Situated in the middle of Crete’s north coast and boasting an international airport, Heraklion is, of course, the first city you’ll come across when you arrive on Greece’s largest island. In terms of urban planning, it’s utter chaos, though it does harbour some real gems; however, it isn’t quite as charming as Chania and Rethymno, Crete’s other major cities...

In the city centre, you will see Byzantine churches, Venetian palaces, Ottoman fountains and neoclassical buildings, but above all concrete blocks of flats built in the 1950s in a state of utter chaos. Having been destroyed on several occasions, notably during the Nazi occupation in the Second World War, Heraklion has never managed to develop harmoniously.

Despite its ugliness, Heraklion is by no means lacking in attractions. There are fascinating museums, an impressive Venetian fortress overlooking the harbour, the legendary Minoan palace of Knossos a few kilometres to the south, and a lively old town with countless restaurants, bars and shops.

Most visitors don’t linger there and leave as quickly as possible, but the town is well worth spending a few days exploring – there’s plenty to discover!

Useful links

Incredible Crete (The official tourism website of Crete) - Wikipedia