Heraklion Sights & Attractions - Page 2

Skoteino Cave

Skoteino Cave

Other
​​ Gouves

This beautiful cave can be reached on foot from Skoteino village. It used to be an important sanctuary in the Minoan times. Outside the cave, there is a nice chapel of Agia Paraskevi and a celebration is performed there on 26th July, the name day of the saint.

Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum

Museums
​​ Town

The Natural History Museum of Crete allows visitors to see and experience the biodiversity of Crete. It is housed in a modern building at the port of Heraklion Town.

Historical Museum

Historical Museum

Museums
​​ Town

The Historical Museum of Heraklion was established in 1953 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies. The museum presents the history and culture of Crete from the early Christian times till modern era.

Agios Minas

Agios Minas

Churches
​​ Town

This impressive church in the heart of the town is the cathedral of Heraklion Town. It was constructed during 1862-1895 next to the smaller church dedicated to Agios Minas.

Monastery of Vrontissi

Monastery of Vrontissi

Churches
​​ Zaros

The Monastery of Agios Antonios Vrontissi is situated close to the village of Zaros, in southern Heraklion. It is a male monastery and its location gives a great view to the Gulf of Messara and Asteroussia Mountains.

Byzantine Collection

Byzantine Collection

Museums
​​ Town

This collection is housed in the beautiful 15th-century basilica of Saint Ekaterini, Heraklion Town. It houses valuable ecclesiastical items and rare Byzantine icons.

Minos Winery

Minos Winery

Museums
​​ Peza

Minos Winery was the first to bottle the delicious wine of Crete. Its premises in Peza, about 18 km southeast of Heraklion Town, also work as a museum and visitors can see the wine production process and buy local products.

Cave of Eileithyia

Cave of Eileithyia

Other
​​ Amnissos

This cave was used as a place for worship of the goddess Eileithyia (truth), who was protecting childbirth. During Early Christian times, the Christians were using this cave to hide and practice their religion, while in the Minoan times it was also used for cult rituals. The cave lays 7 km east of Heraklion Town.

El Greco Museum

El Greco Museum

Museums
​​ Town

Close to the Gate of Bethlehem, in the Venetian Walls of Heraklion, a new museum recently opened dedicated to the famous Cretan painter Domenicos Theotokopoulos, also known as "El Greco". He was born in Heraklion in 1542 but worked and died in Spain in 1614. The museum includes copies of his paintings and costumes of the awarded movie "El Greco" (2007), directed by the Greek director Iannis Smaragdis.

Monastery of Koudoumas

Monastery of Koudoumas

Churches
​​ Koudoumas

The Monastery of Koudoumas is located in southern Crete, close to the bay of Tris Klisies. It was constructed in the 19th century and it is dedicated to Virgin Mary and celebrates on August 15th.

Thirathen Museum

Thirathen Museum

Museums
​​ Town

The Thirathen Museum of Traditional Instruments is a house of traditional instruments, providing a large exhibition of instruments, music lessons, vocal groups, and instructions on how to make an instrument from scratch.

AcquaPlus Waterpark

AcquaPlus Waterpark

Other
​​ Hersonisos village

Located at a distance of 5 km from Hersonissos, this is an amazing waterpark with lots of games for all ages, including Black Holes, Octopus Spacebowl, Kamikaze Hydrotube, and others.

Monastery of Agia Irini

Monastery of Agia Irini

Churches
​​ Kroussonas

Located high up in the mountains, the Monastery of Agia Irini in Kroussonas probably dates from the Venetian period. It was destroyed during the Turkish occupation but it was later rebuilt in 1940. Today the monastery is still active.

Saint George Selinari

Churches
​​ Malia

Located in eastern Crete, in Selinari Gorge, the Monastery of Saint George Selinari was initially constructed in the 16th century by a monk who found an image of Saint George, whose tomb is in a cave that can be seen from the Monastery.

Monastery Panagia Kera Kardiotissa

Churches
​​ Ano Kera
The Monastery of Panagia Kera Kardiotissa is located near Kera village, on the foothills of Mountain Dikti. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the region and it is dedicated to the Nativity of Virgin Mary.