Koules (Greek: Κούλες) the Venezian castle in the harbour of Heraklion, landmark of the city

Heraklion (Greek Ηράκλειο) [1] also transliterated as Heraklio, Iraklion or Irakleio is the major city and capital of the largest Greek island of Crete.

The Minoan palace of Knossos is situated close to the city.

Understand

Heraklion (or Herakleion, Iraklio, Irakleion) is the capital of Crete and an industrialised city of around 155,000 residents. http://www.heraklion.gr

Get in

Located in the middle of the island, all roads lead to Heraklion. Heraklion has a busy harbour and very busy airport and usually is the starting point of your travel.

See

Landmarks

• the Koules, the Venezian castle in the Harbour (Greek: Κούλες)
• the Venetian Walls
• the Loggia (Greek: Λότζια)
• the Lions Square (Greek: Πλατεία Λεόντων, or Λιοντάρια)

Museums and Galleries

• Heraklion Archaeological Museum [2], 2 Xanthoudidou Street, tel +30-2810-224630, 280370, fax +30-2810-332610, open summer daily 8am-7.30pm, closed 1 January, 25 March, Easter, 1 May, 25-26 December, admission €10, concession €5 - includes admission to Knossos Palace - houses the most important and representative finds from Minoan civilisation and excavations across the island of Crete. Highlights include statues of the Snake Goddesses, the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco, the enigmatic and mysterious Phaistos Disk, and Minoan seals and jewellery. Also includes a number of finds from Classical Greek and Roman periods.
• the Museum of the Battle for Crete and National Resistance - recounts the tale of Cretan and Allied resistance against Nazi invaders in World War II
• the Museum of Natural History Homepage: http://www.nhmc.uoc.gr/
• the Historical Museum

Do

• Drink tsikoudia (Greek: Τσικουδιά - also called Raki) in the traditional mini raki-bars (Greek: Ρακάδικα - rakadika) and listen to Cretan folk music.
• Visit the central open market in Meidani square and buy mountain herbs, spices and folk natural remedies.
• Visit to Knossos and the Archaeological Museum, Heraklion [3] - A delight for lovers of history!

Eat

• Heraklion Sailing Club (Greek: Istioploikos or Ιστιοπλοϊκός)

Heraklion Harbour, GR-71262 Heraklion. Tel: 0030 2810 22 8118, Fax: 0030 2810 24 2120. Simple and cute restaurant with fresh and quality seafood in relatively low prices. The Sailing Club's restaurant is an old time clasics and beloved by Heraklion's locals.

Specialities: grilled sardines, Octapus salad, clam and mussel rissotos. Finding the sailing club is sometimes tricky, it is located in the harbour and opposite the Venezian castle (Koules). It occupies the former premises of the port refrigeration plant, standing east of the building of the Port Authority and can be identified by the frescoes of the two Minoan mythical heroes, Icarus and Daedalus, tumbling from heaven off the west facing wall. Sailing Club membership is not required for the restaurant.

Drink

• Tsikoudia (Greek, Τσικουδιά), the local spirit. Although it is always served in restaurants for free after all meals, it is worth trying any of the dedicated to tsikoudia small bars (Rakadika).

• Cretian wine. During the Venezian period of the island, the wine from the greater region of Heraklion was one of the most expensive wines in Europe. Although today it has lost its glory, you can still find very nice wine varieties and local labels. Local varieties include the very dark red kotsifali and mandilari.

• Greek coffee

Sleep

Budget

Mid range

Splurge

Contact

Get out

• Knossos is the site of the most important and best known Minoan palace complex on the Crete. It is located some 5 km south Heraklion. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the legendary Cretan king Minos. The Palace is also connected with further legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, as well as the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. Excavation has revealed that the site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times.

• Amoudara the city's beach area; a three kilometer strip of sandy beach, lots of cafes, bars and hotels and the site of "Technopolis", a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theatre.