Anyone ever been to Heraklion area of Crete

AC Jimbo

Well-known member
Off there next week so was wondering if anyone has had any experiences or suggestions of places to go or things to see?

Is there a market day? I love a good foreign market.
 
You could go to Knossos about 15 mins away.
AC Jimbo, if you go to Knossos get a guide it's well worth the money. We stopped in Heraklion a while ago for 2 days while waiting for our ferry to Santorini. Just walk around the back streets, loads of Bars most of them give you small mezes to eat with your drinks. We didn't need to buy a single meal the whole 2 days.
 
Heraklion itself is a nice place with a harbour and some interesting museums. There are street stalls every day and lots of shops. Food and drink in the town is generally good and a lot cheaper than the main tourist areas. There's knossos Palace archaeological site with a good tour around and the minotaur legend. Then not too far is spinalonga island which was a leper colony for hundreds of years which is also an excellent place to visit.
We love that part of crete just back from there last week
 
Off to Elounda in Crete in September and can't wait. I think it's about an hour from Heraklion but useful to know some titbits. Have already been told about the leper colony island.
 
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Long time I was in Heraklion/Iraklion. As suggestions above, it's a starting point for trips east, west and south. If driving, it needs patience. Endless hairpins and steep gorges. My favourite place was Sitia in the east.
 
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If going to Kinosos not sure it happens all the time but we got their about 11.30
Seemed to be round whe the tourist bus had been and gone in the morning, and before the afternoon lot so got some good photos with no crowds.
A drive round the plateau and Zus cave is worth a visit.
Also drove over to Matala and spend a bit on the beach and Roman catacombs
 
Another recommendation for Spinalonga.

I wonder if all the Russian fur shops will still be open. Look like money laundering outfits to me. Some of them in the middle of nowhere!
 
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Me and my mate did Samaria Gorge in 2017, but from the Chania end of the Island. It was brilliant, but a long day. I think it will be an even longer day from Heraklion. We've hired a car every time we've gone to Crete. Done Sitia and Matala as well. Some lovely beaches past Sitia on the Eastern end of the Island.
 
Knossos is a must if you're going there. Close by and a quite amazing site. Plenty of shops, bars in the main town that are worth a visit.

Spinolonga/ Elounda are a fair drive away but worth it for a trip out. Read 'the island' if you're heading there. Really good book and has history and backstory about the leper colony. Not normally my thing but I loved it and the spinalonga story comes alive after reading it.

Sitea/ samaria gorge/ lasithi plateau are all lovely places to drive to explore too. Good beaches beyond malia and a red lion pub if you want a fry up- id probably drive through and not stop.

Crete is a beautiful island. So much to do and see.
 
There's a nice archeological museum with lots of Minoan artifacts, and if I recall correctly a rather nice aquarium with some unusual examples of marine life. For more you'd need to travel to Knossos and onwards. We did something called Zeus cave, but I think that was part of a trip.
 
stayed in Heraklion for around a week and enjoyed my stay although I have to say it’s a bit sleazy in some areas. I think that it’s a great place to be based from if you’re looking to drive to see the ancient monuments or visit the beaches or other towns.
 
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