Heraklion Sights: Venetian City and Minoan Art
Two eras shape what you see in Heraklion: the Minoan Bronze Age and the Venetian period that followed centuries later. The first is found at Knossos and in the museum, the second in the fortress, walls, fountain and loggia. Prices below are in euros and are the full adult rate unless stated.
Minoan sights
Palace of Knossos. About 5 km south of the centre, in the UNESCO-listed Minoan Palatial Centres group that was inscribed in July 2025. Evans oversaw the concrete reconstruction between 1900 and 1931, so original and rebuilt parts stand side by side. Look at the Central Court, the Throne Room and the Grand Staircase. Tickets: EUR 20, reduced EUR 10, the same all year. Closing time slides from 20:00 in summer to 17:00 from 1 November, and the site shuts early or fully in bad weather.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Xanthoudidou 2, near Eleftherias Square, around 5 km from the palace. Highlights are the Phaistos Disc, the Snake Goddess figurines and the Bull-Leaping fresco. Tickets: EUR 20 up to 31 October, EUR 12 from 1 November. The doors open on Wednesdays later than on other days.
Venetian sights
Koules Fortress. Built from 1523 to 1540 at the harbour mouth, with reliefs of the Lion of St Mark. Tickets: EUR 10, reduced EUR 5. Closed Tuesdays. The roof terrace has views of the harbour.
The city walls. The circuit is about 3 km and the rampart walk costs nothing. Candia held out against the Ottoman siege for 21 years, until 1669. The Jesus Gate (south side) and the New Gate are not the same gate. The writer Nikos Kazantzakis is buried on the Martinengo Bastion, a place for quiet respect; his epitaph says he hopes for nothing, fears nothing and is free.
Lions Square. The Morosini Fountain is the centre of Eleftheriou Venizelou Square, reached up 25th of August Street from the harbour. The Venetian Loggia, now the town hall, stands close by.
Churches. Agios Titos is a church. The cathedral is Agios Minas.
Smaller museums
- Historical Museum of Crete, Sofokli Venizelou 27: two El Greco works, and entry for a few euros.
- Natural History Museum of Crete: an earthquake simulator named Enceladus, with tickets from about EUR 8 to 12.
Free days and etiquette
State sites charge nothing on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, 28 October and the last weekend of September. Taking stones or pottery from any site is against Greek law, so leave everything where it lies. If you want to photograph inside a museum, ask at the door.
Read more: Heraklion walking tours turns the Venetian sights into a route.
Checking details
Hours are posted on the Ministry of Culture Knossos page and the Hellenic Heritage Knossos page . Guided visits can be searched on GetYourGuide .