Heraklion Old Port Apartments Crete

Our properties consist of 10, fully renovated,  fully equipped, independent apartments and some apartments can host up to 6 people. Heraklion old port apartments' distance to the city center of heraklion is minimal, since the properties are located in a peaceful area, right next to the frontal coast. In the surrounding area and at a distance of only a few meters, there are many of the city's sights, such as the old port and its castle, museums, archeological sites, churches, city squares, the old marketplace, etc.

 

Distances:

We are a central location and all the attractions, shops, museums are at a very short WALKING distance from us:

• Historical museum                                                                                                                                           10’’

• Natural History Museum of Crete                                                                                                                     7’

• Venetian Harbor of Heraklion (Koules)                                                                                                             2’

• Theotokopoulos Park, the central of the city                                                                                                    1’

• Archaeological Museum of Heraklion                                                                                                              10’

• Lions square (the heart of the city)                                                                                                                   5’

•Monastery of St. Peter and St Paul                                                                                                                   2’’

• 25th August Street with LOGGIA, BASILICA OF SAINT MARK and SAINT TITOS                                         3’

• Agora, the Market Street                                                                                                                                   5’

• Port                                                                                                                                                                  18’

• Central Bus station Heraklion - Lassithi (ktel)                                                                                                 15’

• Bus station Astoria (next to Archaeological Museum to go to Knossos)                                                          8’

• City walls                                                                                                                                                       13’

 

*The Airport N Kazantzakis is only 4.6 Km away from our apartments (12 minutes with a car, taxi costs around 10 euro or you can take a bus and stop at bus station Astoria:8’ walking from us)

*Knossos Palace is 6.9 Km away from our apartments (20 minutes with a car, taxi costs around 10 euro or you can take a bus from bus station Astoria:8’ walking from us)

* CRETAquarium at Gouves (24 minutes with a car from us or you can take a bus from ktel)

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** Lions square

Μorosini Venetian fountain is dating from 1628, this fountain, surrounded by mature trees and cafés, is the center of action in the old city.

You must try the bougatsa at Phyllosophies cafe !! (costs around 2 - 3 euro)

Heraklion had always had a water shortage problem and that’s why, in 1627, the Venetian Francesco Morosini decided on a public project that would resolve the issue once and for all. Morosini fountain at lions square was a colossal project, which was completed in 14 months and was 15 kilometers long, for transfering water from the springs of mount Youchtas. 

Good to know: Nobody was allowed to plant trees at a distance of 10 feet, so as not to damage the channel. Morosini minted special coins depicting Zeus pouring water from Youktas Mountain.

 

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FREE ENTRACE TO ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM TO HERAKLION & KNOSSOS PALACE!!

• On 28/10/21 and
• every first Sunday of each month from November 1st until March 31st

** KNOSSOS PALACE:

Crete’s biggest and best-preserved Minoan site lies just five kilometers southeast of Heraklion. It is one of the most important tourist attractions on Crete. A vast monumental palace, with four wings built around a spacious central courtyard, Knossos is believed to have been the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos. Remarkably sophisticated, it included ceremonial spaces, living areas, storage rooms, elaborate decoration, and a complex drainage system. Although excavations show that there was a palace here as early as 2000 BC, what you see today dates mainly from 1450 BC, with some slightly over-imaginative reconstruction from the early 20th century, plus replicas of many of the frescoes (the originals are in Heraklion Archaeological Museum).

Knossos opens daily from 8 am till 6 pm (last entrance at at 5.00 pm from October)

Phone number: +30 2810 231940

HOW TO GO TO KNOSSOS?

• 10-15 minutes with a car or taxi (costs around 10 euro)

If you have your own car, parking is FREE at Knossos.

OR

• Simply take bus number 2 (city bus line which runs approx. every 15 minutes) until it reaches its final stop: Knossos.

The public buses are cheap around €1.50 one-way (Bus station Astoria from us is just 5 minutes on foot. Bus station Astoria is next to Archaeological Museum and at the bus station is a vending machine where you can buy the ticket)

To get the full experience, you should also visit:

• **Archaeological Museum of Heraklion (located in the town Centre, just 10 min. on foot from us) The singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. Unique are the finds from excavation at Knossos, Phaestos, Agia Triada, Malia and other Minoan centers of central Crete.  One of the most important pieces is the well-known Disc of Phaistos.

Genitsar aga's Turkish fountain: Located in the Ikarou Avenue, next to the Epigraphic Collection of Heraklion Museum. Within an arched construction which, is surrounded by two big square columns, decorated with rosettes

 

Please note --> free tickets from museum & Knossos: young people up to the age of 25, from EU member-states, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin.

Also, there is a Special ticket package: Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Knossos for €20.

it is advisable to buy your ticket online from: https://etickets.tap.gr/ or walk in as they have an info point to help you and buy ticket from there

 

** HISTORICAL MUSEUM, just 30 seconds on foot from us

It is not a public museum and has an entrance of 5 euro.

Daily open from 10 am till 5 pm , except Tuesday is closed

Everything is well presented and clearly labeled, and there's a peaceful garden café.

This museum traces 1,700 years of history on the island, from early Christian times to the modern era. (Official site: http://www.historical-museum.gr/eng/)

You'll see religious icons, stone carvings, ceramics, textiles, and folk costumes from the Byzantine, Venetian, and Turkish periods, as well as somber space dedicated to the Cretan Resistance Movement and those who lost their lives during WWII.

** NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM just 7 minutes on foot from us

A perfect place if you travel with kids under 16 years old. Also adults can learn about nature and science!

It's managed by the University of Crete, huge dinosauruses and earthquake simulation, real snakes and other things make this place worth visiting! The earthquake simulation is very useful for kids to be familiar with! check out: https://www.nhmc.uoc.gr/en/exhibition

General Admission Fee: 7.5 €, Reduced Admission Fee: 4.5 € for child up to 4 years old (less than 4 years old has free entrance)

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00, Weekends 10:00 - 18:00

*** FAMILY VISIT TO CRETAquarium at Gouves ( 24 minutes with a car from us)

CHECK OUT : https://www.cretaquarium.gr/en/visit/opening-times

Crete Aquarium is located in Gouves, just a few kilometers from Heraklion Town and the beach of Hani Kokkini. There are more than 100 different areas for 2,500 the Mediterranean and tropic sea creatures and species.

Open daily, 9.30 in the morning till 19:00 in the afternoon

10 euro the ticket for 1 adult

Children 0-4 years old Free Entrance. Children 5-17 years old & students 6€

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Heraklion weather: please click for further info to the link https://www.theweather.com/heraklion.htm

Good to know: If it is a windy day normally we go to the south of Heraklion with a car for swimming as there is no wind. Beaches like Matala, Agiofarago, Kaloi limenes etc

Plenty of Beaches around us

1.             Sarandari or Limanakia at Chersonissos (31 minutes driving from us, 27km east)

White pebbles and small beach, Crystal clear waters at Creta Maris Resort. Always calm sea even on windy days! It is advisable to come very early in the morning, around 10-11 and you will get the best spot.

2.             Paliokastro Beach at Gazi (20 minutes driving from us, 5km west)

It is easily identified by the Venetian fortress remains on top of the hill. Palaiokastro is a coastal village with a sheltered beach overlooked by the ruins of Castle Paliokastro, an old Venetian fortress on a rocky cliff offering expansive sea views. Close to ekklisia Panagia Spiliotissa or Panagia at the Caves. Rogdia village has tavernas with local food with a Breathtaking sea view of Heraklion City.

3.             Heaven Beach at Ammoudara location   (12 minutes with a car or 20 min with a bus)

This is the closest beach with bus or car. Sunbeds and umbrellas are free when you order drinks.

Really nice place for a day of relax at the beach, close to us with sandy beach.

(address: Milou 26, Amoudara, Crete 71414 Greece) 12 minutes with a car Or 20 minutes with a bus : from Astoria at city center to Ammoudara. You can buy the ticket from Astoria bus station on the vending machine. (around 1,50 or 2 euro one way for 1 person)

(Good to know: This beach is 2 minutes walking from Petsousis Restaurant with Cretan yami local food)

4.             Arena Beach at Kokkini (18 min with taxi or 25 min with a bus)

It’s perfect for families with babies. Large sandy beach with huge parking. Windy with waves. Great if you like it. On the left watersports. Many beach bars eg freddoccino beach bar (Palea EO Irakliou Agiou Nikolaou, Chersonisos 715 00): If you order something you can use the beach lies and umbrella complementary.

5.             Kokkini Xani : Nirrou Terra Beach bar ( 18 min with a taxi or 25 min with a bus)

Great beach bar with boho style, very nice location on the beach with crystal blue waters, amazing Cretan food and fish taverns around! yami !

6.             Agia Pelagia :

***Psaromoura beach (16 min. with a car from us) In order to access Psaromoura, you have to drive to Agia Pelagia. The beach is pebbly and is very popular to locals, rather than tourists ! so you will love it ! This beach is beautiful however get here early as it can become busy!

*** Mononaftis Beach (close to psaromoura)  Mononaftis (its name literally translates as ‘lonely sailor’) is an organised beach. The beach is 80m long, with crystal clear waters which deepen suddenly. Its a sandy beach with small pebbles and randomly rocky seabed in some parts. Water was so clear that you could see the fishes swimming around your feet !! amazing !

Parking is available but limited. It is advisable to arrive relatively early on morning (before 10:00) in order to secure a good spot at the beach of Mononaftis.

7.             Plaka at Elounda (next to Agios Nikolaos) for a road trip around 1 hour from us with a car

Bring water shoes because this is a large pebbled beach. The water is perfectly clear and the views are outstanding. Great view, mostly no waves. Plaka is located 16km north of Agios Nikolaos, opposite the entrance of the lagoon of Korfos (or lagoon of Elounda), in one of the most beautiful places of Crete. A feature of Plaka is the wonderful views of the island Kalydon, on where the famous fortress of Spinalonga stands. Spinalonga operated as a leper hospital during the first half of the 20th century. The island can be reached primarily by boat from Elounda and Plaka