Heraklion

Heraklion is the largest city on the Greek island of Crete. It is also a port city and is in the northern part of the island. Like most Greek cities, Heraklion and whole Crete have a rich history. It has passed through many periods and cultures, which can be felt at every corner. It was once the port city of the nearby royal city of Knossos, but today it is the centre of tourism and administration for the entire island of Crete.

Flights from Bratislava

Smartwings operates regular flights from Bratislava to Heraklion as of June 2024. Holiday route to Crete island operates 3 x weekly. The flight lasts  2.5 hours.

Transport from the airport to the city

Transportation from the airport is provided by buses that run between the airport and the city at regular intervals. But in this case, it is more advantageous to arrange transport from the airport to the hotel in advance. Some tours offer this automatically, and if not, call the hotel and it will be possible to make an agreement with them. Alternatively, you can use a taxi or a private carrier.

“Must see” in Heraklion

The city of Heraklion offers several very interesting places. Probably the most striking monument are the ruins of the Knóssos palace, which are intertwined with various legends. The most famous one, which is guaranteed to be known by everyone, is about the labyrinth with the Minotaur. The city also houses the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, which hides artifacts from the Neolithic period or treasures of the oldest civilization in Europe - the Minoan culture.

Right in the city, you can walk around the massive medieval fortress Rocca al Mare, which today is better known as Koules. It was built to such colossal dimensions in the 16th century, and the thickness of the outer walls reaches an incredible 9 meters.

The Byzantine St. Titus church, which was converted into a mosque during the Turkish occupation. It was later destroyed by an earthquake, and the current building dates from 1925.

There are several archaeological sites around the city, and if you are planning a longer vacation, you don't have to limit yourself to the capital, but plan a trip to other places on the island as well. And after exploring, don't forget to relax on one of the island's beautiful sandy beaches with a well-chilled drink.