Flights to Heraklion, Crete Greece

7 Thalasses

Most restaurants in Heraklion adhere to the true character of Cretan cuisine: quality ingredients, the use of wild herbs and greens, and an emphasis on the purity of taste. There are over 1.5 million olive trees in Crete, so olive oil is the most important ingredient, as is seafood in this harbour city. 7 Thalasses, a spacious restaurant in the Nea Alikarnassos district, has earned the reputation as the finest seafood restaurant in the city.

Pagopoieion

There are dozens of fine Cretan restaurants in the old town, but for a more informal experience in the heart of the city, try Pagopoieion (“Ice Factory”), a cafe-bar/restaurant where you can often see an art exhibition or listen to poetry or lectures. Open from breakfast to dinner, it’s famed for its wide range of local and international wines.

Marina Cafe

The alleys and squares of Heraklion’s historical centre hide many traditional bars featuring a variety of musical styles, including contemporary Greek music. Popular streets to find late-night entertainment are Korai and Milatou, while more traditional bars such as Marina Cafe can be found near the harbour.

Matrix Club

Most of the all-night clubs are in the popular waterfront resort of Limenas Hersonissou, 27km to the east of the city, including the massive Matrix Club.

Loukoumades

Heraklion’s main shopping area is located between 1821 and Kalokairinou streets. It is lined with souvenir shops, book stores and smaller places selling traditional products like local wine, raki, herbs and souvenirs. Look out for Loukoumades de Meli, a tiny shop selling honey and the famous bougatsa (traditional breakfast pastry), as well as some traditional knife stores for hand-made Cretan blades. If you still have money left, hit the boutique stores down the pedestrianised Daidalou Street.

Central Market

Heraklion’s central market is situated in 1866 Street (named after one of the most important Cretan uprisings during Turkish rule), and runs from Meidani to Kornarou Square. Whatever your heart desires, you’ll find at this bustling shopping hub, from souvenirs to cheap clothes. Foodies, in particular, will be in heaven thanks to rows of stalls selling vegetable, spices, cheese and fish, with loud mongers letting you know what the catch of the day is.

Beaches

Beaches don’t come much better, or varied, than those close to Heraklion. There’s the secluded Tris Ekklisies (“Three Churches”) or Maridaki, the golden sands and clear waters of Amnisos, the vast Ammoudara beach ideal for horse riding, or the sands on the isle of Dia, which, according to myth, is where Theseus escaped with Ariadne after killing the Minotaur.

Agios Minas

There are many grand churches in Heraklion but the Agios Minas on Agia Ekaterini Square, built from 1862 to 1895, is the most imposing. The adjacent church of Agia Ekaterini houses a museum with exhibits from the Cretan Renaissance.

Knossos

Around 5km south of Heraklion is the remains of the largest centre of the Minoan civilization, Knossos, built between the 19th and 16th century BC. The labyrinth of corridors and stairwells used to connect the five-storey buildings, water-supply systems, a sewer network, shafts for the lighting and ventilation of the lower levels

The Archaeological Museum

This museum in the centre of Heraklion is one of the most important treasure troves of ancient civilisations in Europe. Exhibits span almost 10,000 years of history, featuring artefacts from the Bronze-age Minoan culture until late Roman times.

Events

• Houdetsi Festival (June)
• Matala Beach Festival (June)
• Heraklion Summer Arts Festival (July to September)
• Feast of Saint Titus (August)
• Houmeri Wine Festival (August)