Organising an trip to Greece on the island of Crete and want to visit Heraklion in 1 day with a free self-guided walking tour.
Located on the north coast of the island of Crete, it is the largest city on the island and the fourth largest city in Greece. To discover it, I offer you my FREE self-guided walking tour below with the map of the itinerary to follow to visit the most beautiful sites of Heraklion in 1 day.
You will simply have to open the attached Google Maps to follow the itinerary which allows you to discover the main tourist sites of the city of Heraklion on foot. I also recommend that you download the map in advance so that you can use it offline when you are in Heraklion.
And in addition to the walking route to follow to visit Heraklion in 1 day, I also tell you the program of the day, the details of the visits with photos and my restaurant and hotel recommendations.
Now is the time to explain to you how I organized this walking tour of Heraklion with my optimized circuit to visit everything in 1 day!
Visit Heraklion in 1 day
The majority of tourists who go to Crete go there to enjoy its landscapes, its culture but above all its splendid beaches. See my post: Where to stay in Crete?
As a result, whether for a seaside stay or on the occasion of a stopover on a cruise, visitors generally devote only 1 day to visiting Heraklion.
But visiting Heraklion in 1 day requires good organization (advance reservations for entrance tickets to museums) and a good walking tour to be able to discover the essentials of Heraklion in a single day. Indeed, with its rich history, its vestiges of different eras, its architecture and its museums, there are many things to see in Heraklion.
So, let me guide you to make the most of your 24 hours in this city that I found charming and exciting!
How to visit Heraklion in 1 day?
You have several possibilities to visit Heraklion in 1 day:
- Visit the city by walking around the streets a little randomly without following a circuit simply by feeling;
- Book a guided tour of Heraklion which can be done on foot in less than 2 hours for only 29 Euros;
- Why not visit Heraklion by electric bike in 3 hours;
- Or choose to visit Heraklion following my self-guided walking tour which is done in 1 full day. This is, in my opinion, the best way to discover most of the city freely and without time constraints (see details of the itinerary and visits below).
What to see in Heraklion in 1 day?
An archaic civilization, Heraklion was founded after the Minoan civilization then was conquered by the Venetians in the 13th century. Later, it was occupied by the Ottomans and finally became part of Greece in 1913. The city has undergone many changes over the centuries, but its cultural imprint is still visible in its streets and architecture.
By starting early in the morning and following my self-guided walking tour, you will be able to see the essentials of Heraklion in 1 day: Monuments, churches, museums, fortress, ramparts. Thus in 1 day, you will discover its rich history, its culture and the beauty of its historic center.
Itinerary to visit Heraklion on foot
With my self-guided walking tour, you will follow the itinerary of the most beautiful sites of Heraklion with the following steps:
- Koules Fortress
- The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion
- The Church of San Titos
- The Venetian Loggia
- Saint Mark's Basilica
- The Morosini Fountain
- Liondaria or Lion Square
- The Central Market
- Agios Minas Cathedral
- Knossos Palace
Heraklion self-guided walking tour
When you begin your walking tour, the first thing you will notice will be the amazing architecture around you. From Venetian fortresses to Ottoman mosques, the city is a melting pot of cultures and styles.
My self-guided walking tour to visit Heraklion in 1 day is only 2,4 km or about a 30-minute walk to be spread over a full day.
Remember to download the Google maps of the route in advance to visit Heraklion on foot. Thus, on site you can follow it offline in pedestrian GPS mode:
To this small tourist circuit of Heraklion, you can add if you have time the last stage which is the visit of the Palace of Knossos. Indeed, it is the furthest site from the historic center and for which you can either go there on foot (5 km) or go there by public transport (see indications at the end of this article).
Guide to visit Heraklion in 1 day
To start my walking tour, you will have to go to the most emblematic site of Heraklion: The Fortress of Koules.
If you are a cruise passenger, from the port where you are going to dock, you will have to walk about 20 minutes to reach the site: See the route
Visiting Heraklion Fortress
Koules Fortress (also known as Castello Del Molo or Rocca al Mare) is a Venetian monument located at the port of Heraklion. It was built in the 16th century to protect the city against pirates. This fortress served as a prison during the Ottoman rule. It now houses art exhibitions and cultural events.
Heraklion in 1 day – Archaeological Museum
After this 1st visit, following my self-guided walking tour you will walk 15 minutes to reach the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion in the city center.
You can visit it because it houses a splendid and impressive collection of objects from the Bronze Age and Roman times, including sculptures, pottery and jewelry.
Heraklion in 1 day – Church of San Titos
After 5 minutes of walking, you will arrive in front of the oldest church in Heraklion. It is dedicated to Saint Titus, who was the first bishop of Crete.
Built in the 10th century, this church was then used as a mosque (Mosque Vizier) during the Ottoman occupation and then the mosque became an Orthodox church again in 1925.
Heraklion in 1 day – The Venetian Loggia
Just 100 meters from the Church of Sant Titos, is an essential site of Heraklion: The Venetian Loggia. This monument now houses the town hall of Heraklion.
The Loggia is a magnificent example of a Venetian building with semicircular arches. This two-storey Venetian monument was completed in 1628 and was once a meeting place for the nobles of Crete.
In 1987, the Loggia received the first Europa Nostra prize for the best renovated and preserved European monument of the year.
Heraklion in 1 day - Saint Mark's Basilica
Very close to the Venetian Loggia is Saint Mark's Basilica, but not that of Venice !
Known as Hagios Markos, this basilica dates from the early 13th century. It was built by the Venetians as a tribute to Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice.
Heraklion in 1 day – Morosini Fountain
A few meters from the basilica, in the square of the lions (Liondaria) which is the heart of Heraklion, you can admire the Morosini fountain. Italian Governor Francesco Morosini built it to commemorate Venetian success in bringing water. Indeed, the Venetians had set up a viaduct system that brought water to the center of Heraklion from Mount Youchtas.
The fountain is made up of eight cisterns and decorated with stone reliefs, depicting figures from Greek mythology, such as nymphs, tritons, sea monsters and dolphins, while the main basin is supported by four seated lions balancing a circular bowl on their head.
The central market of Heraklion
From the Place des Lions, it will take you only a short walk to reach the central market. It's a nice stop on my self-guided walking tour to visit Heraklion in 1 day.
In fact, I recommend that you go to this covered market because in addition to local products, you can find souvenirs to bring back from Crete (crafts, jewelry, honey, raki, cheeses). And you will also find them all along rue 1866 because it is full of fashion stores, jewelry stores and souvenir shops.
Heraklion in 1 day – Agios Minas Cathedral
Now is the time to visit the iconic Agios Minas Cathedral. This magnificent church is dedicated to Saint Minas, the patron saint of Heraklion. Inside you can admire amazing frescoes and intricate carvings, making it a must-see destination for anyone visiting Heraklion.
This cathedral is an Orthodox church that was built in the 19th century. It is one of the largest in Greece which can accommodate more than 8000 people.
How to visit Knossos Palace in Heraklion?
The Palace of Knossos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Built over 4000 years ago, it is also the most important Minoan palace in Crete.
Knossos was originally a set of sanctuaries, houses, palaces with royal apartments, bedrooms, courtyards, throne room but also workshops and silos.
This site is magnificent with its unique architecture, frescoes and colorful columns. In addition, it is a legendary place where the labyrinth of King Minos is located, where Theseus killed the famous Minotaur!
How to get to Knossos Palace?
The Palace of Knossos is located 5 km from the city center of Heraklion. For good walkers, it is possible to go to this site on foot following my tourist circuit:
Alternatively, to get to Knossos Palace from Heraklion, you can take bus no. 2 to Knossos. This bus picks up at the Heraklion bus station which is 200 meters from the Archaeological Museum. So you will be on the site in 15 minutes by road.
Of course, you can also get to the Palace of Knossos from Heraklion by taking a taxi.
If you go there on foot, heading towards this archaeological site, you will be able to notice the Venetian walls and ramparts that surround Heraklion. These walls were built in the 16th century to protect the city from invaders. It was the largest fortification in the Mediterranean which contributed to the strong and long resistance of Venetian Candia besieged by the Ottoman army. You can walk along the walls to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.
Best restaurants in Heraklion
After this walking tour of Heraklion, it's time to taste the delicious Cretan cuisine (Cretan salad, dakos, Tzatziki, peppers and stuffed vine leaves, skewers or Souvlaki, octopus and cheeses like raviera, xinomizithra, pichtogalo of Chania and the xigalo of Sitia).
Among the many restaurants that offer traditional Cretan cuisine, here are some of the best (remember to book in advance):
Peskesi
Peskesi is an excellent traditional Cretan restaurant right in the city center of Heraklion. It offers top quality local cuisine using fresh, local ingredients. See his website.
Your Kalytera
Your Kalitera is a traditional seafood restaurant facing the beach in Heraklion. This is a tavern frequented by locals where you can taste octopus! See on TripAdvisor.
Amalias Kitchen
Amalias Kitchen is an international restaurant in downtown Heraklion. It offers top quality international cuisine, including vegetarian and vegan dishes but typical Greek dishes. Very well rated, do not hesitate to consult the customer comments on TripAdvisor.
Where to stay to visit Heraklion on foot?
To visit Heraklion on foot, it will be better to choose a hotel in the heart of the historic center of the city. The ideal will be to choose it with a sea view.
I found one whose location is ideal in one of the best districts of Heraklion. It is indeed well placed to visit Heraklion on foot and to enjoy the calm and the view of the sea: Atrion Hotel (see details and photos by clicking on the link below).
Royalty Free Images License: CC0 public domain source: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/fr/view-image.php?image=303372&picture=heraklion – https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/fr/view-image.php?image=293681&picture=municipalite- d39heraklion-en-crete – https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/fr/view-image.php?image=186019&picture=grece-4 – Pixabay: Image by davestem + Image by Pat de Pixabay – Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons