The picturesque Venetian Harbor located near the city center is a perfect spot for a morning stroll. Shade yourself under an umbrella in one of the seaside cafés and enjoy the stunning view of the harbor. The harbor is full of small fishing boats and yachts, with an impressive fortress and charming buildings that reflect the area's history.
Take a trip to the ancient Minoan civilization by visiting the famous archaeological site of Knossos. It is a step back in time to about 3500 years ago. The site contains the remnants of the palace complex, which was once the political and cultural hub of Crete, as well as the state-of-the-art infrastructure of the Minoan civilization. The site has been recently reconstructed, giving visitors a sense of what life was like in ancient Crete.
If you love to see different marine life then Cretan Aquarium is a perfect place for you. The aquarium is divided into different sections with various marine life such as jellyfish, sea turtles, sharks, and much more. Along the way, you can show your kids some of the amazing creatures having around in the tank, and you can even touch some of them.
To visit the mentioned places, you can hire a taxi, use public transportation buses or rent a car for more flexibility. The cost of hiring a taxi would be €15-€20 to travel to any of the mentioned places. Public transportation is available by bus, and it would cost around €1.70 for one-way travel to any location around the city. It will be better to rent a car to save time and money, especially when you are traveling with family or in a group, and you want to see more locations.
If you have extra time, you can head to the Palace of Malia, which is an archaeological complex that was once the third-largest Minoan palace complex. Also, you can visit the beautiful and attractive Agios Nikolaos and Elounda Beach areas, which provide an opportunity to do a lot of enjoyable activities.
If you have less time, you can skip the Cretan aquarium, or you can combine the visit to Venetian harbor with the Archeological site of Knossos in one day.
Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (HER) is an International airport located in Heraklion, the largest city and capital of the Greek island of Crete. It is only 4 km away from the city center and a well-connected via buses, taxis, or rental cars.