A Travel Price Comparison for Greece Corinth vs. Heraklion for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Corinth or Heraklion?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Corinth or Heraklion, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Corinth

Corinth is a unique, fascinating, and ancient archeological site. Visitors also love the museums.

Heraklion

Heraklion is a vibrant, accessible, and bustling city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Corinth and Heraklion: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Corinth or Heraklion?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Heraklion than Corinth. While Corinth is larger than Heraklion, Heraklion has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Corinth is popular for its historical ruins and fascinating temples. Heraklion is popular for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. It is also home to The Palace of Knossos.

How is Corinth different from Heraklion?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Heraklion and Corinth. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Corinth or Heraklion?

You'll find a number of high quality museums and attractions in both Heraklion and Corinth.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Corinth can be an interesting and educational experience. Visitors come to explore the ancient city of Corinth, which is now a significant archeological site. The Apollo Temple is an important landmark on the site. In a separate area you'll find the Acrocorinth, which is the ancient city's acropolis. Also a must-see is the Corinth Canal.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Heraklion. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

Is the Food Better in Corinth or Heraklion? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Heraklion is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Corinth is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Heraklion has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.

Corinth offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are a couple of restaurants where you can grab a quick bite to eat in the area, but most are not convenient.

Is Corinth or Heraklion Better for Nightlife?

Heraklion is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Corinth is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Heraklion has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Corinth. Most people visit the archeological sights and the canal as a day trip from Athens, so nightlife is not part of their itinerary.

Is Corinth or Heraklion Better for Beaches?

Heraklion is a very popular place for the beach. However, Corinth is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Heraklion. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.

Corinth is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Corinth or Heraklion?

Heraklion is a nice place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Corinth is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Heraklion has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.

Corinth is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Corinth or Heraklion Better for Families?

Corinth and Heraklion are both good destinations for the whole family.

Corinth is a family-friendly archeological site. These archeological ruins will have a special draw for those kids who enjoy the Percy Jackson book series. The ruins and corresponding museum tell the story of lives lived millennia ago. For kids with an active imagination, this is a fascinating place to explore.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Heraklion. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water Park.

Is Corinth or Heraklion Better for Couples?

Heraklion is a very popular place for couples. Also, Corinth is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Heraklion makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.

Corinth is a nice destination for couples. An easy day trip from Athens, these archeological ruins are unique and impressive to explore for couples who enjoy history and Greek mythology.

Is Corinth or Heraklion Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Heraklion is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Corinth is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Heraklion. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.

Corinth is a good archeological site to visit for backpackers. Most visitors come as a day trip from Athens. Public transportation options are plentiful so backpackers will find this an easy, independent trip to make.

Is Corinth or Heraklion Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Corinth and Heraklion.

Corinth has some public transit options. There are buses and trains that connect Athens and Corinth but confirm that the schedule is convenient for your trip.

You'll find some public transit in Heraklion, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.

Is Corinth or Heraklion a more walkable city?

Heraklion is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Corinth is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Heraklion is a very walkable destination. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.

Corinth is generally not very walkable. Many areas are spread out, so some parts are easily walkable and others are not.

For even more information, also check out Is Corinth Worth Visiting? and Is Heraklion Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Heraklion or Corinth?

How long in Corinth or Heraklion?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Corinth and Heraklion. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Heraklion than in Corinth. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Corinth, and 1-3 days is enough time in Heraklion.

Families should spend more time in Heraklion than Corinth. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Heraklion, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Heraklion than Corinth. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Heraklion that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heraklion than Corinth if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Heraklion.

One day in Corinth or Heraklion?

You'll find museums around the archeological site of Corinth. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Corinth has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

In Heraklion, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Corinth or Heraklion?

You'll find museums around the ancient destination of Corinth. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this archeological site has to offer. This archeological site offers a variety of activities to choose from.

In Heraklion, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Heraklion has to offer.

Five days in Corinth or Heraklion?

Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the unique archeological site of Corinth. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Heraklion is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Corinth or Heraklion?

Corinth is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heraklion. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Heraklion. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, and The Best Contiki Tours to Greece.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Corinth and Heraklion, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Corinth much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Corinth would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Corinth and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Corinth.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Corinth Expensive? and Is Heraklion Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Corinth or Heraklion?

Corinth has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Heraklion. When comparing the sizes of Corinth and Heraklion, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Corinth or Heraklion?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Corinth or Heraklion in the Summer?

Both Heraklion and Corinth are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Corinth this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Corinth is generally around the same temperature as Heraklion. Daily temperatures in Corinth average around 27°C (81°F), and Heraklion fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Heraklion. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Corinth. Corinth usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Heraklion during summer. Corinth gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Heraklion receives 366 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Corinth usually receives more rain than Heraklion. Corinth gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Heraklion receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Corinth or Heraklion in the Autumn?

Both Heraklion and Corinth during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Heraklion in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Corinth is around the same temperature as Heraklion in the autumn. The daily temperature in Corinth averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Heraklion fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Corinth. In the autumn, Corinth often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Heraklion. Corinth gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heraklion receives 199 hours of full sun.

Corinth usually gets less rain in October than Heraklion. Corinth gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Heraklion receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Corinth or Heraklion in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Corinth and Heraklion. Many visitors come to Corinth in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Heraklion for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Corinth is cooler than Heraklion. Typically, the winter temperatures in Corinth in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Heraklion averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Corinth usually receives more sunshine than Heraklion during winter. Corinth gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Heraklion receives 121 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Corinth usually receives less rain than Heraklion. Corinth gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Heraklion receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Corinth or Heraklion in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Corinth as well as Heraklion. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Corinth is generally around the same temperature as Heraklion. Daily temperatures in Corinth average around 16°C (60°F), and Heraklion fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heraklion. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Corinth this time of the year. In the spring, Corinth often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Heraklion. Corinth gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heraklion receives 224 hours of full sun.

Corinth usually gets less rain in April than Heraklion. Corinth gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Heraklion receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Heraklion and Corinth