Heraklion Crete

Cruise ships dock in the port. The city of Heraklion provides shuttles to the passenger terminal (a 5 minute trip) from there on it is a brisk 20-25 minute walk along the seafront to the old town, where all the main sights are concentrated. Taxis are readily available in front of the port.

In the Iraklion (Heraklion) cruise terminal there is a tourist office with free city maps.

The port bus will let you out at the Blue Port Terminal office. This is where people also buy ferry tickets. Immediately on the left is a small booth. There you can buy an all day, all bus ticket for 5 Euro - A few metres to the right of the booth is a small pedestrian exit and that exits to the bus stop that goes to Knossos VIA the central bus area of town. Also note - on the footpath is a Yellow line that leads you to downtown. The bus is marked Knossos and are 20 minutes or so apart. At Knossos the returning bus stops at the central bus area in town and then at the port gates. Directly in front of the Port building you can buy Hop on/off…

Printable map to take along.

Heraklion offers a wealth of museums, a summer-long arts festival, historical sightseeing, amazing nightlife and events throughout the year.

The core of the city is still enclosed and defined by the Venetian wall, which includes seven out jutting bastions. In the southernmost of these, the Martinengo Bastion, is the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis, standing on a windswept hilltop with its moving inscription, "I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.

The public bus from the main square takes you directly to the gate at Knossos for about 3 Euros each round trip. (2 a 3 buses an hour)

Get to know Heraklion and stop to visit the Palace of Knossos just outside the city on this open-top hop-on hop-off tour.

To get to the bus station, exit the port gates, turn right, walk until you see the bus station on the opposite side of the road and then cross the street. There is a little booth near the back of the bus station that sells the tickets for the Knossos bus. It is well marked.

Knossos is the site of the most important and best known Minoan palace complex in Crete. It is located some 5 km (3 mi) south of Heraklion. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the legendary Cretan king Minos. The Palace is also connected with further legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, as well as the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. Excavation has revealed that the site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times.

Admission: 15.00 euros or for 65+ it is 8 euro only for EU citizens.

For many visitors, Heraklion's most memorable shopping experience is a stroll along Odos 1866, the street where the open-air market is held (Mon-Sat, 8am-2pm). Stalls are piled high with everything from seasonal fruit and vegetables, to discount socks, towels and T-shirts. It's also the perfect spot to hunt for typical Cretan souvenirs such as thyme-flavored honey, dried herbs and teas, olive oil and olive-oil based cosmetics, as well as pumice stones. At the top of Odos 1866, in a side street leading to the right, you'll find the fish market.

Note: Most normal shops are closed on Sundays. It's mainly tourist shops that will be open.

Euro.

"Cash is king" in Greece - prices for many items can be lower if you pay cash and credit cards do not always receive an automatic welcome.

Free WiFi in the terminal. Also at H&M store in town has an open WiFi connection.

Public Services: open Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 2.00pm. Retail Stores & Specialty Shops: Monday to Friday, 9am – 1.30pm and then again from 5pm – 9pm. Saturdays, 9am – 2pm. Supermarkets: Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and Saturdays, 9am – 6pm. Tourist Shops and Convenience Stores: most of these do not have official opening hours and are usually open from dawn to well after midnight during the summer months.