Heraklion Landmarks: A Sightseeing Planner
Heraklion’s landmarks fall into two groups: Minoan remains from the Bronze Age and the Venetian city that grew up around the harbour. The sights are spread across town and its outskirts, so the order below follows how a day usually works, with the Minoan sites first and the Venetian centre on foot afterwards.
1. Palace of Knossos
The palace is about 5 km south of the centre and is part of the UNESCO-listed Minoan Palatial Centres, inscribed in July 2025. Much of what you see was reconstructed in concrete under Arthur Evans between 1900 and 1931, so original and rebuilt work stand together. Worth finding on the plan are the Central Court, the Throne Room and the Grand Staircase. A ticket costs EUR 20, or EUR 10 reduced, all year, and Knossos has no combined ticket with the museum. Opening is from about 08:30, and closing shifts from 20:00 in summer to 17:00 from 1 November. Last admission is 15 to 20 minutes before closing. The site closes early or fully in bad weather.
2. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The museum at Xanthoudidou 2 is about 5 km from the palace, beside Eleftherias Square. Its highlights are the Phaistos Disc, the Snake Goddess figurines and the Bull-Leaping fresco. The price is EUR 20 until 31 October and EUR 12 from 1 November. On Wednesdays it opens at 13:00 in summer and 10:00 in winter, and it stays open later on that day.
3. Koules Fortress
The Venetians built the fortress between 1523 and 1540 at the harbour mouth, and it carries Lion of St Mark reliefs. Admission is EUR 10, or EUR 5 reduced, and it is closed on Tuesdays. Inside are exhibition rooms, cannons and a roof terrace with harbour views.
4. The Venetian walls
The walls run for about 3 km, and the rampart walk is free. The Ottoman siege of Candia lasted 21 years, from 1648 to 1669, and the walls held throughout. The Jesus Gate on the south side and the New Gate are two separate gates. The Martinengo Bastion holds the grave of the writer Nikos Kazantzakis, a quiet place, and the epitaph carved there says he hopes for nothing, fears nothing and is free. Visit with respect.
5. Lions Square and the old centre
Walk up 25th of August Street from the harbour to Eleftheriou Venizelou Square, known as Lions Square for the Morosini Fountain at its centre. The Venetian Loggia, now the town hall, stands nearby. Agios Titos is a church. The city’s cathedral is Agios Minas.
6. The Historical Museum of Crete
At Sofokli Venizelou 27, the museum holds two El Greco paintings, the Baptism of Christ and View of Mount Sinai and the Monastery of St Catherine. From 18 May to 31 October it opens daily 09:00 to 17:00, and from 1 November it is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Rules and savings
Do not take anything away from an archaeological site. Check the museum’s photography rules at the door. Free admission days at state sites are 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, 28 October and the last weekend of September.
Official information
Hours and prices appear on the Ministry of Culture Knossos page and the Hellenic Heritage Knossos page . For a guide, browse Viator sightseeing options .
Read more: walking tours in Heraklion turns the old centre into routes, and attraction tours covers guided visits. For more on the palace, read about Knossos .