Heraklion Bites and Sights
Crete, Greece
From USD 103.81
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Heraklion Bites and Sights
Crete, Greece
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Bypass the concrete and head straight for the heart of Heraklion. Hit the backstreets and hidden pathways, checking out the highlights, sampling local treats, and discovering all the forces that have combined to make Heraklion the city it is today.
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Highlights
- Dive into Heraklion’s history with stories of its turbulent past and visits to its legendary churches, fountains, and monuments
- Learn the secrets of the Cretan diet by sampling its best products at a local market
- Discover the local side of Heraklion through its lesser-known streets, forgotten laneways, and old city walls
- Admire art collections in unique locations
- Indulge in local flavours like a meze platter and oh-hey-that’s-strong raki and tsikoudia
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour you will visit 100% local, family-owned businesses and meet vendors at a local market who sell their own and Cretan-only products.
- All of the food you sample during your tour is locally sourced from villages, farmers, and stock-breeders of Crete
- You'll have the chance to buy from stores and eateries and support locals that don’t generally benefit from tourism.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Eleftherias Square, in the city centre. Eleftherias Square is the main square in Heraklion, near the Archaeological Museum, the Astoria Hotel, the Prefecture, and the Gate of Saint George.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
Venetian port of Heraklion.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food and beverage samples as indicated in the itinerary, rusks, olives and cheese, coffee or soft drink, a meze platter.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for your local guide.
One of the most vibrant cities in all of Greece, Heraklion has been at the crossroads of civilisations for centuries. In its infancy the city was known as “Kastro”, which historians believe indicates that the city was surrounded by fortification walls. Join this Heraklion walking tour to get to know the city as it is now, but also as it was centuries ago, uncovering remnants of occupations by the Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Turks, and pirates…yes, pirates.
Heading off from “Freedom Square” aka Eleftherias Square, our tour of Heraklion will continue through lesser-known streets and neighbourhoods to give you the opportunity to see the real city as a local insider. Appropriately, you’ll start off with a freshly brewed traditional coffee paired with a wander through the local market, where you can sample local products such as barley rusks and olives and cheese (what else would you expect?!), and chat with local shop owners.
From there, take a hop back in time with a walk atop Heraklion’s great Venetian wall fortifications for some of the best view of the city. It’s also a great vantage point to see how these walls (ahem, the longest in Europe, ahem) divide the old city from the new city. Continue along to the lonesome tomb and monument of Nikos Kazantzakis, the son of Crete, and discover what inspired him to write Zorba.
Moving on, we’ll walk along the pedestrian street, 25 August, admiring some of Heraklion’s major highlights, like St. Titus Cathedral and the Morosini Fountain in the heart of the city. Continue along the hidden backstreets of Heraklion, where your local guide will discuss the city’s history and point out further evidence of how the city has been shaped into the lively place it is today.
After our morning exploration, our Heraklion walking tour will end at a local favourite – a meze tavern, where you’ll finish things off with a bang, or, rather, a drink! Dig in to a meze platter and sip local specialties like raki and tsikoudia, the island’s famous (and oh so strong) distilled spirit. Opa!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food and beverage samples as indicated in the itinerary, rusks, olives and cheese, coffee or soft drink, a meze platter.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for your local guide.
Dress standard: As this is a walking tour, we advise you wear comfortable walking shoes. During summer, don’t forget your sunglasses and a camera, of course, as Heraklion is sure to amaze you!
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: The guide will point out places of interest, such as museums, and make recommendations of places that participants can visit in their own time after the tour.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Email address: info@creteurbanadventures.com
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