Heraklion International Airport (HER) is the busiest airport in Crete and one of the busiest in Greece — serving the full range of UK charter and scheduled flights throughout the summer season. The airport sits on the coast immediately east of the city, making it one of the most conveniently located major airports in the Greek islands. Most resort areas along the north coast are reachable within 20–45 minutes, and Knossos is a 15-minute taxi ride from the terminal.
The city of Heraklion itself is a working Cretan capital rather than a resort town — and that distinction is important for guests considering it as a holiday base. The Venetian walls that still encircle the old city, the Koules Fortress at the entrance to the harbour, the Lion Square fountain and the covered market running the full length of 1866 Street give the centre genuine character and historical weight. But Heraklion is also a city of 150,000 people with traffic, noise and the pace of a working urban centre. Guests who want a quiet, relaxed resort atmosphere will find the beach areas east and west of the city — Kokkini Hani and Agia Pelagia in particular — more suitable as bases.
The defining reason to stay in or near Heraklion is the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Europe’s oldest palace complex, built around 2000 BC and home to the civilisation that gave Greece its earliest written language, Knossos is a genuinely extraordinary historical site — and one that Eleni considers among the most important and most underappreciated in the entire Mediterranean world. The frescoes, the scale of the reconstruction, the sense of standing inside a 4,000-year-old royal complex: for guests with any interest in history or archaeology, a morning at Knossos is one of the most memorable experiences available within a short-haul flight of the UK.
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum, located in the city centre, houses the finest collection of Minoan artefacts anywhere in the world — including the famous bull-leaping fresco, the Phaistos Disc and gold jewellery of extraordinary delicacy. Eleni recommends visiting the museum before Knossos rather than after — understanding what was found at the site makes the visit to the palace itself considerably more meaningful.
For beach access from a Heraklion base, the coast immediately east of the city — around Ammoudara and Kokkini Hani — has good sandy beaches within easy reach. The resort areas of Hersonissos to the east and Agia Pelagia to the west are both accessible as day trips or as alternative bases for guests who want to combine resort facilities with easy Heraklion access.
One honest note: if your primary holiday priority is beach time, all inclusive facilities and a resort atmosphere, Heraklion city centre is not the right base. The beach areas east and west of the city, or Hersonissos further along the coast, will suit those priorities better. Heraklion is the right choice for guests who want the city, the history and Knossos within easy reach — alongside the option of a beach day without a long transfer.
For all inclusive holidays near Heraklion, cheap Crete holidays from the UK or Crete package holidays — book through GotoBeach with full ATOL protection under licence #11211, low deposits from £30 per person and the honest advice of someone who was born on this island.
