Heraklion Holidays

A very ancient town, Heraklion was probably a port to the Minoan settlement at Knossos as far back as 2,000 BC. After Roman rule the Saracens established the city, which in turn was invaded by the Byzantines. The Venetians, who ruled from the 13th Century, named the town Candia and built fine architecture, much of which can still be seen today.

After the Venetian period came Ottoman rule, and the town was finally unified with the rest of Greece in the early 20th Century. With a rich and sometimes turbulent history, today Heraklion is an extremely happy and welcoming town.

The highlight of the cultural calendar is the annual Heraklion Summer Festival that runs from July to September, which coincides with the peak time for holidays to Heraklion. A wide range of international and local art, music and theatre is on offer at venues throughout the city, including the open air theatres of Nikos Kazantzakis and Manos Hatzidakis. Holy Week is central to religious festivals, and the town marks Epiphany on January 6th with special ceremonies where the sea is blessed.

Crete's capital has a variety of ways to spend an evening, something for every taste. There's an amazing choice of places to eat including many pavement cafes. Watching the world go by from these street-side cafes appears to be a favourite pastime of the locals. Luculos is an upmarket restaurant with a lime tree-filled courtyard, and a reputation as being the best in town. The cheerful square of Platia Korai has many good bars to enjoy an evening drink in a relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere.

In the centre are many bustling bars playing loud music, while the nightclubs are mainly based on the city's outskirts, such Disco Athina located on the way to the airport. Whether you want a relaxing Greek evening, or a night of music and dancing, Heraklion has something for you on your Heraklion holidays.