In case you’re planning a household vacation in Crete, the possibilities are you’ll end up visiting Heraklion with children at the very least as soon as throughout your keep.
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Whereas the vast majority of vacationers on the island keep outdoors the capital metropolis, it’s near one in all Crete’s largest sights – the Minoan palace of Knossos – in addition to a string of household points of interest. To not point out the truth that you’re more likely to be flying out and in of its airport (until you’re utilizing the smaller airport at Chania).
However whether or not you’re staying close by or just passing by way of, there are many issues to do in Heraklion for teenagers – I’ve picked among the greatest child-friendly highlights.
Go to the Historical Minoan Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos is one in all Crete’s most well-known historical landmarks and a must-visit for guests of all ages. The essential archaeological web site is house to the ruins of a Bronze Age palace that was the ceremonial and political centre of Minoan civilization.
Thought-about to be Europe’s oldest metropolis, Knossos and its Palace are steeped in historical historical past and Greek mythology, most famously the legend of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur but in addition the story of Daedalus and Icarus, who flew too near the solar,
To essentially get probably the most out of the Palace of Knossos and its museum, go to on a guided tour so kids can hear the various tales and legends that make this web site so vital.
Take a look at my full overview and tips about visiting Knossos with children right here
No matter you select, it’s nicely value reserving tickets upfront and getting there early (or ready till later within the afternoon) to keep away from the queues and the warmth throughout summer time.
You should buy tickets upfront from websites like Get Your Information, Tiqets and Viator however sadly for those who’re coming from the UK and travelling with children, there’s not at the moment choice to get the diminished youngster fee on these websites so that you’ll must e-book direct – kids who’re EU residents get in free.
The Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus stops at each Palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in addition to exploring town
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Even when your children aren’t usually followers of museums, that is positively one to placed on the listing, and an ideal possibility to mix with a go to to Knossos, which is round quarter-hour away.
With 27 galleries throughout two flooring, its assortment covers 5,500 years, from the Neolithic age to Greco-Roman instances, together with the world’s greatest assortment of Minoan treasures – simply the perfect museum to go to in Crete with children.
You possibly can wander by way of recreated interval rooms, taking a look at frescoes and sculptures, in addition to different artefacts alongside the best way, together with all the pieces from artworks to home items.
It’s additionally blissfully air conditioned. You should buy joint tickets with the Knossos palace entry.
Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus
The Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus stops at each the museum and the Palace of Knossos in addition to town’s different highlights, so it’s a sensible and enjoyable option to discover Heraklion with children.
There are eight stops alongside the route together with the Outdated Port Sq., the Historic Museum of Crete and the Venetian Partitions (in addition to the Archaeological museum and Knossos itself).
Tickets are legitimate for 48 hours and a full loop takes one hour. Buses run round each 45 minutes in summer time.
For extra issues to do in Crete with children, take a look at my prime picks
Pure Historical past Museum of Crete
The Pure Historical past Museum in Heraklion is a child pleasant place to find extra concerning the nature of Crete, with displays on the completely different areas of the japanese Mediterranean and Greece.
However in addition to native wildlife, there are show on dinosaurs, an earthquake simulator which helps you to expertise the sensation of tremors as much as 6 on the Richter scale and completely different experiments for teenagers to get palms on.
With 5 separate sections, together with Zoological, Botanical, Anthropological, Paleontological-Geological and Mineralogical, you may spot the Deinotherium Giganteum, whose big skeleton was discovered on the island, plus displays geared toward kids, together with a fossil space.
Koules Venetian fortress
The Venetian fort nonetheless sits on the entrance of the outdated port of Heraklion. Often known as the Koules or Castello a Mare – the fortress on the ocean – it was constructed within the early sixteenth century on the positioning of older towers.
There are some incredible views out throughout the ocean, in addition to a small museum inside. The largest attraction is solely attending to wander round although: together with rooms used to retailer water, a mill, bakery, church and barracks, you may stroll by way of an outdated jail too.
Hold a watch out for the thickest elements of the partitions, over 8m thick in locations, though it didn’t cease the fortress falling to the Turks within the seventeenth century.
Stroll the Venetian Partitions
There have been fortified partitions round Heraklion for over a thousand years – first the Byzantines constructed easy ones to defend their metropolis, earlier than it fell to Arab invaders. However when the Venetians arrived, they rebuilt the older variations to encompass town, which they known as Candia (or Chandax).
It was as soon as the most effective fortified cities within the Mediterranean – holding off a siege by Ottoman forces for 21 years earlier than lastly admitting defeat.
You possibly can nonetheless see among the huge stone partitions and two of the primary gates are additionally intact: look out for the image of Venice, the lion of St Mark on the Martinengo Bastion, or observe some or the entire partitions across the medieval metropolis on a Venetian Wall Stroll.
Take a stroll by way of Heraklion
In case you desire exploring on foot to one thing just like the hop-on hop-off bus, it’s simple to plot your individual strolling tour of Heraklion with children, previous among the highlights.
There’s some incredible road artwork to find round Lakko and the streets close to the Parko Georgiadi – we ended up parking close to right here by the Kenourgia gate (or Jesus gate) and the outdated partitions, following the route downhill to Eleftherias Sq. and the Archaeological Museum.
From right here, you may head over to the Morosini Fountain, within the coronary heart of what’s generally known as Lions Sq. within the centre of town – cease to rely the lions round it whenever you discover it.
The Central Market is a stone’s throw away with a number of souvenirs on the stalls among the many cafes, plus the fish market tucked away down a sidestreet.
When you’ve ambled alongside and spent your Euros, head in the direction of the waterfront: stroll all the way down to the Venetian port of Heraklion to see the fortress and gaze out to sea – attempt to spot the little island of Dia.
In case you’re planning to go to, the Pure Historical past Museum of Crete, it’s a little bit means alongside the waterfront too (there’s little or no shade so greatest to not try the stroll when it’s too sizzling).
Or retrace your steps and head again as much as the Martinengo Bastion within the outdated Heraklion metropolis partitions: it’s one other sizzling climb however there’s shade on the prime and a few nice views.
Go to the seaside
You’ll must enterprise a little bit means outdoors town to seek out the perfect seashores close to Heraklion, however you’ll have loads of selection in terms of enjoyable on the sands.
A few of the closest are the Hersonissos Seashores – a group of small native seashores simply to the east of Heraklion, with calm, clear waters and loads of family-friendly services. Anissaras is a very good one.
Or head to Agia Pelagia seaside. Whereas there are pebbles as a substitute of sand, the water is astonishingly clear and the little cove on the backside of a winding hillside street seems like a little bit of a hidden gem. Though fortunately, with eating places like Alati, serving wonderful fish and sushi, it’s an escape with fashion.
For one more place to get away from among the crowds, Amoudara seaside, just a few miles west of Heraklion has a protracted sandy seaside stretching for nearly 5 miles – you will discover secluded spots to swim and sunbathe in addition to areas with extra services.
Take a ship tour
For one more relaxed different, attempt a crusing journey from Heraklion to Dia island, simply to the north of Crete.
There’s a morning boat tour together with the afternoon crusing at 2.30pm, relying how early you need to be aboard. Both means, the 4 and a half hour boat journey makes for a calming out day trip with children – the realm was a favorite vacation spot of well-known underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau as nicely.
There’s time to swim and snorkel, in addition to enjoyable on the shores of Dia Island or taking a stroll below the cedar timber. There’s some historical past to be discovered alongside the best way too, as you uncover an historical Minoan port.
The household pleasant journey features a scrumptious Mediterranean meal – in addition to having the odd glass of native wine – earlier than arriving again to Heraklion. Appropriate for teenagers aged 4+.
Cretaquarium
Enterprise beneath the waves at Cretaquarium, a Mediterranean-themed aquarium round a 20-minute drive from Heraklion. Residence to over 2,000 sea creatures throughout 60 tanks, there’s lots to see and it’s simple to whereas away and hour or two right here.
From large sharks to microscopic plankton, children can be taught all about marine life within the area and there’s an audio information as you discover (or you may pay further for a brief guided tour too).
It’s not an enormous aquarium, nevertheless it’s a stunning place to discover with children, in addition to being a useful air-conditioned cease for those who’re seeking to kill just a few hours earlier than catching your aircraft from Heraklion airport. In case you’re unfortunate sufficient to have a wet day in Heraklion with children, it’s splendid too.
E book tickets with free cancellation right here.
Dinosauria Park
Journey even additional again in historical past than the Minoans at this interactive theme park dedicated to dinosaurs.
At Dinosauria Park you may journey again in time to the Mesozoic period as you wander across the park discovering full-sized animatronic creatures, whereas interactive screens educate you concerning the life and habitats of every dinosaur you encounter.
Youngsters can even get hands-on with enjoyable actions together with fossil excavations, hatching a dinosaur egg, and caring for injured creatures on the Common Hospital of Dinosaurs. The park has a restaurant, reward store, and huge kids’s play space too.
Acqua Plus Water Park
Acqua Plus is the most important and hottest water park in Crete, simply 25 minutes from Heraklion with over 50 thrilling water slides, rides, and video games for teenagers and adults of all ages.
For teenagers and older kids, you’ll discover excessive slides just like the Kamikaze and Giants of Terror, whereas little ones can benefit from the children’ waterslides, exercise playgrounds, a fantasy inflatable citadel, and plenty extra.
Different water parks close to Heraklion
Labyrinth Park
If you wish to discover a labyrinth in your children to discover, add Labyrinth Park to your listing of household points of interest in Crete.
This distinctive Minoan-themed amusement park round 25 minutes from Heraklion has an enormous 1,300sqm labyrinth for the entire household to get misplaced in – positively probably the most uncommon issues to do in Crete with children and a enjoyable means for teenagers to find out about Greek mythology
Very best for youthful kids, there are an enormous vary of actions, together with mini golf, quad bikes, archery, horse rides and a stay escape recreation as nicely.
You may as well pop by the projector room, the place movies on the traditional Minoan Civilization of Crete are proven all through the day, and revel in lunch within the historical Knossos-themed cafe.
Lychnostatis open air museum
This little museum in Hersonissos is the proper option to get a style of what life was like in Crete in years passed by.
With a concentrate on folks traditions and culutre, you may discover a shepherd’s shelter and little windmill, in addition to seeing outdated wine and olive presses and wandering by way of a herb backyard.
There’s a gallery with work by Cretan artists on show too, plus there’s an audio information and a stunning little cafe. Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here.
It’s simple to take day journeys across the island from Heraklion with children – take a look at my prime suggestions for the greatest issues to do in Crete for households, as nicely my information to Greece with children
*Final up to date 2024*
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Fundamental picture/fortress/fountain/boat courtesy of Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels