Heraklion – sometimes seen referred to as Iraklion too – is well known as one of the major cities Crete has to offer. It also acts as the capital of the island, and many holidaymakers coming to Crete fly into the major airport in Heraklion.

But is it the kind of city you should fly into and drive out of to get to your actual holiday destination, or is it worth hanging around to see what else is on offer?

In truth Heraklion is steeped in history and it has a lot to share with you. The history of the city goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. No matter how long you spend there you would probably only scratch the surface of the amount of knowledge you could conceivably learn about the city.

The city also has signs of various passages in its history to share with you. For example one of the most notable Venetian buildings Heraklion has is the Venetian loggia. This dates back to the 1620s.

This is one of the most fascinating things about the city. At every turn you will see buildings dating from a different era. Some may be hundreds of years old, like the Venetian building for example, while others may be just a few decades old. It all combines to create a truly amazing city that is forever able to show you something new.

One thing you should be prepared for if you are spending some time in Heraklion is the noise. Since the airport is close by and planes are forever taking off and landing, you can imagine how this increases the noise level in the city. No doubt you would get used to it eventually, but it may not make a holiday spent solely in the area a quiet and relaxing opportunity.

Heraklion has so much to offer that it is worth researching it a bit before you visit. This will save you wasting time wondering where to go first when you actually get there. It will also mean you can make the most of every minute you are there.