Discover Hersonissos

Start at Hersonissos port, Limenas, one of the most popular resorts in Crete and particularly famous for its vibrant waterfront boasting a variety of bars/pubs, restaurants, and local taverns. Stroll around the main streets and gaze at the picturesque artisanal window shops. Find thoughtfully designed souvenirs, handmade jewelry, furs, or clothing to take home. Search for the remains of the ancient theatre, admire the mosaics, visit the paleo-Christian Basilicas, and kick back with local delicacies at the picturesque taverns.

Find artwork and crafts encompassing the Cretan folk cultural heritage at Lychnostatis Museum. Learn how the natives made yarn and curried leather hundreds of years ago. Marvel at Cretan farmers’ houses, a distillery, a windmill, a church, and olive presses. Admire the weaving workshops, a garden with medicinal plants, and a folk art gallery. Add the Rural Museum of Menelaos Parlamas to your itinerary, housed in the village’s old olive oil mill, and delve into the daily life and tasks of a Cretan farmer before the technological era.

Tour Hersonissos to learn about Cretan history, culture, and gastronomy. Start your day at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, and continue with a drive down south. There you'll find plenty of tourist attractions for all tastes. Visit the Soumela Monastery, dating back to the 13th century, which has been inhabited since before the 15th century. Visit the Palace of Palace, one of the largest monuments of the ancient world, or opt for a trip to the cinematographic island of Spinaloga, where you will admire the preserved fragments of Venetian fortresses.

Join a wide variety of enjoyable outdoor activities in Hersonissos, including hiking, cycling, fishing, long beach walks, and even dolphin-watching. Explore the Aegean seabed and be mesmerized by its diverse beauty. If you prefer water sports, there are plenty of options. Boat rentals are abundant for couples, family getaways, or big groups. Explore nature further by hiking up the mountains to admire the panorama, or pump up your adrenaline even more by renting a mountain bike and riding through challenging trails.

Experience the Cretan cuisine in authentic, vibrant restaurants and taverns offering a variety of traditional dishes made with pure ingredients such as meat, fresh seafood, vegetables, and local delicacies. Indulge in time-honored traditional dishes unique to the area, including “Chochlioi boubouristi” (friend snails), “Lamb with stamnagathi” (wild chicory), “Askordoulakous” (wild onion bulbs), “Ntakos” (rusk bread, tomatoes, myzíthra cheese, olive oil), ”Sfakianes pites” (flatbread pies with feta cheese & honey), and “Dolmades” (stuffed grape leaves with rice and fresh herbs).