Heraklion Greece: Travel Guide 2024 | Greeka (2024)

FAQs

How many days do you need in Heraklion? ›

Having 4 days in Heraklion will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city. Heraklion is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town.

If you don't like heat or humid weather, the best time to visit Heraklion is late autumn or in the spring. The winter is also a great time to visit to escape the cold weather back home. January is the coldest month of the year with an average low of just 9°C. The wettest time to visit is December.

Heraklion is an excellent base for exploring the beautiful island of Crete. There are several fascinating destinations within a short drive of the city that make for great day trips. One of the most popular day trips from Heraklion is to the charming town of Agios Nikolaos.

Truthfully, the choice is yours, but it's essential to understand their distinct offerings. For families, Chania's vast array of beaches might make it the preferred choice. For couples seeking a romantic ambiance, Chania tends to edge out Heraklion.

If you follow the walking tour outlined here, the total distance is about 3.2km, meaning you'll spend 4-5hrs walking around Heraklion town and visiting all the sights and museums. It's worth dedicating a full day to the experience, stopping to enjoy a Cretan meal and a drink.

Weather Averages Crete

The wettest month is December with an average of 89mm of rain. The best month to swim in the sea is in August when the average sea temperature is 25°C (77°F).

Low prices

During the off-season and especially in October, November, March and April, it is very likely to find great deals to rent a car and stay in a hotel, while ferry and air tickets are also cheaper. You can expect up to 70% off!

Drinking the tap water while on vacation in Crete is overall safe, but it mostly depends on the location. The major hotels filter the water, so it is alright to drink it. A 6-pack of 1,5 l bottles of water worth less than 2 Euro anyway.

Crime rates rating

It's quite safe and easy to explore the city on your own 😀. Especially in the summer nights the city centre is so vibrant and crowded that you will rarely feel isolated and unprotected.

Which part of Crete is the prettiest? ›

Chania Town is probably the most beautiful town in Crete. The Old Town of Chania, with the evident Medieval style, is a wonderful place to walk around, lined up with elegant Venetian mansions.

The official language spoken in Crete is in fact Greek, but you will find that many locals speak English – they are keen to make you feel at home, so why not do the same?

Ideally, so that you can see as much as possible, you'd stay 3 nights in Heraklion (the center of the island), 2 in Rethymno (center-west), and 2 in Chania (west).

Crete has better beaches but they're spread out and it takes a fair bit of effort to see the best beaches. Santorini is small and it's easy to get around to all the popular beaches. Crete has more small traditional (non-touristy) villages. Santorini is more romantic and better suited to a honeymoon.

Heraklion is a large part of Crete, with a plethora of lengthy and tiring distances. A trip towards the southern shores and mountainous villages of Heraklion can be quite a challenge, though northern Heraklion and tourist-friendly spots can be relatively easy to access!

Three days gives you a good amount of time to explore one area of Crete. If it's your first trip I recommend exploring the Chania/Western Crete area. Keep reading for my three days in Crete itinerary. Chania has an airport that has several flights daily from Athens.

I shouldn't worry - Crete is large as the islands go and it is packed with places to go, things to see, and things to do. You won't fit even a fraction of it into 7 days. My best-ever holiday was in Crete. We were there for 10 days and only explored a small part of it.

You can't see all of Crete in just three days, but trust me, that's enough time to check out the highlights on a road trip.