Crete guide

Stories & tips for your trip to Crete

Practical, local guides to Heraklion and the island, from the team behind Donum House.

Heraklion, Crete: A First-Timer's Guide to the City

Heraklion surprises most visitors. Behind its busy port and modern streets lies a city with serious depth: Minoan treasures, Venetian ramparts, a loud and loyal market street, and a harbour that comes alive after dark.

Best Beaches Near Heraklion: City Sands to Quiet Coves

Heraklion sits closer to good swimming than most visitors expect. Here is a practical guide to the beaches within easy reach of the city, plus a few worth the extra drive.

A Food Lover's Guide to Heraklion and Cretan Cuisine

From the aromatic stalls of the 1866 Market to a late-night pour of raki you didn't order but somehow needed, Heraklion is one of the most rewarding cities in Greece for serious eaters. Here is how to do it properly.

Knossos & the Minoans: A Guide to Visiting the Palace

Knossos is not just a ruin. It is the capital of a Bronze Age civilisation that traded across the Mediterranean 4,000 years ago, and a morning here changes how you see everything else in Crete.

Five Day Trips from Heraklion Worth Every Kilometer

Heraklion is a fine base for exploring the island. These five day trips, each within two hours of the city, cover ancient caves, fortified islands, gorge walks, beach villages and one of the most charming old towns in the Aegean.

Getting Around Heraklion and Crete: A Practical Transport Guide

Whether you land at Nikos Kazantzakis airport or arrive by ferry, Crete's transport options are more flexible than you might expect. Here is everything you need to plan your way around the island.