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Hersonissos

Star Beach Hersonissos

Lychnostatis Open Air Museum

Hersonissos

3.9 /5

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Crete Greece

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22 out of 50 Places to visit in Greece

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Hersonissos Travel Essentials

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3.9 /5 Rate This Destination

Weather:

Ideal duration: 1 - 2 Days

Best Time: May to September Read More

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"Most Organised Tourist Destination in Crete"

Hersonissos Tourism

Located around 200 miles south of Greece mainland, Hersonissos is located in the north of Crete. 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.

Hersonissos is small enough to be explored on foot.
There are buses available if someone wants to explore nearby villages with better beaches along with a few waterparks.
Rent a car or a bike to explore nearby villages.
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.
Replicas of some branded items are available in various shops at much cheaper prices than the brands themselves.
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.

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Places To Visit In Hersonissos

Star Beach Hersonissos

Analipsi Beach

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Top Hotels In Hersonissos

Aqua Blu "Adults Only" - "by Checkin"

9.8 (379 reviews)

Nana Princess Suites Villas & Spa

9.8 (340 reviews)

$ 498 onwards

AKU Suites with private pools

9.8 (78 reviews)

Anassa Suites Stalis by Estia "Adults Only"

9.8 (63 reviews)

Onira Suite Dreams

9.7 (92 reviews)

Casa Blu Boutique Hotel "by Checkin" Adults Only

9.6 (169 reviews)

$ 96 onwards

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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.

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.