Visit Heraklion
The capital and the largest city of the island of Crete, Heraklion or Iraklion is one of the most frequently visited tourist destinations in Greece. The city was home to the great Greek writer and philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis, which you will notice as you land on the airport named after him.
It is a historical city and as obvious from its location, it features some of the most spectacular of beaches in the entire Mediterranean region.
One of the main reasons why tourists head to Crete in general and Heraklion in particular is the uninterrupted sunshine, and the pristine waters of the beautiful sandy beaches located there, making the region a popular summer tourist destination, especially for the Western European tourists. Heraklion features breathtaking blue flag beaches such as Ammoudara 1 and 4, Agia Giorgios 1, 2 and 3 and Fodele, which are very near to the airport, Anisaras and Drepanos. Other nearby popular beaches include Agia Pelagia and Karteros. Some other blue flag beach resorts, which are more distant from Heraklion include Lentas, Potamos and Matala.
But the best part is that really a camp in Heraklion positions you conveniently to access any of these beaches. These beaches are very popular and offer all the beach activities and water sports that you would expect on any quality beach.
The attractions in Heraklion are not just limited to the beautiful beaches of the region, but features a number of historical and archaeological ones and also hosts a vibrant nightlife.
The best archaeological attraction are the Bronze Age ruins of the old city of Knossos near the city, which used to be the cultural center of the Minoan culture.
Other attractions include the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which is one of the best ones in the world, Museum of Visual Arts and the Historical Museum of Crete.
Map of Heraklion and places to visit
Heraklion places to visit
Crete
Crete guide