Your trusted guide to Heraklion, Crete. Discover the best stays, tours, destinations, and local experiences.
The three that matter, with live prices. Booking through these costs you nothing extra.
Renting a car in Heraklion — airport versus town pickup, what a week actually costs, the insurance and fuel traps, and the days you genuinely need a car in Crete.
Bus 78 runs to Heraklion centre every 10–15 minutes for €1.30–2.30. Taxis are €15–20. Here is how to get out of HER, what each option costs, and which to pick with luggage, kids or a ferry to catch.
Knossos is 5km from Heraklion, tickets start around €20 and city bus 2 gets you there for under €2. Here is how to visit without queuing in the sun or arriving with the cruise crowd.
Explore Heraklion and Crete
Your complete guide to destinations in and around Heraklion, Crete. Explore ancient ruins, charming villages, stunning beaches, and hidden gems.
From the Palace of Knossos to hidden beaches, here are the 10 best things to do in Heraklion, Crete — handpicked by local experts.
Both are incredible Minoan palaces, but which one is right for you? We compare accessibility, crowds, history, and value to help you decide.
Hotels, villas, and apartments
City centre, port, Ammoudara, Agia Pelagia or Hersonissos — the areas around Heraklion compared by what they cost, who they suit and whether you will need a car.
The resort belt either side of Heraklion, compared: Ammoudara, Agia Pelagia, Lygaria to the west; Kokkini Hani, Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia to the east. Which suits families, couples and nightlife.
Where to stay in Heraklion, Crete — seven hotels compared by location, price and who they actually suit, from the city's grand five-star to the best budget base.
Guided experiences and activities
Browse the best tours, activities, and guided experiences in Heraklion, Crete. From archaeological tours to wine tasting and boat trips.
Which Heraklion tours are worth booking and which you can do yourself — Knossos, the Lasithi Plateau, Spinalonga, wine country, food walks and the south coast, compared honestly.
Both GetYourGuide and Viator offer tours in Heraklion — but which one has better prices, better selection, and better cancellation policies? We compare them head-to-head.
In-depth accommodation and tour reviews
Honest, detailed reviews of hotels, tours, and restaurants in Heraklion, Crete. We visit, test, and report back so you can book with confidence.
Guided tours of Knossos cost more than the entry ticket. Here is what a guide actually adds, what the listings mean by skip-the-line, and how to tell a good tour from a coach-park special.
Heraklion's landmark five-star, honestly assessed — the rooftop pool, the 1920s building, the walk to the ferry, and the trips it is and isn't worth the money for.
Travel tips and practical information
Comprehensive travel guides for Heraklion, Crete — transport, food, culture, itineraries, money-saving tips, and everything you need to plan your trip.
Everything you need to know about getting to Heraklion, Crete — flight options, ferry routes from Athens, airport transfers, and local transport.
A practical guide to Heraklion ferry port — where the terminal is, how early to arrive, luggage lockers, the walk into the city, taxi fares, and which islands you can actually reach.
Agia Pelagia is the main resort west of Heraklion — a wind-sheltered bay with several beaches, tavernas along the front and an hourly bus into the city. Who it suits and what to expect.
Ammoudara is Heraklion's beach — 7km of Blue Flag sand, a promenade of tavernas and bars, and the north coast's most reliable wind for windsurfing. Close enough to the city to do both.
The three resorts east of Heraklion run into one another but are not interchangeable. Hersonissos is large and mixed, Stalis is the family middle, Malia is the party town — and the hill villages above are the quiet alternative.
Lygaria is a sheltered sandy cove 23km northwest of Heraklion — calm shallow water, a handful of tavernas and far fewer people than the bays either side. What to expect and how to get there.
Join thousands of travelers getting our curated Heraklion tips, exclusive deals, and travel guides.
Compare Heraklion stays
Find a hotel