Fly from Nice to Heraklion

To have a perfect holiday, you need to do two things: listen to your wishes and satisfy them. If the first depends entirely on you, Heraklion will fulfil the second for you. The Cretan capital and its surroundings will always meet your desires. Are they encouraging you to be lazy? Crete is an island and, inevitably, it has plenty of beaches where you can be lazy and tan yourself as much as you want to. Have you been waking up with a thirst for culture? Quench your thirst by visiting a millennial palace or an Orthodox cathedral. Is nature calling to you in the morning? Climb the sides of Mount Ida until you find the Cave of Zeus, the birthplace of the god of gods. Need a moment to relax as a couple? Wander among stalls at a popular market before enjoying some grilled fish in a quaint little tavern. Do you prefer to share your adventures as a family? Visit the local museums to discover real-life dinosaurs or understand science with Archimedes.

• Walk up 25th of August Street (25is Avgoustou), from the old port to Lions Square, to discover the historic centre of the Cretan capital, its shops, indulgent terraces, picturesque alleys and their old stones.
• Unmask Venice by discovering what it contributed to Heraklion, such as the “loggia”, the former palace of local nobility which is now occupied by the city hall, Koules Fortress, which has guarded the entrance to the port for five centuries, or the Morosini fountain and its four lions.
• Enjoy the serenity of the Agios Titos Basilica, a devoutly religious place inherited from the Byzantine Empire. Then, give in to the magic of the Agios Minas Cathedral and the multicoloured murals that cover each wall, up to the top of its dome.
• Discover the Archaeological Museum and its magnificent collections. Their jewellery, sculptures and, more importantly, their memorable murals make the establishment known worldwide. The price to pay for glory? Without a ticket, you can expect a long wait at the entrance!
• Immerse yourself in nature at the Natural History Museum in Crete. You’ll discover real ecosystems, live or stuffed animals, spectacular fossils, an earthquake simulator and life-sized replicas of extinct giants.
• Step back in time to push open the doors of the Palace of Knossos, the pride of Minoan civilisation that, two thousand years before our era, made Crete one of the major Mediterranean powers. A site as colossal as it is spectacular. You can’t miss it!
• Treat yourself to a “dolce vita” getaway in Agios Nikolaos. Just an hour away from Heraklion, it’s the other flagship destination on the eastern side of the island. A charming city that floats between the sea and Lake Voulismeni. That water! It’s so beautiful!
• Place your towel down on one of the nearby beaches in Agios Nikolaos. They are among the island’s most beautiful beaches. You’ll be able to see for yourself the small coves with crystal waters and the golden sand of Almyros or Voulisma.
• Explore the Lassithi Plateau, discovering its orchards, pretty landscapes, picturesque villages, windmills or Dikteon Cave, where Rhea gave birth to Zeus before hiding him there so Cronos, his father, couldn’t eat him.
• Try the famous Cretan diet. Even if it’s only for a few days, it won’t hurt you. And most importantly, enjoy fruits and vegetables, flavours of the sea, olive oil, goat’s cheese, honey and many other local products.