Iraklion, Crete, Gr

Heraklion or Iraklion, is the largest city and the capital of Crete, Greece. Heraklion, one of the two main ports on the island, was once the harbor for Knossos, the largest palace and most powerful Minoan center on the island.The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby.

Attractions include central square which is surrounded by cafes, stores and restaurants and dominated by the fountain of the Lions. The Town Hall, which is today housed in the Venetian Loggia, a building from the same era. Visitors can walk around the old part of the city following the old Venetian walls that meet at a bastion, called "Koules", which dominates the old harbour of the city .

Visitors to Iraklion should also visit the archaeological site at Knossos and the Archaelogical Museum of Iraklion that houses most of the Minoan findings in Crete. Special attention should also be paid to the Historical museum of Iraklion that houses findings from the early Christian era to today and the Museum of Natural History.

Things to See & Do

* Palace of Knossos
* Koules, the Venezian castle in the Harbour
* Amoudara - the city's beach area
* Lions Fountain
* Venetian Walls

General information

Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language - Greek
Land Area - 108.8² km's
Population - 150,000
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code - 0030

Port Location - The port is located within easy walking distance of the town centre.

Transport Links - Heraklion has a busy harbour and very busy airport and usually is the starting point of travels to Crete and nearby islands.

Olympic Airways and Aegean-Cronus Airlines fly in from Athens and other major Greek cities. There are ferries from Athens, Thessaloniki and the Cyclades. The frequency is reduced in the winter.