Heraklion holidays
Workaday Cretan port city that suits short urban stays and central or eastern Crete road trips.
32°C AugustBest May, Jun, Sep, Oct2–4 nights
At a glance
- transit stops
- urban-feel Crete base
- road trips across Crete
Trip cost
- Return flight
- ≈€148
- Stay
- ≈€224
- Food & local
- ≈€60
Includes the return fare from London Gatwick. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Heraklion
From €60/night · Typical €109 · 123 stays · for your 2 nights
Booking.com (opens in a new tab)- Best 3-star
Angel RoomsYiofirákia · 5.2 km from the centre€82 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 3-star options
- Best 4-star
ARTica condoAmoudara Herakliou · 4.1 km from the centre€121 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 4-star options
- Cheapest
Avenue56 City apartmentBendevís Greece · 1.1 km from the centre€60 a night (opens in a new tab)See more options, cheapest first
Map
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Getting to Heraklion
- AirportHeraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis (HER)
- Transfer optionsBus, taxi
Heraklion Airport connects to the city centre by the local urban bus service and by taxi.
These fares are not for your selected dates.
Indicative, per traveller. You book with Aviasales.
Areas of Heraklion
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- Heraklion City Centre / Old TownBest for visitors wanting walkable access to the harbour and main streets in a compact urban setting.
- AmmoudaraSuited to travellers prioritising a long, sandy urban beach within easy reach of Heraklion by bus.
- KarterosWorks for beach-focused visitors wanting a quieter stretch of coast east of the city and easy airport access.
- GaziVillage a few kilometres west of the centre, appealing to those mixing a local residential feel with proximity to Ammoudara's beachfront.
When to go
Monthly climate normals (multi-year reanalysis data). Gold months are the best weather fit.
- Best overall
- May · June · September · October
- Hottest
- July · 32°C
- Wettest
- March · 68mm
- Jan17°50mm
- Feb16°62mm
- Mar18°68mm
- Apr21°27mm
- May25°33mm (good month)
- Jun29°14mm (good month)
- Jul32°3mm
- Aug32°5mm
- Sep29°13mm (good month)
- Oct25°22mm (good month)
- Nov22°24mm
- Dec18°55mm
What each season is like
- Spring
- Comfortable for city walking and nearby drives, though sea conditions are less attractive for dedicated beach holidays.
- Summer
- Heat and traffic build, and Ammoudara becomes busy; city streets can feel hot and crowded at midday.
- Autumn
- Quieter than summer with warmer sea, but some coastal businesses start reducing services from late October.
- Winter
- A functioning city with year-round life, yet coastal areas feel subdued and some tourist-oriented hotels close.
What’s on in Heraklion
Our sister site Wanderistan tracks what's on in Heraklion — gigs, festivals and tickets.
Compare Greece destinations
Still deciding? Other Greece destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.
| Destination | Aug | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | 34°C | 2–4 nights |
| Chania | 31°C | 3–7 nights |
| Mykonos | 29°C | 3–5 nights |
| Santorini | 30°C | 3–5 nights |
| Thessaloniki | 33°C | 2–4 nights |
Good to know about Heraklion
Worth it for
Closer to Crete's main airport and ferry port than Chania, helpful for early departures and one-night stopovers.
Keep in mind
The city is more functional than atmospheric, so some travellers prefer Chania's harbour setting for longer leisure stays.
Why go
- Closer to Crete's main airport and ferry port than Chania, helpful for early departures and one-night stopovers.
- Urban base with an easily reached city beach at Ammoudara rather than relying on separate resort towns.
- Better positioned for trips towards central and eastern Crete than Chania's west-coast orientation.
Worth knowing
- The city is more functional than atmospheric, so some travellers prefer Chania's harbour setting for longer leisure stays.
- City traffic and limited parking near the centre can be challenging for drivers.
- Urban beach areas can feel built-up and windy compared with smaller coves elsewhere in Crete.
- High-season heat and concrete-heavy streets may not suit travellers seeking greenery.