serve bougatsa for breakfast, but Kirkor and Phyllo Sophies are often recommended by locals. These venues have been serving this rustic Greek pie since the 1920s, and both are fairly close to the famous Morosini Fountain.