Top tips for visiting Crete!

Heraklion is a lively and scenic harbour on the northern coast of Crete, Greece, and sits right in the middle of Crete’s capital. It is the largest city on the island, and the fifth-largest city in Greece. This major cruise port is a bustling hub, where culture and history meet modern-day shops, cafes, and markets. On average, up to 300 cruise ships dock here each year.

The port is the perfect location to go off and explore the rich history, archaeological sites, and mix of ancient Minoan civilization. You can walk to the city centre in about 10 minutes.

Here are a couple of places I would recommend visiting whilst docked in Heraklion for the day :

Knossos Palace and Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

This is a classic day trip. You can start by heading to the Palace of Knossos, which is right by the harbour entrance, and offers brilliant views of the city and sea. This is the ancient Minoan capital, believed to be the home of the legendary Minotaur. Many tours will offer skip-the-line tickets for cruise passengers. Afterwards you can visit the Museum, which is a 15-minute walk from the port. It houses most of the artifacts from Knossos, including intricate pottery, and the best Minoan bits and bobs!

Heraklion’s Old Town.

You can talk a stroll through the city streets, which have a lovely Venetian charm. Here you can walk along the harbour to see the old Koules Fortress, which is a Venetian castle at the port’s entrance. This is one of the more popular walks, which runs along the seaside promenade, from the Venetian Fortress to the city centre. You can take in lovely views of the ocean whilst passing old fortification walls.

You could then take a wander through Lions Square to see the lovely old Venetian fountain (Lion’s Fountain and grab a proper Greek coffee. Afterwards, I would recommend going to see the Cathedral of St. Minas, which is one of the largest Cathedral’s in Greece.

If you prefer a quick and easy option, you could consider taking the hop-on hop-off bus tour, which lets you explore Heraklion and the nearby beaches at your own pace.

If you fancy venturing further afield, there is a fantastic trip to the nearby Island of Dia. You could take a half day boat trip over to Dia Island, which is approximately 13 kilometres north of Heraklion. The island is a protected nature reserve, home to unique wildlife such as wild rabbits, the kri-kri goat, and various protected birds. The focus here is on nature and relaxation, with a bit of swimming and snorkelling thrown in!

And finally you could take in a full day or half day ‘Wine Tasting Tour’ in the Cretan countryside. You can visit local wineries, and learn about native grape varieties and taste excellent Cretan wines. A popular winery is Lyrarakis Winery, which is famous for reviving ancient, rare Cretan grape varieties. This is about a 30 minute scenic drive from the port. They offer vineyard tours and tastings in a beautiful setting with views of the Lassithi mountains, often paired with local delicacies.

If a cruise to Crete sounds like something you'd enjoy, then give us a call at 0161 513 8200 where one of our expert team will be happy to assist you!