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The west court of the palace of Knossos

No. 82 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Heraklion

Greece

Crete's lively capital: the Minoan palace of Knossos, a great museum and a Venetian harbour.

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Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Heraklion is No. 82 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The largest city on Crete is the island's main gateway and the base for visiting Knossos, the Bronze Age palace of the Minoan civilisation.

Venetian walls, fountains and a harbour fortress recall the city's long history, while its streets are full of cafés, tavernas and markets serving Cretan food and wine.

The Venetian fortress (Koules) in Heraklion harbour
The Venetian fortress (Koules) in Heraklion harbour. Photo: Stu's Images, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Best time to go

May, June, September and October are warm without the peak-season crowds and heat.

July and August are hot and busy; visit Knossos at opening time.

Top sights

  • 1

    Knossos

    The partly reconstructed palace of the Minoans, about 5 km south of the centre.

  • 2

    Heraklion Archaeological Museum

    One of the great museums of Greece, home to the Minoan frescoes, the Phaistos Disc and the bull-leaping fresco.

  • 3

    Koules fortress

    The 16th-century Venetian fortress at the entrance to the old harbour.

  • 4

    Lions Square

    The Morosini Fountain and the cafés at the heart of the old town.

  • 5

    1866 Street market

    A market street of herbs, cheese, honey, olive oil and raki.

  • 6

    Venetian walls

    The city walls and bastions, with the grave of the writer Nikos Kazantzakis on the Martinengo Bastion.

Getting there

Heraklion International Airport (HER) is about 5 km east of the centre; buses and taxis run to the city. The new Kastelli airport is under construction.

Overnight and day ferries connect the port with Piraeus (Athens) and with Santorini and other islands.

Getting around

The centre is walkable. City buses run to Knossos, and KTEL intercity buses link Heraklion with Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos and the beaches. A car is useful for exploring the island.

Practical tips

Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Greek. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Safety
Heraklion is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Greece is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.

Official information: Visit Greece (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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