What to Know about Staying in Hersonissos: How to Get Around and More!
Maybe Hersonissos isn’t as popular of a place to stay in Crete as Chania, but it is definitely worth visiting! Located on the east side of Crete, it is easy to get to from the port at Heraklion, is close to beaches and is a charming place to visit!
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Where is Hersonissos?
Hersonissos is located on one of Greek’s southernmost islands, Crete, less than 30 minutes east of the Heraklion port. One thing you will learn quickly about Crete is that it is a LARGE island; much larger than many of the Greek islands. So, if you are island-hopping, staying close to the port and saving time travel can be beneficial!
How to Get to Hersonissos
Hersonissos’s location from the port and airport make it rather easy to get to once you get to Crete. Here is how to get there from Athens and then from the port!
How to Get to Crete from Athens
First off, to get to Crete from Athens you can either fly or take a ferry. As I mentioned before, Crete is one of the southern most islands of Greece and is quite far from Athens.
- Ferry: You can ferry directly from Athens, which will take about 9 hours! However, these ferry rides are overnight, so you can just fall asleep and wake up on a new island! Search for ferry routes and prices on Ferryhopper.com.
- Fly: The other option is to fly direct from Athens to Heraklion, which is less than an hour flight and usually costs less than $100 USD. We flew Volotea while in Greece and had no complaints about the airline.
How to Get from the Port to Hersonissos
To get to Hersonissos from the port you can rent a car, hire a driver or take a bus.
- Rent a Car: Renting a car is one of the best ways to get around Crete. As I mentioned, it is a much larger island than many of the other islands and if you are wanting to see other parts of the island, renting a car will give you more freedom to do so!
- Hire a Driver: If you don’t want to rent a car, you can often hire a driver to pick you up and take you to your hotel. You can also check with your hotel, because both hotels we stayed at in Santorini and in Crete offered airport/port pickups for a base cash payment (around $50 USD for two people). You can hire a private airport transport through Kook.
- Bus: You can bus directly from Heraklion airport and port to Hersonissos. You will have to take a short walk from the port to get to the bus station, and then the ride from the port is about 22 minutes, leaving hourly. However, if your accommodation isn’t within walking distance of Hersonissos bus station, you will have to find additional transportation to get to your hotel/airbnb. Thus, taxi or hiring a driver may be your better option.
Rent a Car Here
Hersonissos vs Limenas Chersonisou
First of all, Heronissos is often called Chersonissos, which translates to “harbor” in Greek. Before we get into too many details about where to stay and how to get around, it is good to know the layout of the area a little better.
- When you put in “Hersonissos” in the maps, it takes you to the main village of Hersonissos. This is considered the
- However, if you start looking up “things to do in Hersonissos” or “places to stay in Hersonissos” you will notice a lot of places by the beach and by something called the Hersonissos Harbor. This area is actually considered Limenas Chersonisou.
- Photos of the harbor typically pull up when you look up Hersonissos, so they are closely related. However, it takes about 45 minutes to walk from Hersonsissos main town to the harbor area.
- If you are looking for a chill, relaxing vibe, stay in Hersonissos and if you are looking for more beach clubs and activity, stay in Limenas Chersonissou.
How to Get around Hersonissos
You can get around Hersonissos via bus or by car rental. . Also, check with your hotel, because some of them will set up drivers to take you to the main parts of the island.
- Rent a car: If you are wanting to explore a lot of the island while in Crete, renting a car is a great option. However, make sure you get a hotel with parking!
- Bus: If you are staying nearby Hersonissos and visit the nearby beach towns such as Stalida and/or are just wanting to do guided day-trips, you can do and see a lot of places via bus!
- Walk: You can easily walk around the town of Hersonissos if you are staying there or you can easily walk to a lot of shops and restaurants in the Limenas Chersonisou area if you are staying there! (You just can’t walk between the two, because it is about a 45 minute walk.
What to do in Hersonissos
Hersonissos is smaller, but it isn’t lacking in things to do and places to see! Here are some great options on things to do while in Hersonissos including a couple of good day trip options!
1. Go to Hersonissos Harbor
The harbor in Hersonissos is the main attraction, and for good reason. It is beautiful! The water is SO clear and there are typically beautiful boats docked here.
2. Explore the Downtowns
Explore the traditional village of old town Hersonissos! In the old town you will find shops, markets and taverns that are more representative of historical Greece. This is also where the “Old Chersonissos Center” as well as just beautiful, old architecture.
In the main part of Limas Chersonisou you will find many shops and restaurants that are more modern. Take a walk around, shop a little, stop in for a drink and just enjoy the downtown area. You will find many beachside restaurants in Limenas Chersonisou as well, so take some time to shop, catch happy hour and then grab dinner all within walking distance. However, be prepared for a possible crowd for the vibrant nightlife that takes place here in the summer!
3. Day Trip to Knossos
Knossos is one of the most popular day trips from Hersonissos. it is an ancient city in Crete with great mythological significance! It was said to be mentioned by Homer in the Odyessy. It is said King Minos lived here, giving the name to the Minoan civilation. Knossos was also mentioned in the story of Theseus and the minotaur. If you are a Greek mythology fan, you NEED to visit!
Hersonissos is just south of Heraklion, about a 30 minutes drive/ride from Hersonissos.
4. Take a Day trip to Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos is a picturesque coastal town east of Hersonissos. Uniquely, Agios Nikolaos is also a lakeside town, giving you the option of enjoying a lake day or the beaches along the ocean! You can opt to do outdoor activities such as paddle boarding, hiking or swimming or it offers great shops and restaurants. Another option is to visit the island of Spinalonga, which was once a leprosy colony. You can still see much of the fortress and the buildings that stood in the early 1900’s.
5. Olive Oil Farm
Cretan Olive Oil Farm
- This olive oil farm is located in Agios Nikolaos, which is about a 35 minute drive or bus ride from Hersonissos. You can bus on your own, drive yourself or take a guided tour. If you are planning a day trip to Agios Nikolaus, this is a great option to add to your itinerary!
- If you decide to bus there, once you get there, you will have a 25 minute walk to the Cretan Olive Oil Farm or you can find a taxi/rideshare.
- The guided tour that is highly rated includes Agios Nkolaous but also Spinalonga Island, which was once a leprosy colony.
- The Cretan Olive Oil Farm also provides other entertainment, including pottery making, cooking lessons, olive oil making, wine tasting, cheese making and more! Below you can book a guided tour from Hersonissos!
Kleanthi Olive Farm
- Located in Heraklion, it is a 25 minute drive or bus ride from Hersonissos. Kleanthi offers a tour through the olive trees, the olive oil mill and an olive oil tasting. It is located near Knossos, so you could likely combine the two into one day if you would like to see both.
- It doesn’t offer as much additional activities (like the wine tasting and cheese making) as the Cretan Olive Oil Farm, but it is on the more affordable side! Book tickets here!
6. Beach Day at STalida beach
- Stalida is a nice beach located just east of Limenas Chersonissou with lots of options for umbrellas and chairs to rent. We even found some beachside places to have showers available with chair rentals.
- Aside from the beach, Stalida also has many restaurants and bars along the beach as well as shops within walking distance of. the beach.
- Hersonissos to Stalida Beach is only a 10 minute drive and you can catch a bus if you have opted out of renting a car.
7. Go Sailing from the Harbor
- There is beautiful water near Hersonissos, so a great option is to take a sailing tour from Hersonissos Harbor!
- You can do regular sailing tours, yacht tours, fishing tours, sunset tours and more from the Hersonsissos Harbor! It is a great way to see the clear, blue waters without the crowds of the beaches.
Where to Stay in Hersonissos
Hersonsissos has very affordable accommodations compared to many of the other Greek islands, another a perk of visiting Hersonissos! You can find very budget-friendly hotels and B&Bs and you can find higher-end hotels for much more affordable than other parts of Greece or even other parts of Crete.
If you want to be in a more traditional, quieter part of town, Hersonissos Old Town is a good option for you. If you are looking to be close to the beach and near restaurants, bars and nightclubs then you should stay in Limenas Chersonissou.
Hersonissos Old Town
Heronissos town is a small area with a cluster of hotels and restaurants when you can find the Old Chersonisos Center. Here you can find nice, luxury hotels and resorts as well as affordable options.
| Top Affordable Hotels In Old Town Hersonissos | Photos From Websites |
|---|---|
| Bella Vista Hotel – 3 star hotel that has an ocean and mountain views. |  |
| Mitos Village– 3 star hotel with a pool and walking distance from the old town square. |  |
| Casa Di Veneto– A 4 star hotel with traditional stone architecture just steps from old town Hersonissos. |  |
Limenas Chersonissou
Limenas Chersonissou is a portion of Hersonissos by the beach with another cluster of hotels and restaurants found near the sea. If you are wanting to be in walking distance of the beach, this is where you will want to stay!
| Top Affordable Hotels In Limenas Chersonissou | Photos from Websites |
|---|---|
| Lotus Rise Hotel- A 4 star adults-only hotel with an outdoor pool and beachside views. |  |
| Anesis Blue Boutique Hotel– A boutique hotel a short walk from the most popular restaurants and beaches. |  |
| Senses Blue Boutique Hotel– A boutique hotel with a pool with a sea view within walking distance of the sea and shops. |  |
Affordable Luxury in the Area
I usually recommend affordable accommodations, as that is what I go for! However, Hersonissos has quite a few 5 star hotels that are much more affordable than those found on other islands in Greece. So, if you are wanting a nice hotel without breaking the bank, this could be a great place for you!
We stayed at Village Heights Resort, which is a 5 star hotel located outside of old town Hersonissos. Here is everything to know about staying there.
| Top Affordable Luxury Hotels | Photos from Websites |
|---|---|
| Vasia Boulevard Hotel– 5 star adults only hotel on the beach of Limenas Chersonissou. |  |
| AKASHA Beach Hotel and Spa– 5 star, 2024 Traveler’s Choice Award Winner located on the beach with breakfast and dinner included. |  |
| Village Height Resorts– 5 star hotel located closer to Hersonissos Old Town. Good if you are looking for a secluded hotel away from crowds. Offers a free shuttle to nearby towns. |  |
Looking to Visit Hersonissos in Combination with Other Greek Places?
You can easily spend a week in Crete and not see everything you want to see. However, if you are looking to see other places in combination with Hersonissos, here is a great 7 day itinerary!
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