Heraklion is the capital of Crete and one of the Mediterranean region's most fascinating and vibrant cities. It is full of places to discover. With the current efforts to open up the wonderful mediaeval city centre, it speaks to us of a past full of history and great events that reflect its strategic geopolitical position at the crossroads of three continents...

Heraklion is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island. It is easily reached by plane from all over the world, its international airport is first in charter flights, and by boat from Piraeus and the nearby Greek islands. Travelling within Crete is also very easy with bus connections to most places around the island...

Heraklion offers many fine hotels of all categories, bed and breakfast and rooms for rent, which are host to visitors all the year round, and most tourist, car and motorbike rental offices facilitate the visitor and give guidance in touring the beautiful island of Crete, its coasts and beautiful countryside...

Coming to Heraklion for the first time, the visitor nowadays may be somewhat surprised by the changes that are taking place in Crete's capital city; Heraklion is celebrating its rich history and moving onwards to a future full of potential. The city has opened up in so many ways, making the city a place of discovery. Enjoy walking in one of the most historic and fascinating cities...

Heraklion is an exciting city. A wealth of cultural events are organized throughout the year with traditional Cretan music and dance, modern music, dance and theatre, offering to citizens and visitors alike authentic cultural experiences. Cretan cuisine, based on olive oil, vegetables, fruits, legumes grains and wine, is popular all over the world for its health and taste...

The information office for the visitors of Heraklion City is located in the ground floor of "Aktarika" building (Lions square). Its purpose is to develop tourism activities and improve the tourism services provided in the city of Heraklion with the edition of tourist information material, brochures, maps etc. The opening hours for the public are 8.30 a.m. to 14.30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

In Heraklion, the visitor can discover a wealth of cultural experience, in the newly refurbished Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Heraklion and, among others, the Natural History Museum, exhibitions throughout the year and a summer-long festival of music and arts. History is in the stones of Heraklion, marrying the past with the present, as its most famous area of nightlife is also one of its oldest; the old town around Daedalus and Korai Streets.

Large ‘squares' or platiea abound throughout the city centre, providing centres of activity throughout the day and well into the night, as, particularly in the summer, all of Heraklion takes to the streets when the sun goes down.

An unforgettable experience awaits the visitor today in Heraklion. The range of hotels and guest houses give everyone the possibility to explore this old and new city in all its colours, bringing a famously proud and thrilling city closer to you. Heraklion is for you to discover.

Crete has one of the oldest and most tasty gastronomic traditions in the world, a tradition of tastes, aromas, ingredients and skills which begin from the prehistoric years and continue until today. The Cretan diet constitutes the recent years the subject of study, since the majority of studies demonstrates that the Cretan cuisine is the most characteristic and qualitatively high example of the Mediterranean diet.