See Heraklion’s highlights at your own pace by riding a double-decker bus around town, hopping on and off whenever you please at the attractions you find most intriguing. After departing from the pier, you will explore the destinations that are most appealing to you. Simply hop on one of the buses and then hop off when it reaches an attraction of interest from the nine designated stops. You might hop off at the Natural History Museum of Crete, whose exhibitions include dioramas of various ecosystems, terrariums with animals found in the Eastern Mediterranean and a simulator that allows you to safely experience earthquake tremors. The buses also stop at the Gate of Jesus within the fortified city walls and at the grave of author Nikos Kazantzakis. Born in Iraklion, the prolific writer is best known for novels such as Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ.

Knossos is another enlightening stop. Once the capital of ancient Minoan Crete, it was first inhabited in the 7th millennium BC, and its grandeur has been slowly revealed through archaeological excavation. The palace that once stood here was the seat of power of the legendary King Minos. Stay for as long as you like at the attractions and then hop on another bus whenever you’re ready. The buses operate throughout the day and make a continuous loop around Heraklion’s must-see landmarks. When you arrive to the old town you'll enjoy a guided walking tour through the Old Town's most popular spots where you will learn historical and cultural facts about this astonishing town!

Ride through Heraklion on a double-decker sightseeing bus that provides excellent views of the most popular landmarks, where you will occasionally pause for photos. Take a seat inside the bus or on the second level, if you prefer to be outside in the open air. Either way, you will hear commentary that describes the significance of the attractions as you pass them. Although the Arabs built fortified walls around Heraklion in the Middle Ages, the Venetians completely rebuilt them in the 15th and 16th centuries. Those are the ones that stand today. Even earlier, the Venetians constructed Koules Castle to guard the entrance to the port. Although damaged by earthquakes and rebuilt several times, the castle is still an impressive sight. You will also view noteworthy contemporary sites, such as the tomb of Heraklion-born author Nikos Kazantzakis, who was nominated nine times for the Nobel Prize in Literature for works that include “Zorba the Greek.” Before your journey back to the ship, you'll enjoy a guided walking tour through the Old Town's most popular spots where you will learn historical and cultural facts about this astonishing town!

HIGHLIGHTS
• See the landmarks in Heraklion from a sightseeing bus with an open-air second level.
• Pass historical attractions that include the centuries-old fortified walls and Koules Castle.
• View contemporary sites such as the tomb of Heraklion-born author Nikos Kazantzakis.
• Pause on occasion for photos of the attractions.
• Enjoy a guided walking tour though Old Town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Savor a lunch of traditional Cretan cuisine at a restaurant in Old Town, Heraklion’s wonderfully atmospheric historic district. You will pause at the old Venetian harbor around which the city was founded. The marina there is still used and the Rocca a Mare fortress still stands sentinel at the entrance. You will have time to pause for photos of this remarkable landmark, which is also known as the Koules, a name derived from the time when the Ottomans ruled Heralion. Be sure to notice the three winged Lion of St. Mark marble reliefs on the fortress walls. More history awaits you in Old Town, where you will dine at the restaurant Peskesi. The rustic, stone-walled venue features a farm-to-table menu that follows the principles of sustainable gastronomy. The exact dishes for lunch will be determined upon your arrival, but they will prepared from traditional Cretan recipes, using ancient cooking techniques that the chefs have revived.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dine at a rustic but elegant restaurant that occupies a historical mansion in Old Town.
• Savor a meal of traditional Cretan cuisine prepared using ancient cooking techniques.
• Get a glimpse of Heraklion’s history at the ancient fortress that overlooks the old Venetian port.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for an enlightening drive through Heraklion before enjoying a closer look at local life by browsing the bustling Central Market. The exact route you follow will depend on the traffic conditions, but you can expect to see the fortified walls that the Venetians built in the 15th and 16th centuries. They replaced ones that the Arabs put up in the Middle Ages. The Venetians also constructed massive Koules Castle to guard the entrance to the port. Although damaged by earthquakes and rebuilt several times, the castle is still an impressive sight. In time, you will pause for photos of the Holy Cathedral Temple of Saint Titus, a 19th-century landmark whose relics include the head of the Apostle Titus. Free time in the open-air Central Market will present the opportunity to become immersed in local life. You will find most everything imaginable, especially delicacies such as the fried pastry xerotigana.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain an overall understanding of Heraklion on a panoramic driving tour.
• Stop to snap photos of the Holy Cathedral Temple of Saint Titus.
• Spend free time browsing the seemingly endless items in the Central Market.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Dine on dishes made with ingredients that were essential to the diet of the ancient Minoans that lived on Crete. The venue for this culinary experience will be a restaurant in Amnisiades Park, a leafy oasis with olive trees that are estimated to be a few thousand years old. How fitting because olive oil was a cornerstone of Minoan cuisine. During the cooking demonstration, you will learn about the prehistoric Minoan culture and the cuisine of these early inhabitants of Crete. Although there are no written records of the Minoans, archaeological studies have revealed that their diet included seafood, goats, wild deer, lentils, fruits and nuts, all accompanied by wine. The meal that follows the cooking class will be prepared with local mostly organic ingredients. For authenticity, some of the dishes will be baked in a Minoan-style oven and the olive oil will be from the park’s ancient trees.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to prepare dishes that the ancient Minoans ate.
• Learn about the Minoan diet and culture that thrived on Crete thousands of years ago.
• Dine on Minoan-style cuisine, some of it prepared in an ancient style of oven.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Heraklion, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Selfie sticks are available and complemented by a convenient photo frame, enabling you to capture, share, and post the best pictures.

As you walk and ride through Heraklion, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Koules Fortress
• Agios Tittos Church
• Morosini Fountain in Old Town
• Archanes village

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Heraklion.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• See from the outside the Koules Fortress and its remarkable three-winged Lion of St. Mark marble reliefs.
• Pause at the 17th-century Morosini Fountain, a landmark in Old Town.
• Explore the inland village Archanes village and an old market in Heraklion.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.