How much does it cost to travel to Heraklion?
You should plan to spend around $172 (€158) per day on your vacation in Heraklion. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $56 (€52) on meals
- $34 (€31) on local transportation
- $176 (€161) on hotels
A one week trip to Heraklion for two people costs, on average, $2,403 (€2,208). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Heraklion has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Heraklion expensive to visit?
Prices in Heraklion are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Heraklion is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Mont-Saint-Michel or Turin (Torino).
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Heraklion Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Heraklion?
The average Heraklion trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Heraklion travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€161
($176)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€31
($34)
|
Food 2
|
€52
($56)
|
Entertainment 1
|
€38
($41)
|
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Alcohol 2
|
€13 -
39
($14 - 42)
|
Accommodation Budget in Heraklion
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Heraklion is $88 (€81). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Heraklion is $176 (€161). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Heraklion
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Heraklion is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $34 (€31) per person, per day, on local transportation in Heraklion.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$34
€31
How much does it cost to go to Heraklion? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Heraklion will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Heraklion
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Heraklion can vary, the average cost of food in Heraklion is $56 (€52) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Heraklion should cost around $23 (€21) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Heraklion is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$56
€52
Entertainment Budget in Heraklion
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Heraklion typically cost an average of $41 (€38) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$41
€38
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Alcohol Budget in Heraklion
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $28 (€26) on alcoholic beverages in Heraklion per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$28
€26
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Heraklion On a Budget
Heraklion, Crete, Greece
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern - a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
Sights
The Koules Venetian Fortress is Heraklion's main landmark. This 16th century fortress and its surrounding structure embody an impressive stone mass of solid walls that have stood the test of time. The fortress is open to visitors who wish to see up close the restored reliefs of the Lion of St. Mark, or enjoy views from above on the turret and roof.
Examples of similar Venetian architecture exist in various places throughout the city. The Venetian Loggia, now Heraklion's city hall, is a two-story Venetian mansion, which used to be a meeting place for the nobles of Crete in the 15th Century. There are also many fountains of the Venetian era still preserved in the city, such as the Bembo fountain, the Priuli fountain, Palmeti fountain, Sagredo fountain and Morosini fountain (located in Lions Square).
Other notable landmarks include statues and sculptures commemorating significant events and figures of the island's history, like El Greco, Vitsentzos Kornaros, Nikos Kazantzakis and Eleftherios Venizelos.
Neighborhoods
One of the best ways for navigating Heraklion is to start at 25is Avgoustou Street (25th August). Repaved as a pedestrian street, there is very little car traffic and the place is lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and bakeries. This is the hub for commercial activity. The road begins with a view of the sea, and as you walk inland, the denser the buildings become. Amidst the shops and eateries you may stumble upon the beautiful church of Agios Titos or the famous fountain at Lion Square. The further you explore the more you will begin to see the enchanting antiquity beneath bustling modernity.
Activities
The top museum in the city is by far the Archaeological Museum located on a corner of Eleftherias Square. Just walk down Dedalou off of 25th August and it will lead to right to the square where the museum is located. The museum spans a period starting several thousand years ago, through the Minoan, post-Minoan and later periods with findings from Knossos, Archanes, Phaestos, Zakros and many other archeological sites in Crete. A few highlights include the Phaestos disc and famous leaping bull fresco, but the museum holds a plethora of artifacts from Hellenic and Roman sculptures to ancient coins, jewelry, wall-paintings, and pottery. This museum is a major highlight of Heraklion and can easily occupy a few hours of your day.
Located just about 20-25 minutes from Heraklion's center is the archaeological site of the Palace of Knossos. A major piece of Minoan history, the excavated palace is great way to experience walk through the Bronze Age. Much of the place had been well-restored by English archaeologist Arthur Evans starting in 1900, which gives visitors today a visual of the vibrant colors and frescoes used in Minoan architecture. A thorough exploration of the site is another activity that can take several hours, and further artifacts from Knossos can be seen at the Archaeological Museum mentioned above.
Food and Dining
Being a large city, Heraklion offers just about any kind of food from Starbucks to traditional Greek cuisine. As mentioned before, 25th August Street will have more than enough dining options for you to choose from. Anywhere around Lion Square offers a charming view of Venetian architecture while enjoying a bustling center of good eats.
If you are looking to experience some of the local food culture, try the Atsalenio Wednesday market in Heraklion. Here you can sample all kinds of Cretan cheeses, from goat's to sheep's, mild and soft to earthy and hard, and even some fried varieties that will melt in your mouth. The market also offers all sorts of fresh vegetables and baked goods. And do not forget the olive oil. With over 15 million olive trees, the island of Crete uses olive oil in just about everything.
Transportation
Being the largest city on the largest island of Greece, there are many ways to reach Heraklion.
By air, one can fly to Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport located about 5km east of the city center. The airport has a bank, an ATM, a duty-free shop and a cafe bar.
By boat, one can take a ferry from the port of Piraeus in Athens. Minoan, Anek and Blue Star all operate daily between the two cities. The ferry port of Heraklion is located about 500m east of the Koules Fortress and old harbor. From Heraklion, Anek also has a weekly service to Karpathos, Kasos, Milos, Rhodes, and Santorini-and Hellenic Seaways goes to Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini daily.
Once you are on Crete, you can navigate the city's center by foot, or hail a taxi if you wish to see Knossos or any other part of the island. There are operating taxi stands located all around Heraklion.
As far as buses go, there are three main bus stations. One provides local, city, and Knossos buses, while the other two provide transportation to just about anywhere else on Crete. K.T.E.L. operates the two regular bus services between the cities of Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos offer the best affordable secure way to travel Crete.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.