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Heraklion
Overview
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The capital and largest city of Crete – and one of the largest cities of Greece – Irakleio is a bustling metropolis with all that comes along with that. However, a stay in the city is essential to see the Archaeological Museum (one of the two most important museums in Greece), the newly built Aquarium, and the famous site of Knossos, the most important of the Minoan palaces, which ruled over Crete and the Aegean Sea in the Early Bronze Age.
After visiting these sites, head out of the city and aim south to the pretty town of Archanes, where you can wander through the streets sampling local products and enjoying the quiet pace of town life; continue further south and visit the site of Kommos on the coast and the nearby beach of Matala. There are so many sites here that it’s impossible to mention them all, but Levina (ancient Leben) and Gortys deserve special mention.
If you’re up for adventure, head for the village of Afration (the name means “pleasantly plump” in Greek) and ask one of the locals to direct you toward the site of Arkades (you’ll have to walk). Enjoy the local hospitality and try some of the wine: the villagers make it themselves.
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 | Useful Info |
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- Police: 28102-82430
- Tourist Police: 28102-83190
- Port Authority: 28102-44912, 28102-44934.
- Hospital: 28102-37502 (don’t eat anything while you’re there.)
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 | How To Get There |
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Daily and nightly ferries from Peiraias. Connections with Santorini (in summer) and Rhodes. The Irakleio International Airport serves the area with frequent flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, and European cities. There is a new company operating flights to Santorini and Rhodes.
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See Also
Matala - Malia - Hersonissos
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