Les meilleurs hôtels à Héraklion

Within Iraklion's thick Venetian walls the city carries on a frenetic pace, its neon lights illuminating remnants of Arab, Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish rule. Iraklion is Crete's largest city and Greece's fifth. It spreads for miles, but most of its cultural and tourist attractions can be found within reach of the city center. Iraklion serves as the main thoroughfare for destinations throughout Crete, but there are plenty of reasons to stay a while. The ruins of Knossos - the capital of Minoan Crete and today the island's major tourist attraction - are just five kilometers from the city center. Iraklion's Archaeological Museum, one of the finest in Greece, houses exquisite findings from Knossos and other Minoan ruins. Other points of interest include numerous Venetian fortresses, fountains and loggias scattered throughout the city and the Historical Museum of Crete, with its Byzantine and folklore collections. After you've had your fill of ancient history, the best show in town is Iraklion's open air market at 1866 Street where a boisterous crowd buys and sells everything from goats and sheep to huge cauldrons of fresh yogurt. Or pay homage to Crete's most acclaimed writer, Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek, at his tomb in the Martinengo Bastion where, even if you're not a Kazantzakis fan, the views of Iraklion, the sea and the Mountain of Zeus make the trek worthwhile.