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Trip Planner :  Europe  /  Greece  /  Crete  /  Heraklion Prefecture

Heraklion Prefecture

4
Ruins · Beaches · History Museums
Situated at the center of Crete, Heraklion prefecture remains best known for its eponymous capital city, the birthplace of artists El Greco and Nikos Kazantzakis. A crowded tourist mecca, the vibrant city serves as the starting point for day trips to the prefecture's main attraction, an ancient complex of Minoan palaces. This important archaeological site contains traces of Europe's oldest city, from which the mythical King Minos allegedly ruled the region. Venture farther away from the prefecture's big city and popular northern resorts to discover a less-trodden landscape of tiny villages, fertile green plains, and low mountain ranges. Add Heraklion Prefecture and other Greece destinations to your travel plans using our Greece travel planner.
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    Top Heraklion Prefecture tours

    FROM $90 BOOK WITH VIATOR Full-Day Land Rover Safari from Heraklion with Lunch
    4.8
    Duration: 8 hours
    Tours from $90 »
    FROM $169 BOOK WITH VIATOR Off-Road Buggy Adventure in Crete
    4.9
    Duration: 7 hours
    Tours from $169 »
    FROM $105 BOOK WITH VIATOR Zeus Cave-Traditional-Villages-Old Wind Mills-Olive Oil Factory-Small Group.
    5.0
    Duration: 8 hours
    Tours from $105 »
    FROM $180 BOOK WITH VIATOR The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area
    5.0
    Duration: 8 hours
    Tours from $180 »
    FROM $180 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Wine, Olive Oil, and Terroir Tour of Heraklion area with Tastings
    4.9
    Duration: 8 hours
    Tours from $180 »
    FROM $40 BOOK WITH VIATOR Spinalonga island
    3.9
    Duration: 8 to 9 hours
    Tours from $40 »
    FROM $48 BOOK WITH VIATOR 5-hour Crete Pirate Ship Cruise: Visit Dia island with Lunch
    5.0
    Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
    Tours from $48 »
    FROM $541 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Full-Day Knosos-Lasithi Plateau-Cave of Zeus from Heraklion
    5.0
    Duration: 8 to 10 hours
    Tours from $541 »
    FROM $108 BOOK WITH VIATOR Sailing full day island DIA with lunch from Heraklion
    4.4
    Duration: 8 hours
    Tours from $108 »

    Places to visit in Heraklion Prefecture

    HeraklionTrip planner BEST FOR: History Museum, Fountain, Room Escape Game HersonissosTrip planner BEST FOR: Aquarium, Water Park, Theme Park MatalaTrip planner BEST FOR: Beach, Cave, Outdoor Activity StalisTrip planner BEST FOR: Beach, Bar / Club, Outdoor Activity MaliaTrip planner BEST FOR: Ruin, Nightlife, Beach

    Regions of Heraklion Prefecture

    GouvesTrip planner

    Visit a single location or make it a multi-destination trip.

    Popular things to do in Heraklion Prefecture

    Historical Museum of Crete ©
    History Museum
    Historical Museum of Crete
    Heraklion
    4.6
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Heraklion Archaeological Museum ©
    History Museum
    Heraklion Archaeological Museum
    Heraklion
    4.6
    Duration: 2 hours
    CRETAquarium ©
    Aquarium
    CRETAquarium
    Gournes
    4.2
    Duration: 2 hours
    Buy tickets from $7 »
    The Palace of Knossos ©
    Ruin
    The Palace of Knossos
    Knosos
    3.1
    Duration: 3 hours

    Kid-friendly things to do in Heraklion Prefecture

    Castello del Molo (Koules) ©
    Castle
    Castello del Molo (Koules)
    Heraklion
    4.4
    Duration: 1 hour
    Lychnostatis Open Air Museum ©
    Specialty Museum
    Lychnostatis Open Air Museum
    Hersonissos
    4.6
    Duration: 1 hour
    The Natural History Museum of Crete ©
    World heritage site
    The Natural History Museum of Crete
    Heraklion
    4.4
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Matala Beach ©
    Beach
    Matala Beach
    Matala
    4.3
    Duration: 3 hours

    Historic Sites in Heraklion Prefecture

    Church of Saint Titus ©
    Church
    Church of Saint Titus
    Heraklion
    4.6
    Duration: 30 minutes
    Palace of Faistos ©
    Ruin
    Palace of Faistos
    Sivas
    4.0
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Venetian Walls and Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis
    Historic Site
    Venetian Walls and Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis
    Heraklion
    3.6
    Duration: 1 hour
    Malia Palace Archaeological Site ©
    Ruin
    Malia Palace Archaeological Site
    Malia
    3.6
    Duration: 2h 30 min

    Hidden gems in Heraklion Prefecture

    Kazantzakis Museum ©
    Specialty Museum
    Kazantzakis Museum
    Myrtia
    5.0
    Duration: 1 hour
    The Crete Golf Club
    Golf Course
    The Crete Golf Club
    Hersonissos
    4.6
    Duration: 4 hours
    Winery Stilianou ©
    Winery / Vineyard
    Winery Stilianou
    Archanes
    5.0
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Snail Farm and Fun ©
    Farm
    Snail Farm and Fun
    Tylissos
    5.0
    Duration: 2h 30 min

    Beaches in Heraklion Prefecture

    Red Sand Beach (Kokkini Ammos) ©
    Beach
    Red Sand Beach (Kokkini Ammos)
    Matala
    4.3
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Stalis Beach ©
    Beach
    Stalis Beach
    Stalis
    4.5
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Ligaria Beach ©
    Beach
    Ligaria Beach
    Agia Pelagia
    4.2
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Ammoudara Beach ©
    Beach
    Ammoudara Beach
    Heraklion
    3.5
    Duration: 2h 30 min

    Shopping in Heraklion Prefecture

    Luxurious Furs
    Gift & Specialty Shop
    Luxurious Furs
    Hersonissos
    5.0
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Irida Family Workshop ©
    Gift & Specialty Shop
    Irida Family Workshop
    Heraklion
    4.9
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Botano Cretan Mountain Herbs ©
    Gift & Specialty Shop
    Botano Cretan Mountain Herbs
    Kouses
    5.0
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    DA pottery workshop ©
    Gift & Specialty Shop
    DA pottery workshop
    Heraklion
    5.0
    Duration: 2h 30 min

    Featured attractions

    Go Xplore Tours ©
    Off-Road Tour
    Go Xplore Tours
    Hersonissos
    4.9
    Duration: 4 hours
    Tour Experts Private Tours ©
    Food Tour
    Tour Experts Private Tours
    Heraklion
    5.0
    Duration: 4 hours
    Lychnostatis Open Air Museum ©
    Specialty Museum
    Lychnostatis Open Air Museum
    Hersonissos
    4.6
    Duration: 1 hour
    The Bronze - Kelesis Yannis ©
    Gift & Specialty Shop
    The Bronze - Kelesis Yannis
    Anopolis
    4.9
    Duration: 1 hour

    Don't Miss a Thing. See & Do More.

    Recently planned trips to Heraklion Prefecture

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