Heraklion is a Greek seaside city located on Crete and its most popular region. Heraklion is a unique blend of ancient and modern vibrant culture, historical sites, and beautiful beaches. 

City Full Of History

Historians believe that Heraklion was built on the shore of the harbor of the Cretan Sea near the city of Knossos. This city was one of the centers of the Bronze Age Minoan civilization. In the ninth century, Crete was conquered by the Arabs, who turned Heraklion into a fortified fort. Then in the tenth century, the city was conquered by the Byzantines, and in the thirteenth century, Crete passed to the Venetians. In the XVII century, Heraklion was captured by the Turks. At the end of the XIX century Crete achieved independence, and a little later joined the territory of Greece. So, as you can see, the history of Heraklion is rich and dynamic. That’s why the city had so many names: Arabs called it Χάνδαξ (Chándax), and Latin and Byzantine names for Heraklion were Candia and Megalo Castro. 

Heraklion has a mild Mediterranean climate

The climate of Heraklion belongs to the Mediterranean type, but the peculiarities of the island location of the city make it milder, minimizing temperature fluctuations. Temperatures in mid-summer range from 25 to 28-29 degrees Celsius.

Must Places To See In Heraklion 2024

If you’re in the mood for sightseeing, you can visit an incredible number of interesting and noteworthy signs in this Cretan gem. Let’s explore the best signs to visit in the Heraklion city:

1. Knossos Archaeological Site. Here you can see well-preserved ruins of the Knossos palace, Crete’s most famous ancient monument, and the former palace of King Minos. Tourists and locals love this place because the history of Knossos is linked to legends and myths about the Minotaur, Ariadne, and Theseus.
2. Heraklion museums. Heraklion is home to numerous museums including the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion Crete, The Historical Museum of Heraklion, the Kotsanas Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Kazantzakis Museum, and the El Greco Museum. Visiting one of them, you can get aesthetic pleasure and get to know Greece better.
3. Bembo Fountain and Turkish Sebil. There are many magnificent Venetian-era fountains in the city, but some of the most famous are Bembo and Sebil.
4. Heraklion’s fascinating cathedrals, churches, and monasteries. Heraklion is home to many cathedrals and churches of incredible beauty. All the buildings are majestic, eye-catching, and mesmerizing. Visit the Cathedral of St. Minas, The Cathedral of Saint Titus, the Monastery of Valsamonerou, and the Church of Saint Catherine. 
5. If you have bypassed all the sights of Heraklion, then switch to its suburbs, which are also a lot of interesting. So, it is worth visiting the archaeological site Phaistos, and the Koules Fortress. 
6. Heraklion Beaches. Visit one of Heraklion’s beaches, for example, Karteros, Malia, Agiofaraggo, Agia Pelagia, Amoudara, or Stalida Beach. Many people come here just to lie on the warm white sand, bask in the gentle rays of the Greek sun, and swim in the clear warm water, in general, to fully enjoy their vacation. While Karteros has bars and everything you need for a comfortable and active vacation, Malia is a popular surfing destination. 

Looking for something special? Then be sure to enjoy Heraklion’s vibrant nightlife scene. Unfortunately, you won’t find here gambling venues if you’re into gambling (casinos, betting, click on big bass bonanza free for more information!), but you will find in Heraklion enough exciting and hot clubs and bars to visit. 

Have we inspired you to visit Heraklion?