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 · 2-night stay assumed
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.
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.