Located between the prefectures of Rethymno and Lassithi, on the eastern side of Crete, Heraklion is the most popular region of the island. The area is home to many busy places with active nightlife, including Malia, Hersonissos, Ammoudara and Agia Pelagia, but also has many peaceful family-friendly places, particularly on the southern part of the island, on the Libyan Sea.
Heraklion city
As Heraklion was the main field where the Minoan civilisation flourished, a visit to the Minoan Palaces of Knossos and Phaestos cannot be missed. A drive around Heraklion in Crete will also bring you to traditional villages, medieval castles, Byzantine monasteries and nice beaches to relax. This region combines busy resorts and secluded coves. As well as relaxing in the amazing beach resorts, it is worth visiting the various villages where many festivals (panigiria) are organised during the summer and attending such a festival gives a nice taste of local tradition. Due to its central location, this is also a convenient region for excursions to Chania and Rethymno. During the summer, ferries depart from the port of Heraklion to the Cycladic islands of Santorini and Mykonos.
Among the most outstanding sights of Heraklion are the fortification walls that delimit the “old city”. The first fortifications were built by the Arabs and were later reinforced by the Venetians (15th century). Many monuments in the heart of the city date back to the Middle Ages, a period in which Heraklion witnessed great prosperity. A typical feature of Heraklion is its Venetian and Turkish fountains, scattered all around the city. One should not miss out on a visit to the Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece; it contains almost all the unique treasures of the Minoan civilisation unearthed at Knossos, Phaestos, Malia and other sites.
In the market of Heraklion, one of the richest in the Mediterranean, visitors can find all sorts of modern products, as well as traditional Cretan products such the famous Cretan olive oil, raki, local wine, honey, herbs, etc. On the outskirts of Heraklion you can visit Knossos, the legendary centre of the Minoan civilisation from 1900 to 1400 BC, Phaestos Palace, second in importance in Minoan Crete, inhabited since the Neolithic times and of course long sandy beaches.
