A great place for youth recreation. A good selection of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. Lots of entertainment: beach holidays, water sports, sailing trips, a water park, plenty of nightclubs and discos. Free admission and fun from morning to morning. Lots of places for exciting shopping. Rich cultural heritage.

The unofficial Cretan capital of leisure, a bustling party resort. More suitable for youth holidays than family vacations with children. Life here is in full swing around the clock, and the music does not stop even at night.

Located 26 km from Heraklion. You can take a taxi at the airport, or you can save a lot and get there by bus. Hersonissos is the oldest village in Crete. It is quite small - the main street can be walked in an hour. The rich turquoise color of the sea is set off by the graceful cliffs of Lasithi. The modern part surrounds the port of Hersonissos. In 2 km from it lies the old part: picturesque sea views, green streets, small houses, old churches, numerous taverns, cafes, restaurants. Near the old Hersonissos are two charming seaside villages: Piskopiano and Koutouloufari. We recommend visiting the latter - a very atmospheric place.

When is the best time to go

The tourist season begins in April, and in May they are already swimming, the water warms up to 20 ° C. In the period from July to September, the temperature rises to 28-35 ° C. These are the hottest months of the year. A light sea breeze makes the heat not so exhausting, and near the water it is completely pleasant. In September comes the velvet season, which lasts until the end of October. The heat subsides, but the sea is warm, the water temperature is 23 ° C.

What to see

Despite the fact that Hersonissos is an ancient city, there are very few old buildings and monuments in it. Usually they see a paleo-Christian basilica, a Roman port, an antique fish tank, ruins of theaters, and mosaics.

Lovers of ancient Greek culture and history go on excursions to neighboring cities, where many interesting objects have been preserved. Buses go there regularly, so you don't have to look for sightseeing tours, you can explore the monuments on your own.

An hour's drive away is the Palace of Knossos, a labyrinth in which the bloodthirsty Minotaur was waiting for the victims.

In the open-air museum "Lychnostatis" you can get acquainted with the history of the island, learn how people lived in Crete in antiquity.

These are several small museums that are located nearby. Various workshops, a two-story house, a shepherd's hut, an olive oil press. Everything is real, it works, you can touch it with your hands in order to take a closer look. Wine tastings are held here on Wednesdays.

Where to stay

There are many hotels, inns and apartments in Hersonissos. In the city itself there are standard hotels with a limited area. Mostly they belong to the 3-5 star level. An average room is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay: air conditioning, safe, refrigerator, mini-bar. In the surrounding area, such as Anissaras and Analipsi, you can stay in a large, all-inclusive family hotel. If you wish, you can rent a luxury villa overlooking the sea. It all depends on your plans and budget.

How to have fun

Excursions on a yacht to the island of Dia are popular here. For example, from the marina of the port of Hersonissos, in the morning and in the evening, the DanEri sailing catamaran departs for a boat trip. On the cruise, you can go fishing, learn SUP, go snorkeling, arrange a photo session against the backdrop of sea views, and watch the sunset on the high seas.

There are many beaches along the coast, some are pebbly, some are sandy, everywhere the coast is quite narrow, no more than 10 meters wide. There is a city beach in Hersonissos, but it is considered ordinary, and vacationers tend to settle in more interesting places. There are very cozy coves nearby, which can be reached on foot. We recommend the small beach of Anissaras, 2 km from the main road of Hersonissos.

Everywhere there is free admission, you only have to pay for a sun lounger and an umbrella. On Sunday, everything is full and a free sunbed is hard to find. If you come with your own woven rug and folding umbrella, which you can buy at any local store, no one will mind.

The beaches at Silva Beach, Drepanos and Star Beach with a water park have been awarded the blue flag for their cleanliness. Water sports fans have a great time on the beach near the Creta Maris. And lovers of naturalness gather on the nudist beach in the area of ​​Cape Sarandaris.

In addition to the Star Beach water park in the eastern part of Hersonissos, you can visit Aqua Splash outside of it. Both offer rides for children and adults, and there is a cafe on site where you can have a snack. At Star Beach, a foam party for young people begins in the evening, which smoothly turns into a night disco. Famous DJs often come.

An endless series of bars, discos and clubs stretches along the coastline. Most of them are free to enter, and you can have fun until dawn. Go out to the embankment, barkers will immediately approach you to invite you to their establishment. The most fashionable are Amnezia, Status Club, Matrix, New York, King Scorpio, Palm Beach.

Shopping

Hersonissos has as many shops as nightclubs. Unlike Heraklion, they are open from morning to evening, seven days a week and without siesta. Fur shops are popular, which offer a large selection of fur coats. Experienced travelers are advised to bargain - the price can be reduced by 10-15%.

On the streets there is a huge number of jewelry stores, where you can find exclusive designer jewelry, and souvenir shops. Olive trees, textiles, ceramics, natural cosmetics, carpets with national patterns are bought as souvenirs.

Shops are open from morning to evening, seven days a week and without siesta

Hersonissos is a city of eternal youth. It is always here, noisy from morning till morning, and even the air is saturated with unrestrained fun. The city attracts young people and everyone who is young at heart.

We love Crete and try to show our guests all its beauty and treasures. Therefore, we will be happy to answer any of your questions and recommend what to see, where to stay or which restaurant to choose.