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Hersonissos

Star beach is one of the most famous beaches in Hersonissos

The port of Hersonissos

Well developed promenade along the beach

House lined along the sea in Hersonissos

Beautiful streets of Hersonissos town

Promenade along the beach

Star Beach is a rocky wavy beach in Hersonissos

Agios Nikolaos church offers beautiful vistas of the sea

Aerial view of Star beach in Hersonissos

Lychnostatis Open Air Museum

Hersonissos

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Hersonissos Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days

Best Time: May-Sep Read More

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"Developed Greek Resort with Sea and Sand"

Hersonissos Tourism

Located around 200 miles south of Greece mainland, Hersonissos is located in the north of Crete. Also known as Chersonissos, it is located very close to Heraklion, the capital of Crete. One of the popular resort villages in Crete, Hersonissos is popular for its magnificent sandy beaches, water parks, archaeological sites, and a plethora of restaurants, shops and bars sitting elegantly along the modern seafront.

Hersonissos consists of a modern port that was built on an ancient Roman harbour. The village is the best choice to stay in the Heraklion region due to its incredible package holidays, elaborate nightlife, elegant tavernas and an amazingly pristine sea. Some spots on these pristine sea shores are shallow enough for small kids to explore, making Hersonissos one of the popular resorts among families.

Popular activities in Hersonissos include sunbathing, water skiing, aquarium visits, wind-surfing, jet-ski, parasailing, golf, hiking in nearby villages and having fun at nightclubs. Walking on the promenade along the sea with the view of the serene Saracen mountains is another popular activity. The strip along the port is lined with endless options of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, offering a perfect nightlife experience to its tourists in summertime.

Airport Transfers: A direct bus from Heraklion airport takes 45 minutes to one hour to reach Hersonissos for EUR 3.
From Heraklion Port: Walk for 10 minutes to the Central bus station to take a bus.
Hersonissos is small enough to be explored on foot.
Buses are available to explore nearby villages with better beaches and a few waterparks. For convenience, rent a car or a bike.
Most shops open around 9:00 till late in the night.
Restaurants and cafes open around 10:00 AM and close by 12:00 AM.
Stay in Anissaras and Analipsi for a luxurious coastal experience with large hotels and resorts.
Stay in Ano Hersonissos, Piskopiano, and Koutouloufari for economical stay options with mountain views.

Places To Visit In Hersonissos

Star Beach Hersonissos

Analipsi Beach

Old Chersonisos Center

Sarantari Beach

CRETAquarium Thalassokosmos

Lychnostatis Open-air Museum

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Top Hotels In Hersonissos

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More on Hersonissos Travel

Shopping Hersonissos

The strip along the modern port of Hersonissos offers a variety of shopping options. There are a plethora of special boutique shops where one can shop high-end clothing and fur coats alongside cooling off from the summer heat. Hersonissos is famous for its authentic Cretan products like Olive oil, thyme honey, raki, and wine. Some souvenirs that can remind one of the authentic vibes of Hersonissos to include decorative pieces, statues, needlework, perfumes, and leather goods. Gold and silver jewellery is also popular as a souvenir among tourists.

Nightlife in Hersonissos

Nightlife in Hersonissos is pretty vibrant and colourful with a wide variety of bars, nightclubs, and beach clubs to choose from. As one starts off the main strip along the port, there are some bars with quieter settings and slow music that are perfect for pre-clubbing drinks. For hotter scenes on the clubbing side, walk along the Strip further to get nightclubs with throbbing sounds of loud music, playing rock, pop and disco. These brasher clubs often offer decent deals attracting a lot of customers to the floors. There are some options for nightlife in the other three nearby villages of Ano Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari, as well.

History of Hersonissos

The first inhabitants of Hersonissos are believed to be the Minoans. After their decline, Hersonissos came under Lyttos. Hersonissos flourished during the Roman and first few centuries of Byzantine rule. The village built its own theatre, public bath and aqueduct. Unfortunately, the roman theatre was destroyed in 1897 during a local event. Later, due to the fear of pirate invasions, the inhabitants were forced to move far inland, resulting in the foundation of Ano Hersonissos.

Similarly, other two villages of Piskopiano and Koutouloufari were founded. The main source of the economy remained through the export of olive oil and leather from the port on which the lives of the inhabitants depended. Things changed after the 1960s when tourism discovered Hersonissos and the first lot of hotels were built.

Where to Stay

The seaside resort village is basically the port of Hersonissos. Behind it are the three important nearby villages known as Ano Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari, which offer a scenic view of mountains to the people staying. These three villages are traditional Cretan villages and offer a variety of hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and even a few shops. Watching the sun set in the mountains from one of the bars in these villages can be an intriguing experience. Anissaras is closest to the main town and has larger resorts with pools and a beach on a short walk. Analipsi is another such option.

Suggested Itinerary for Hersonissos

Day 1: Head to the little village of Koutouloufari to explore cobbled streets with limestone houses. Return to the port to witness sunset and explore the waterfront cafes and shops.

Day 2: Visit Ano Hersonissos and dive into its mountain beauty, spend the evening exploring the village and end the day byhaving dinner with mountain views.

Best Time to Visit Hersonissos

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How to Reach Hersonissos

How to Reach Overview

Hersonissos has no airport of its own. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport. From the airport, taxis and buses are available. A bus from Heraklion airport takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the traffic, and costs EUR 3. Buses are usually slow and take more time.