Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Knossos Palace

The Palace of King Minos is a legendary architectural monument located on the island of Crete. According to ancient Greek legend, King Minos built it to conceal his wife’s infidelity, who gave birth to a monstrous creature-a Minotaur-from a sacred bull. Visiting this architectural landmark allows you to be transported to a time, when, according to the legend, the bull was still kept in the palace and Theseus was on his way to battle the beast. On the frescoes and walls, among other drawings, images of the bull have been preserved-sometimes depicted as peaceful, and sometimes as enraged. The palace contained more than a thousand rooms, and by moving through it you can reach rooms located at height on the fourth floor. Also, images of ancient symbols were found on the palace walls; some of them still remain a mystery.

Cathedral of Saint Catherine

The Greek temple of Saint Catherine is located on Catherine Square, which is named after the temple. The temple was built in 1555 in honor of Saint Catherine of Sinai. The temple is an example of a blend of Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Monks organized a Greek Orthodox school at the monastery, where El Greco received his education. In 1669, when Heraklion was occupied by the Turks, the Temple of Saint Catherine was converted into a Muslim mosque; it was located here until the 20th century. Today, the temple houses a museum of the history of Greek Orthodoxy. In addition to books, icons, church utensils, and frescoes, the museum preserves six unique works by Michael Damaskinos (one of the best representatives of the Cretan icon-painting school).

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

The museum has a total of twenty rooms containing exhibits collected from across the island of Crete. In addition to the collection of Minoan art, the museum also features other periods of Crete’s history-from the Neolithic to the Greco-Roman rule. All new exhibits are delivered to the museum directly from the excavation sites. The museum has two floors: on the first floor there are 13 rooms, and on the second floor you can see fragments of the original frescoes from the Minoan Palace at Knossos. The museum’s pride is the Phaistos Disc-a unique writing monument of Minoan culture from the Middle Bronze Age. To this day, neither its exact purpose nor the time of its creation has been reliably established. Notably, none of the proposed readings of the inscriptions on its surface has yet been accepted by the scientific community.

Aqua Park Water City

Water City is located in Heraklion, on the island of Crete, covering an area of over 80,000 square meters and making it the largest water park on the island. It features thirteen swimming pools, more than twenty different slides, and many other attractions. The slides are divided into several types; such as “Black Hole” and “Red Hole,” which are considered the most extreme-people in special gear are lowered at high speed into a tube. If these slides seem a bit too scary, you can ride the “Lazy Slide.” The park has a huge number of restaurants, cafés, as well as children’s play areas.

Beaches near Heraklion

Amoudara Beach is the center of tourist life in Crete. It is within walking distance of the capital, Heraklion, and offers an excellent five-kilometer beach where you can try all kinds of water sports. Thanks to the openness of the bay and the good wind, windsurfing is particularly popular here. Matala Beach is famous above all for its caves, which were carved into the rocks of the bay as far back as the Neolithic era. Later, the caves were used as burial sites. During the hippy invasion, such celebrities as Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell lived in these caves. Rolling Stones also performed on Matala Beach. Today, Matala Beach is a pleasant place to relax.

Agia Deka

Agia Deka is a mountain village located on the island of Crete, in the Heraklion region. Agia Deka is known for its lush greenery, with tall trees and flowering plants standing out against the general backdrop. To reach Agia Deka, visitors come who have traveled to see the ancient city of Gortyna, which was destroyed in some places down to the foundations, yet has not lost its former grandeur. Agia Deka welcomes guests with beautiful views of the mountains covered in trees that reach upward, resembling tall fir trees. In the mountain village, almost all buildings are in a state of decay. In need of restoration, they are wrapped in vigorous grapevines and tree branches. Many balconies of residential houses are adorned with flowers and potted plants, giving them an even more historic look.

Knossos Palace and Boutari Winery

A trip that allows you to visit the world-famous monument of history, architecture, and culture - the Knossos Palace, as well as learn about the traditions of Cretan winemaking at one of Europe’s most modern wineries. The Knossos Palace is located 5 kilometers from Heraklion. It was founded in 2000 BC and served as the residence of King Minos. Excavations of this archaeological site began in 1900, led by Arthur Evans, who, drawing on ancient Greek mythology from the Cretan cycle, revealed to the world the great Minoan civilization - the first civilization in Europe. And the tour of the “Boutari” winery and tasting its products will be a great way to conclude this excursion route!

Heraklion Sightseeing Tour

A short walking tour of Heraklion will help you learn more about the history of this city and immerse yourself in the so unhurried and measured pace of local life. And a cup of freshly brewed coffee, which you can enjoy at Lions Square, will help you feel like a Greek.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check them out after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.