The best things to do in Heraklion with kids
If you’re planning a family holiday in Crete, the chances are you’ll find yourself visiting Heraklion with kids at least once during your stay.
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While the majority of tourists on the island stay outside the capital city, it’s close to one of Crete’s biggest sights – the Minoan palace of Knossos – as well as a string of family attractions. Not to mention the fact that you’re likely to be flying in and out of its airport (unless you’re using the smaller airport at Chania).
But whether you’re staying nearby or simply passing through, there are plenty of things to do in Heraklion for kids – I’ve picked some of the best child-friendly highlights.
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Visit the Ancient Minoan Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos is one of Crete’s most famous ancient landmarks and a must-visit for visitors of all ages. The important archaeological site is home to the ruins of a Bronze Age palace that was the ceremonial and political centre of Minoan civilization.
Considered to be Europe’s oldest city, Knossos and its Palace are steeped in ancient history and Greek mythology, most famously the legend of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur but also the tale of Daedalus and Icarus, who flew too close to the sun,
To really get the most out of the Palace of Knossos and its museum, visit on a guided tour so children can hear the many stories and legends that make this site so significant.
Check out my full review and tips on visiting Knossos with kids here
Whatever you choose, it’s well worth booking tickets in advance and getting there early (or waiting until later in the afternoon) to avoid the queues and the heat during summer.
You can buy tickets in advance from sites like Get Your Guide, Tiqets and Viator but unfortunately if you’re coming from the UK and travelling with kids, there’s not currently option to get the reduced child rate on these sites so you’ll need to book direct – children who are EU citizens get in free.
The Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus stops at both Palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum as well as exploring the city
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Even if your kids aren’t normally fans of museums, this is definitely one to put on the list, and a great option to combine with a visit to Knossos, which is around 15 minutes away.
With 27 galleries across two floors, its collection covers 5,500 years, from the Neolithic age to Greco-Roman times, including the world’s best collection of Minoan treasures – easily the best museum to visit in Crete with kids.
You can wander through recreated period rooms, looking at frescoes and sculptures, as well as other artefacts along the way, including everything from artworks to household items.
It’s also blissfully air conditioned. You can buy joint tickets with the Knossos palace entry.
Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus
The Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus stops at both the museum and the Palace of Knossos as well as the city’s other highlights, so it’s a practical and fun way to explore Heraklion with kids.
There are eight stops along the route including the Old Port Square, the Historical Museum of Crete and the Venetian Walls (as well as the Archaeological museum and Knossos itself).
Tickets are valid for 48 hours and a full loop takes one hour. Buses run around every 45 minutes in summer.
For more things to do in Crete with kids, check out my top picks
Natural History Museum of Crete
The Natural History Museum in Heraklion is a kid friendly place to discover more about the nature of Crete, with exhibits on the different areas of the eastern Mediterranean and Greece.
But as well as local wildlife, there are display on dinosaurs, an earthquake simulator which lets you experience the feeling of tremors up to 6 on the Richter scale and different experiments for kids to get hands on.
With five separate sections, including Zoological, Botanical, Anthropological, Paleontological-Geological and Mineralogical, you can spot the Deinotherium Giganteum, whose huge skeleton was found on the island, plus exhibits aimed at children, including a fossil area.
Koules Venetian fortress
The Venetian fort still sits at the entrance of the old port of Heraklion. Known as the Koules or Castello a Mare – the fortress on the sea – it was built in the early 16th century on the site of older towers.
There are some fantastic views out across the sea, as well as a small museum inside. The biggest attraction is simply getting to wander around though: along with rooms used to store water, a mill, bakery, church and barracks, you can walk through an old prison too.
Keep an eye out for the thickest parts of the walls, over 8m thick in places, although it didn’t stop the fortress falling to the Turks in the 17th century.
Walk the Venetian Walls
There have been fortified walls around Heraklion for over a thousand years – first the Byzantines built simple ones to defend their city, before it fell to Arab invaders. But when the Venetians arrived, they rebuilt the older versions to surround the city, which they called Candia (or Chandax).
It was once one of the best fortified cities in the Mediterranean – holding off a siege by Ottoman forces for 21 years before finally admitting defeat.
You can still see some of the vast stone walls and two of the main gates are also intact: look out for the symbol of Venice, the lion of St Mark on the Martinengo Bastion, or follow some or all of the walls around the medieval city on a Venetian Wall Walk.
Take a walk through Heraklion
If you prefer exploring on foot to something like the hop-on hop-off bus, it’s easy to plot your own walking tour of Heraklion with kids, past some of the highlights.
There’s some fantastic street art to discover around Lakko and the streets near the Parko Georgiadi – we ended up parking near here by the Kenourgia gate (or Jesus gate) and the old walls, following the route downhill to Eleftherias Square and the Archaeological Museum.
From here, you can head over to the Morosini Fountain, in the heart of what’s known as Lions Square in the centre of the city – stop to count the lions around it when you find it.
The Central Market is a stone’s throw away with lots of souvenirs on the stalls among the cafes, plus the fish market tucked away down a sidestreet.
Once you’ve ambled along and spent your Euros, head towards the waterfront: walk down to the Venetian port of Heraklion to see the fortress and gaze out to sea – try to spot the little island of Dia.
If you’re planning to visit, the Natural History Museum of Crete, it’s a little way along the waterfront too (there’s very little shade so best not to attempt the walk when it’s too hot).
Or retrace your steps and head back up to the Martinengo Bastion in the old Heraklion city walls: it’s another hot climb but there’s shade at the top and some great views.
Visit the beach
You’ll need to venture a little way outside the city to find the best beaches near Heraklion, but you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to relaxing on the sands.
Some of the closest are the Hersonissos Beaches – a collection of small local beaches just to the east of Heraklion, with calm, clear waters and plenty of family-friendly facilities. Anissaras is a particularly good one.
Or head to Agia Pelagia beach. While there are pebbles instead of sand, the water is astonishingly clear and the little cove at the bottom of a winding hillside road feels like a bit of a hidden gem. Although happily, with restaurants like Alati, serving amazing fish and sushi, it’s an escape with style.
For another place to get away from some of the crowds, Amoudara beach, a few miles west of Heraklion has a long sandy beach stretching for almost five miles – you can find secluded spots to swim and sunbathe as well as areas with more facilities.
Take a boat tour
For another relaxed alternative, try a sailing trip from Heraklion to Dia island, just to the north of Crete.
There’s a morning boat tour along with the afternoon sailing at 2.30pm, depending how early you want to be aboard. Either way, the four and a half hour boat trip makes for a chilled out day out with kids – the area was a favourite destination of famous underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau as well.
There’s time to swim and snorkel, as well as relaxing on the shores of Dia Island or taking a walk under the cedar trees. There’s some history to be found along the way too, as you discover an ancient Minoan port.
The family friendly trip includes a delicious Mediterranean meal – as well as having the odd glass of local wine – before arriving back to Heraklion. Suitable for kids aged 4+.
Cretaquarium
Venture below the waves at Cretaquarium, a Mediterranean-themed aquarium around a 20-minute drive from Heraklion. Home to over 2,000 sea creatures across 60 tanks, there’s plenty to see and it’s easy to while away and hour or two here.
From giant sharks to microscopic plankton, kids can learn all about marine life in the region and there’s an audio guide as you explore (or you can pay extra for a short guided tour too).
It’s not a huge aquarium, but it’s a lovely place to explore with kids, as well as being a handy air-conditioned stop if you’re looking to kill a few hours before catching your plane from Heraklion airport. If you’re unlucky enough to have a rainy day in Heraklion with kids, it’s ideal too.
Book tickets with free cancellation here.
Dinosauria Park
Travel even further back in history than the Minoans at this interactive theme park devoted to dinosaurs.
At Dinosauria Park you can travel back in time to the Mesozoic era as you wander around the park discovering full-sized animatronic creatures, while interactive screens teach you about the life and habitats of each dinosaur you encounter.
Kids can also get hands-on with fun activities including fossil excavations, hatching a dinosaur egg, and caring for injured creatures at the General Hospital of Dinosaurs. The park has a cafe, gift shop, and large children’s play area too.
Acqua Plus Water Park
Acqua Plus is the biggest and most popular water park in Crete, just 25 minutes from Heraklion with over 50 exciting water slides, rides, and games for kids and adults of all ages.
For teens and older children, you’ll find extreme slides like the Kamikaze and Giants of Terror, while little ones can enjoy the kids’ waterslides, activity playgrounds, a fantasy inflatable castle, and lots more.
Other water parks near Heraklion
- Watercity Water Park – buy free cancellation tickets here
- Meropi Aqua Park
- Bravo Water Park
Labyrinth Park
If you want to find a labyrinth for your kids to explore, add Labyrinth Park to your list of family attractions in Crete.
This unique Minoan-themed amusement park around 25 minutes from Heraklion has a huge 1,300sqm labyrinth for the whole family to get lost in – definitely one of the most unusual things to do in Crete with kids and a fun way for kids to learn about Greek mythology
Ideal for younger children, there are a huge range of activities, including mini golf, quad bikes, archery, horse rides and a live escape game as well.
You can also pop by the projector room, where videos on the ancient Minoan Civilization of Crete are shown throughout the day, and enjoy lunch in the ancient Knossos-themed cafe.
Lychnostatis open air museum
This little museum in Hersonissos is the perfect way to get a taste of what life was like in Crete in years gone by.
With a focus on folk traditions and culutre, you can explore a shepherd’s shelter and little windmill, as well as seeing old wine and olive presses and wandering through a herb garden.
There’s a gallery with work by Cretan artists on display too, plus there’s an audio guide and a lovely little cafe. Buy tickets with free cancellation here.
It’s easy to take day trips around the island from Heraklion with kids – check out my top tips for the best things to do in Crete for families, as well my guide to Greece with kids
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Main image/fortress/fountain/boat courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels
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