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Iraklion Attractions
Museum's Temporary Display
When this edition went to press, Iraklion's Archaeological Museum was still closed for major renovations and additions, although it was claimed it would be open by the spring of 2012. However, they have installed a selection of all the major holdings in a new building at the rear of the museum. Its hours have been Tuesday to Sunday 8:30am to 5pm; Monday noon to 5pm. Admission is 4€; 2€ for students and E.U. seniors. To be frank, this reduced selection is probably enough for most visitors -- all the notable pieces are on display. One drawback is that the floor space is limited, so try to visit there during off hours -- very early in the morning or late in the day.
6 Results
- Museum
Archaeological Museum
The world’s greatest museum of Minoan art exhibits many of the finds from the Palace of Knossos and other monuments of the Minoan civilization that thrived in Crete some 4,000 years ago. A stroll through the museum, a mandatory first stop on a tour of Crete’s many Minoan sites,…$ - Zoo/Aquarium
Cretaquarium
It's hardly a world-class aquarium, but there's more than enough here to occupy your kids on a day when you need a break from the beach. On the edge of the former U.S. Air Force base, its several tanks house over 2,500 specimens from hundreds of Mediterranean and tropical species of… - Landmark
Harbor Fort
You may feel as if you're walking through a Hollywood set -- but this is the real thing. The harbor fort, built on the site of a series of earlier forts, went up between 1523 and 1540, and although greatly restored, it is essentially the Venetian original. Both its exterior and… - Museum
Historical Museum of Crete
Artifacts from Crete’s long and colorful past fill the rooms of this neoclassical mansion near the harbor. The Baptism of Christ and View of Mount Sinai and the Monastery of St. Catherine, by Crete-born artist Domenikos Theotocopoulos (also known as El Greco), the only works by the…City Center
- Landmark
The Palace of Knossos
This is one of the great archaeological sites of the world, yet until Arthur Evans began excavating in 1900, little was known about the ancient people who inhabited it. Using every possible clue and remnant, Evans rebuilt large parts of the palace -- walls, floors, stairs, windows,… - Landmark
Venetian Walls & Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis
These great walls and bastions were part of the fortress-city the Venetians called Candia. Two of the great city gates have survived fairly well: the Pantocrator or Panigra Gate, better known now as the Chania Gate (dating from about 1570), at the western edge; and the Gate of Gesu,…
Iraklion Shopping
Costas Papadopoulos, the proprietor of Daedalou Galerie, 11 Daedalou, between Fountain Square and Plateia Eleftheria (tel. 2810/346-353), has been offering his tasteful selection of traditional Cretan-Greek arts and crafts for several decades -- icons, jewelry, porcelain, silverware, pistols, and more. Some of it is truly old, and he'll tell you when it isn't.
Eleni Kastrinoyanni-Cretan Folk Art, 3 Ikarou, opposite the Archaeological Museum (tel. 2810/226-186), is the premier store in Iraklion for some of the finest in embroidery, weavings, ceramics, and jewelry. The work is new but reflects traditional Cretan folk methods and motifs. Get out your credit card, and go for something you'll enjoy for years to come. It's closed October through February.
Stores that sell local agricultural products have sprung up all over Iraklion. Crete's olive oil -- among the finest in the world -- stands side by side with honey, wines and spirits, raisins, olives, herbs, and spices. One store is as good as the other.
Iraklion Nightlife
To spend an evening the way most Iraklians do, stroll and then sit in a cafe and watch others stroll by. The prime locations for the latter have been Plateia Eleftheria (Liberty Sq.) or Fountain Square, but the crowded atmosphere of these places -- and some overly aggressive waiters -- has considerably reduced their charm.
For a more relaxed atmosphere, go to Marina Cafe, at the old harbor (across from the restored Venetian arsenali). For as little as 2€ for a coffee or as much as 9€ for an alcoholic drink, you can enjoy the breeze as you contemplate the illuminated Venetian fort, which looks much like a stage set. Another possibility if you're looking to have a late meal and hang out with a younger crowd is to try the small cafe/restaurant right on the 1866 Street (the Market street), Peninda-Peninda.
An alternative is Filos Sophias Roof-Garden Cafe (tel. 2810/222-333); enter through an interior staircase in the shopping arcade on Fountain Square. It attracts younger Iraklians, but travelers are welcome. The background music is usually Greek. You get to sit above the crossroads and, with no cover or minimum, enjoy anything from a coffee (2€) or ice cream (from 3€) to an alcoholic drink (from 4€).
There is no end to the number of bars and discos, featuring everything from international rock 'n' roll to Greek pop music, although they come and go from year to year. Disco Athina, 9 Ikarou, just outside the wall on the way to the airport, is an old favorite with the young; or try any of the clubs along Epimenidou -- the Villa Lokka or Privilege -- or Vogue or Envy along the seafront.
Most Class A hotels now host a Cretan Night, when performers dance and play traditional music. For more of the same, take a taxi to either Aposperides, out on the road toward Knossos, or Sordina, about 5km (3 miles) to the southwest of town.
During the summer, Iraklion's arts festival brings in world-class performers (ballet companies, pianists, and others), but mostly featured are ancient and medieval-Renaissance Greek dramas, Greek-themed dance, or traditional and modern Greek music. Many performances take place on the roof of the Koules (the Venetian fort in the harbor), Kazantzakis Garden Theater, or Hadzidaksis Theater. Ticket prices vary, but are well below what you'd pay at such cultural events elsewhere. Maybe you didn't come to Crete expecting to hear Vivaldi, but why not enjoy it while you're here? The festival begins in late June and ends in mid-September.
