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Trip Planner :  Europe  /  Greece  /  Crete  /  Heraklion Prefecture  /  Heraklion

Heraklion

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Museums Historic Sites Fun & Games
Crete's largest city, Heraklion remains best known for its proximity to a sprawling Bronze Age archaeological site, once the center of a vanished Minoan civilization. Founded by Arab raiders sometime in the 9th century, Heraklion swapped its rulers several times over the centuries, eventually coming under Venetian and then Ottoman control. Before retreating, the successive conquerors left an indelible mark on the city's architecture of medieval fortifications, Byzantine churches, and lavish fountains. The birthplace of El Greco, modern Heraklion is a densely populated city infamous for its traffic congestion. Take a break from the big port city and its throngs of tourists by exploring the ancient sites located just a short drive from the busy coastline. Heraklion is in Heraklion Prefecture. Arrange all the small, but important details of your Heraklion trip itinerary using our Greece trip tool .
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Top Heraklion tours
Ancient Palace of Knossos Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $59
4.0
41 reviews
Duration: 6 hours
Buy tours from $59
Street Stories of Chania Morning Tour with Samples of Raki and Mezedes BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $71
5.0
16 reviews
Duration: 4 hours
Buy tours from $71
Off-Road Buggy Adventure in Crete BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $155
5.0
9 reviews
Duration: 7 hours
Buy tours from $155
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Popular things to do in Heraklion

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Heraklion Archaeological Museum
4.6
Duration: 2​h
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The Natural History Museum of Crete
4.2
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Room Escape Games
4.9
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Ιστορικό Μουσείο Κρήτης - Historical Museum of Crete
4.6
Duration: 1​h 30​min

Side trips from Heraklion

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The Palace of Knossos
Knosos
3.2
Duration: 3​h
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Cretaquarium - Thalassocosmos
Gournes
4.0
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Matala beach
Matala
4.3
Duration: 3​h
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Red Sand Beach (Kokkini Ammos)
Matala
4.3
Duration: 3​h

Hidden gems in Heraklion

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Douloufakis Winery
4.8
Duration: 1​h 30​min
Ammoudara Beach
2.8
Duration: 3​h
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Spas
4.3
Duration: 2​h
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Kera Kardiotissa Monastery
4.3
Duration: 1​h

Shopping in Heraklion

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Irida Family Workshop
5.0
Duration: 30​min
Terra mia
5.0
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Kosmima Gold & Silver
4.8
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Pottery Workshop
5.0
Duration: 30​min

Museums in Heraklion

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Museum of Local Art and Agricultural History
5.0
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Museum of Cretan Ethnology
4.4
Duration: 1​h 30​min
Church and the Museum of St. Aikaterini
4.1
Duration: 30​min
Vasiliki Agios Markos Municipal Art Gallery
2.9
Duration: 1​h

Kid-friendly things to do in Heraklion

Venetian Walls and Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis
3.7
Duration: 2​h
Tsoutsouras Beach
5.0
Duration: 4​h

Featured attractions

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Tour Experts Private Tours
5.0
Duration: 4​h
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Morosini Fountain (Lion's Fountain)
3.9
Duration: 1​h
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Church of Saint Titus
4.6
Duration: 30​min
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Loggia
4.2
Duration: 1​h
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Places to visit with Heraklion

Rethymnon BEST FOR: Historic Sites, Beaches, Nightlife
Chania Town BEST FOR: Museums, Wildlife, Historic Sites
Elounda BEST FOR: Nature, Beaches, Shopping
Elafonissi BEST FOR: Beaches, Trails, Adventure
Hersonissos BEST FOR: Theme Parks, Zoos & Aquariums, Nightlife
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Recently planned trips to Heraklion

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