GDM Megaron, Heraklion: What to Expect and Who It Suits
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.
The Megaron is the hotel people mean when they say Heraklion has one grand hotel. It occupies a monumental 1920s building on the rise above the old harbour — a listed historical monument — and the conversion has kept the scale of the original: high ceilings, heavy stone, a lobby that behaves like a lobby.
This page is not a stay report. It is an assessment of what the hotel offers, drawn from its position, its published facilities and the consistent themes in recent guest reviews, aimed at one question: is it the right booking for your trip?
What you are actually paying for
The position. Five minutes on foot to the passenger terminal, ten to the Archaeological Museum, and inside the walkable core for dinner. For an island-hopping trip that arrives or leaves by ferry, that geography is worth more than any amenity — it removes the dawn taxi entirely.
The roof. The pool and bar look straight over the Koules fortress and the water, and they stay usable into the evening when the streets below are still holding the day’s heat. It is not a large pool. It is the best view from any hotel in the city.
The building. Few Greek city hotels have this kind of bones. If you like staying somewhere with a history rather than a brand standard, that is a real part of the value here.
Where the money stops being worth it
If your trip is a beach holiday with a day of archaeology attached, this is the wrong shape of booking — you would be paying city-centre five-star rates to sleep twenty minutes from the nearest sand. The resorts near Heraklion do that job better for the same money.
If the room is only somewhere to sleep between a ferry and a museum, the same walk to the terminal is available from several cheaper hotels, and the difference funds a couple of very good dinners.
And if you book here, book the view. The inland-facing rooms cost close to the same and remove the main reason to be in this building.
Who it suits
- Couples on a short city stay, especially in shoulder season when the rate drops and the roof is still warm.
- Ferry itineraries where one comfortable night either side of a crossing is the point.
- Anyone who wants the city’s best view without renting a car to find one.
Not for: families needing space and a beach, budget-led trips, or anyone planning to drive daily — central parking in Heraklion is a chore whatever the hotel.
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Heraklion Hotel & 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.
Pros
- ✓ A genuine landmark: a monumental 1920s building above the old harbour, listed as a historical monument
- ✓ Rooftop pool and bar with an open view over the Koules fortress and the water
- ✓ About five minutes' walk from the ferry terminal and ten from the Archaeological Museum
- ✓ Small enough (under 60 rooms) that service stays personal rather than processed
Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing for Heraklion — the city's mid-range hotels cost substantially less
- ✗ Inland-facing rooms lose the view that justifies the rate
- ✗ The rooftop is compact and fills in peak season
- ✗ It is a city-centre hotel, not a beach base — the nearest sand is a bus ride west
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is GDM Megaron? ▾
On the rise above Heraklion's old harbour, beside the Venetian fortress, in the city centre. The passenger ferry terminal is roughly a five-minute walk and the Archaeological Museum about ten.
How much does GDM Megaron cost? ▾
It sits at the top of the Heraklion market — expect roughly €150–350 a night depending on season and room category, with July and August at the peak. Rates in May, June and October are noticeably softer.
Is the rooftop pool open to non-guests? ▾
The rooftop bar generally takes outside visitors; pool access is for guests. Policies change by season, so confirm with the hotel if that is the reason you are booking.
Is it a good base for Knossos? ▾
Yes. City bus 2 runs to Knossos from the centre in about 20 minutes, and the hotel is walking distance from the stops. You do not need a car for a city-based stay.