Landmarks

• 'The Minoan Palace of Knossos', ☎ +30 2810 231940, +30 2810 226470, +30 2810 226092, +30 2810 224630, fax: +30 2810 241515, e-mail: protocol@kgepka.culture.gr. Winter: Daily 08.30-15.00 Summer: 08.00-19.30. Knossos (Greek Κνωσός, the accent is on the second syllable) is the site of the most important and best known Minoan palace complex in Crete. It is located some 5 km (3 mi) south of Heraklion. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the legendary Cretan king Minos. The palace is also connected to other legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, as well as the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. Excavation has revealed that the site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times.

• Koules, the Venetian castle in the Harbour (Greek: Κούλες). It is a long walk out to the end of the pier which extends past the fort, but it offers nice views out to the Mediterranean and back to the harbor.
• Venetian Walls (Greek: Τείχη). It takes over an hour's stroll to circumnavigate the city walls, stretches of which have been turned into parkland. It is frequented by people running and walking dogs.
• Loggia (Greek: Λότζια)
• Morosini Fountain (a.k.a. Lions Square) (Greek: Λιοντάρια)

• St Minas Cathedral

  (Greek: Άγιος Μηνάς)
• St Titus Church (Greek: Άγιος Τίτος)
• St Catherine of the Sinaites Church (Greek: Αγία Αικατερίνη Σιναϊτών)
• St Mark's Basilica (Greek: Βασιλική Αγίου Μάρκου)
• Dominican Church of St Peter (Greek: Άγιος Πέτρος Δομηνικανών)

Museums and Galleries

• Heraklion Archaeological Museum, 2 Xanthoudidou St, ☎ +30 2810-224630, +30 2810-280370, fax: +30 2810-332610. Houses the most important and representative finds from Minoan civilization and excavations across the island of Crete. Highlights include statues of the Snake Goddess, the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco, the enigmatic and mysterious Phaistos Disk, and Minoan seals and jewelry. Also includes a number of finds from Classical Greek and Roman periods. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the world's great museums, embodying a whole splendid vanished culture. At least two hours should be allowed to see it, and it could easily take longer. For those particularly interested in that culture, it will be worthwhile to make two visits to the museum, one before, and one after, visiting Knossos and other Minoan sites: seeing the museum first will enhance your understanding of the sites, and after seeing the sites, you'll be better able to understand the artifacts in the museum when you return.
• Museum of the Battle for Crete and National Resistance - Recounts the tale of Cretan and Allied resistance against Nazi invaders in World War II.
• Museum of Natural History, University of Crete, S. Venizelou Ave, fax: +30 2810 324366.
• Historical Museum of Crete, 27, Sofokli Venizelou Ave. /7, Lysimachou Kalokerinou St., Tel: (++30) 2810 283219, 288708, 3.
• Lychnostatis, ☎ +30 28970-23660. Su-F 00:00-14:00. Open-air Cretan folklore museum.
• CretAquarium Thalassocosmos open June-September 9:00-21:00 October–May 9:00-19:00 tel Reception: +30 2810-337788 Bookings: +30 2810-337888, fax: +30 2810-337882 4, the biggest aquarium in the Eastern Mediterranean. Located about 14 km east of Heraklion on the National Road (signposted) or by Cretan Intercity Bus (tel +30 2810 246530); for more information call the Reception number, above.
• Nikos Kazantzakis Museum. Open daily from 09:00-19:00 (Mar-Oct); 10:00-15:00 (Nov-Feb), tel +30 2810-741689, in the village of Myrtia (Varvari) 15 km south of Heraklion, focuses on Crete's most prominent modern intellectual figure.