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Heraklion and Central Crete Travel Guide

Travel to Heraklion and Central Crete - Crete's most visited region

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The region of Heraklion and Central Crete is the most visited part of the island, largely due to the international airport in the city of Heraklion.

Heraklion itself is a thriving commercial centre, with an attractive centre, street markets and narrow alleys filled with overflowing coffee bars. A pedestrian street, recently paved, leads down to the harbours – one filled with fishing boats and pleasure craft, the other ocean-going liners. At the end of the harbour wall stands a Venetian fortress; and arsenals, where boats are still repaired, line the quay.

Heraklion’s archaeological museum is one of the best in Greece and is small enough to please everyone! Not far away is Knossos – the most famous of all Minoan sites.

To the south is Zaros, where there are fresh water springs (the water you drink may be bottled here) and the Rivas Gorge, beautiful, quiet and unspoiled. Just a little further is Gortys, yet another ancient site which is well worth a visit.

To the east of Heraklion lie the larger package holiday resorts of Malia and Hersonnisos, where streets are lined with bars catering for more international flavours. Matala and Agia Galini, on the coast to the south-west, are considerably more traditional.