Where to stay in Heraklion
Heraklion is a working city, not a resort, and the old center is small: the harbor, Lions Square, the museum and the market lie within about fifteen minutes of each other on flat streets. Stay there if you want to walk to dinner and to the Archaeological Museum, and take the bus to Knossos. If you want a beach, the sensible choice is a hotel on the sand west of town at Amoudara, with the city a bus ride away, not a room in the center. Hersonissos and the east coast resorts are a different kind of trip, about twenty-five kilometers away. Traffic is heavy on the main avenues, so the street matters more than the district.
The short answer
- First trip
- Lions Square and the market, or the old harbor if you want the water in view.
- Couples
- The old harbor or Lions Square, on a side street away from the main avenues.
- Families
- Eleftherias square for the museum and buses, or a beach hotel at Amoudara with a car or a bus.
- Tight budget
- The port and the bus stations, then Knossos Avenue.
- Beach
- Amoudara, about six kilometers west. It is not on the map of areas below, but it is covered under what to skip.
How we judge an area of Heraklion: the walk to the museum and the harbor, the noise at night, how you get in and out, and the price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Heraklion's areas, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Archaeological Museum | Morosini fountain | Ferry port | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The old harbor | First visit, the waterfront | Busy on the front | 5 min | 5 min | 10 min | On foot, buses on the main road | €€€ |
| Lions Square and the market | Walking, eating | Lively early, quiet late | 5 min | 5 min | 10 min | On foot, taxi to the edge | €€ |
| Eleftherias square and the museum | Museum, buses | Moderate | 5 min | 5 min | 10 min | City buses, on foot | €€ |
| The port and the bus stations | Ferries, budgets | Noisy near the quays | 5 min | 10 min | 5 min | Ferry quays, bus station | € |
| Kazantzakis park and the walls | Quiet, eating locally | Quiet | 15 min | 10 min | 15 min | On foot, taxi | €€ |
| Knossos Avenue and the south | Drivers, practical stays | Quiet off the avenue | 10 min | 10 min | 10 min | City buses, taxi | €€ |
The three columns are the straight line from the middle of each area plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes, so they show how far apart things are, not what to do. Knossos is about twenty minutes by bus from the center, and the airport is about five kilometers east, so neither shows up in the walking times. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the areas are
The old harbor, for the Venetian waterfront
The streets behind the Venetian arsenals and the Koules fortress, with fish tavernas, a walk on the breakwater and the main sights within fifteen minutes.
The old harbor is the postcard side of the city: the stone arsenals, the fishing boats and the long mole out to the Koules fortress, with fish tavernas along the front. Hotels are mostly small and mid-sized, on the streets behind the waterfront and on the main road that runs along it. Lions Square, the market and the museum are all about ten minutes' walk, and the fort and the sunset walk are on your doorstep.
It is also where the visitors eat, so the front is busy and the restaurants nearest the water are the most expensive and the least local. The road behind the harbor carries traffic and buses until late, and the shore is a working port, not a beach. Choose a room on a side street, not on the main road.
Good for
- The harbor, the fortress and the sunset walk
- Fish tavernas on the doorstep
- Walking to the museum, the fountain and the market
Think twice if
- You want a beach: the harbor is not one
- Traffic on the main road will bother you
Staying in The old harbor: nearby sights, food and getting around
Lions Square and the market, for the middle of the old center
The pedestrian heart of the city: the Morosini fountain, cafes, the market street, and tavernas where residents eat.
Lions Square, around the Morosini fountain, is the center of the old city. The market street, the churches of Agios Titos and Agios Markos and most of the cafes and pastry shops are within a five minute walk. Hotels range from small family places to mid-range blocks, and most side streets are pedestrian or very quiet. It is the best area for eating, drinking coffee and wandering in the evening.
The streets are old and tight, so taxis stop at the edge of the pedestrian zone and you walk the last stretch. The squares fill with tourists at midday and with locals in the evening. Some cafes keep going late, so ask for a room away from the square. There is no beach within walking distance.
Good for
- Walking to cafes, tavernas, the market and the fountain
- The best base for a short first visit
- Evenings out without a taxi
Think twice if
- You want a pool or a beach
- A late cafe terrace under your window would bother you
Staying in Lions Square and the market: nearby sights, food and getting around
Eleftherias square, for the museum and the Knossos bus
The square just east of the old center, five minutes from the Archaeological Museum, with cafes, shops and the bus for Knossos.
Eleftherias square is a large, open square at the edge of the old center, with the Archaeological Museum a short walk away and the walls and Lions Square both about ten minutes on foot. It is a convenient base for the museum, for buses to Knossos and for the bus and ferry stations, and hotels here are mostly mid-range blocks with a lift.
It is busy and noisy by day, with traffic on the avenues around it, and it has less character than the lanes to the west. After dark the square is calmer, though some bars stay open. Pavements are uneven and crossing the main roads takes care, so check which side of the hotel the window faces.
Good for
- The museum and the Knossos bus close by
- A wide choice of mid-range hotels with lifts
- Cafes and shops on the square
Think twice if
- You want a quiet lane or a historic feel
- Traffic noise bothers you
Staying in Eleftherias square and the museum: nearby sights, food and getting around
The port and the bus stations, for arrivals and low prices
The east side of the old harbor, by the ferry quays and the intercity bus station: handy for early boats and cheaper rooms.
The port area, east of the old harbor, is where the ferries to Santorini and Athens leave and where one of the two intercity bus stations stands. Hotels and guesthouses here are plainer and cheaper than in the old center, and the fountain and the museum are a ten to fifteen minute walk. It makes sense for an early boat or a late arrival.
It is not pretty. The streets by the quays are busy with traffic, trucks and ferry passengers, and they can be noisy at night when boats come in. Late at night, take a taxi rather than walking the quieter stretches, as you would near any port. A room facing inland is calmer.
Good for
- Early ferries and intercity buses
- Lower prices than in the old center
- A ten minute walk to the museum
Think twice if
- You want charm or a quiet night
- You will be walking home late
Staying in The port and the bus stations: nearby sights, food and getting around
Kazantzakis park and the walls, for a residential night
The south-west corner of the old city, inside the Venetian walls, with local tavernas and a calmer evening than the center.
The south-west of the old city, around Kazantzakis park and the walls, is more residential than the lanes near the fountain. A few small hotels and guesthouses sit among local tavernas, and Nikos Kazantzakis's grave is on the bastion nearby. It is ten to fifteen minutes' walk to Lions Square, and evenings are quiet.
There is less choice of hotels here, and fewer cafes and shops than in the center. The streets can feel empty late at night, and the walk back after dinner is not as lively. It suits a stay of a few nights where eating at local tavernas matters more than being near the cafes.
Good for
- Local tavernas and a calm evening
- The walls and Kazantzakis's grave nearby
- A short walk to Lions Square
Think twice if
- You want many cafes and bars close by
- You dislike quiet streets late at night
Staying in Kazantzakis park and the walls: nearby sights, food and getting around
Knossos Avenue and the south, for hotels with parking
The modern streets south-east of the center, along the road to Knossos, with larger hotels, parking and shops.
The area along the avenue to Knossos is residential and commercial, with larger modern hotels, some with pools or parking, and the Knossos bus passing close by. The museum and Eleftherias square are about ten to fifteen minutes' walk, and the old center a little further. It suits travelers with a car or those who value a lift and a quiet room.
It is the least atmospheric part of the city: wide roads, apartment blocks and traffic, with fewer restaurants than the old center. The avenue is busy during the day, so ask for a room at the back. It is a practical base, not a pretty one.
Good for
- Hotels with parking and lifts
- The Knossos bus nearby
- Lower prices than the harbor
Think twice if
- You want charm or a walkable evening
- You dislike traffic on wide roads
Staying in Knossos Avenue and the south: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Heraklion, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Heraklion. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- Hersonissos or Malia, for a city break
Hersonissos is a resort and nightlife strip about twenty-five kilometers east, and Malia is further. They are good for a beach holiday, but Heraklion is a long bus ride away, and the resorts are noisy in summer. Stay in the city for the museum and Knossos, or pick the resort for its own sake.
- A beach at Amoudara if you want to walk to dinner
Amoudara is a long sandy beach about six kilometers west, with resort hotels along it. It is a fine place to swim, but you take the bus or a taxi to the old center. Choose it if the beach matters more than the evening in town, and check the last bus home.
- A room on the main road behind the harbor
The roads around the harbor and the port carry heavy traffic and buses late into the evening. Ask for a room at the back or on a side street.
- A hotel that is described as 'central' without a street
Central can mean the port, the avenue or the old city. Check the street and the walk to the fountain on the map before you book.
- Traveling in winter and expecting everything to be open
Many beach hotels, boat trips and seasonal tavernas close from November to March. Check opening dates before booking out of season.
Which area suits you
First time in Heraklion
Stay in Lions Square and the market or the old harbor.
Couples
The old harbor or Kazantzakis park, on a side street.
Families with children
Eleftherias square for the museum, or a beach hotel at Amoudara.
A tight budget
Early ferries
The port and the bus stations, a short walk from the quays.
A rental car
Knossos Avenue and the south for parking, or a hotel with its own car park.
Beaches
Amoudara to the west, or Kokkini Hani to the east, by car or bus. Not the old center.
Before you book a room in Heraklion
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Heraklion makes a good stay. Bus tickets and timetables change by season, so check them locally.
- The climate resilience feeGreece charges a fee per room per night, not per guest, paid at the hotel and usually not in the online price. From April to October it is €2 at a one or two-star hotel, €5 at three stars, €10 at four and €15 at five; from November to March it is €0.50, €1.50, €3 and €4. Short-term rentals pay by size, and the rate is the same on every island.
- From the airportHeraklion airport is about five kilometers east of the center. City bus 78 runs to the central bus station in around 20 minutes for under €2 per ticket. A taxi is quicker and most hotels will send a car if you ask. Check the fare with the driver, or ask your hotel for a price.
- To KnossosCity bus line 2 runs from the center to the entrance of the site in about 20 minutes. Entry is by timed slot through the official e-ticket system, and the first slot is the quietest.
- From the ferry portThe port is on the east side of the old harbor, about fifteen minutes on foot from Lions Square. Taxis wait at the quays.
- CarsYou do not need a car for the city or for Knossos. You do need one for villages, gorges and the south coast, and parking in the old center is tight. Hotels with a car park are common on Knossos Avenue.
- Heat and noiseJuly and August are hot, often above 30 degrees. Ask for air conditioning and a room away from the main road.
- SeasonApril to October is the season. In winter, many beach hotels and boat trips close, and the city is quieter and wetter.
Where to stay in Heraklion: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Heraklion for a first visit?
Lions Square and the market, or the old harbor. Both are in the old center, with the museum, the fountain, the market and the fortress within fifteen minutes on foot.
Is it better to stay in Heraklion or at a beach resort?
In Heraklion for the museum, the old town and Knossos. At a beach resort such as Amoudara or Hersonissos if the beach matters more, and you will take a bus into the city.
Is Amoudara a good place to stay?
It is a good beach with resort hotels about six kilometers west of the center. The city bus takes 20 to 30 minutes, so it works for a beach holiday with a day or two in the city.
Should I stay in Hersonissos?
Only if you want a resort and nightlife strip. It is about twenty-five kilometers from Heraklion, so it is a poor base for a city break.
Where should I stay in Heraklion if I have no car?
The old center or Eleftherias square. Both are walkable, with buses and taxis close, and the Knossos bus leaves from the center.
Is Heraklion safe to stay in?
Yes, in normal city terms. Keep an eye on bags in crowded places, take care crossing busy roads, and take a taxi late at night if you are tired or unsure of the way.
How much is the climate fee in Heraklion?
It is charged per room per night, not per person: from April to October €2 at one and two-star hotels, €5 at three stars, €10 at four and €15 at five. It is paid at the hotel, usually on top of the price shown online.
How do I get from Heraklion airport to the center?
By city bus 78 to the central bus station, about 20 minutes, or by taxi, which is shorter. The airport is about five kilometers from the old center.
