10 Best Museums in Heraklion
Where to Discover Heraklion's History, Art and Culture?
An odyssey through the best museums in Herkalion will see you discovering stunning Minoan artworks, beautiful Bronze Age artefacts and archaeological masterpieces that are worth writing home about. Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is a bustling port city that’s famed for its ancient wonders, gold sand beaches and a culture rich with Grecian mythology.
Boasting a dizzying wealth of collections spanning engineering, art, astronomy and religion, Heraklion’s museums are not to be missed. One could spend an entire month here soaking up its every treasure before venturing to its outskirts to see its architectural relics.
1. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Unearthing Minoan Mysteries
Ideal para: História, Casais, Famílias
Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest and most esteemed museums in Europe, renowned for its treasure trove of age-old Minoan artefacts including frescoes, sculptures, shields and coins. Here, you’ll step back in time through 7 millennia, from the Neolithic period to Roman times.
Notable objects of interest include snake goddess figurines, steatite vases from Hagia Triada, animistic jewellery and a ceremonial lion’s head carved expertly from stone. In the museum garden, you’ll find the well-preserved ruins of the Venetian Monastery of St Francis, as well as an inviting café with beautiful views.
Localização: Chatzidaki 1, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
Abre: Wednesday–Monday from 8 am to 8 pm, Tuesday from 10 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +30 28 1027 9000
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
2. Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
A journey through ingenious inventions
Ideal para: História, Alimentação
The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, located in Heraklion’s downtown port district, offers an astounding overview of ancient robotics and early scientific engineering. On display, you’ll find reconstructions of imaginative contraptions such as the Antikythera Mechanism (an astronomical calculator) and Heron’s Automatic Theatre (a historic puppet play).
The technological miracle of Greece’s antiquity doesn’t end there. Across the museum’s 2 expansive floors you’ll discover a wealth of medical technology, measuring instruments, pulling machines, cryptographic discs and even wine jug gadgetry. Take an interactive tour or hire a private guide before stopping at the on-site café for a cake and a coffee.
Localização: Epimenidou 18, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
Abre: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Telefone: +30 28 1022 0610
Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
3. Christian Art Museum
An immersive view of Cretan spirituality
Ideal para: Foto, História
Heraklion’s Christian Art Museum is aptly situated in the cruciform church of St Catherine of Sinai (which was once a mosque under Ottoman rule). This venerated space showcases a number of Cretan Renaissance frescoes, wooden sculptures, post-Byzantine metal work and devotional objects in majestic surrounds.
Major highlights from this impressive collection include icons by significant figures from the Cretan School of Hagiography: Angelos Akotantos and Michael Damaskinos. Afterwards, treat yourself to a bite to eat at nearby Frankly Café which serves aromatic specialty coffee and delicious stacks of pancakes.
Localização: Karterou, Iraklio 712 01, Greece
Abre: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Sundays)
Telefone: +30 28 1033 6316
Christian Art Museum
4. Historical Museum of Crete
Tracing a turbulent past
Ideal para: História, Foto, Casais
Housed in a gorgeous neoclassical building, The Historical Museum of Crete documents the island’s turbulent history from 4th century AD through to the Second World War. Founded in 1953, this fascinating venue showcases 2 paintings by Greek artist El Greco, as well as a vast collection of dazzling Cretan wonders.
Across Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish eras, you’ll discover extraordinary ceramics, exquisite gold jewellery and coins, as well as artworks, sculptures and ritual objects. The museum’s 13th and 14th century frescoes never fail to impress, while the entire top level pays homage to Greek folklore.
Localização: Leof. Sofokli Venizelou 27, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
Abre: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Telefone: +30 28 1028 3219
Historical Museum of Crete
5. Natural History Museum of Crete
Where to learn about Cretan biodiversity
Ideal para: História, Famílias
The Natural History Museum of Crete, based at Crete University, is the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean region. Its 5 expansive floors are divided into major topics of interest: Zoology, Botany, Anthropology, Paleontology-Geology and Mineralogy.
Key highlights include the Deinotherium giganteum skeleton, a dinosaur unearthed close to Sitia Crete, as well as an Interactive Seismic Table which simulates earthquakes in a safe, educational environment. In the basement, kids will adore the whimsical interactive playground that’s equipped with a replica boat for exploring the sea, as well as several easy-to-use microscopes.
Localização: Leof. Sofokli Venizelou, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
Abre: Monday–Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Telefone: +30 28 1028 2740
Natural History Museum of Crete
6. Rocca a Mare Fortress
A treasure trove of Cretan maritime history
Ideal para: História, Foto
The Rocca a Mare Fortress sits at the entrance of the old port and has roots dating back to the 13th century when an earthquake destroyed its tower. Restored in the 1600s during Ottoman rule, Crete’s rich maritime history is in every brick, including its spectacular sculpture: the Winged Lion of Saint Mark.
Built for defence, as well as for the storage of military supplies and food, the fortress also served, at times, as a prison and officer’s quarters. In recent years, this impressive relic (also known as The Koules and The Venetian Castle of Heraklion) has undergone a painstaking revamp which now allows visitors to wander the interiors.
Localização: Heraklion 712 02, Greece
Abre: Wednsday–Monday from 8 am to 8 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Telefone: +30 28 1024 3559
Rocca a Mare Fortress
7. Knossos Palace
An extraordinary ancient wonder
Ideal para: Foto, História
Heraklion’s Knossos Palace is an astonishing Bronze Age relic that was once the centre of Minoan civilization. Discovered in the 1870s by Cretan merchant Minos Kalokairinos, this ancient archaeological site makes for wonderful photo opportunities.
Home of Minos and the legendary Minotaur, Knossos Palace offers visitors the chance to explore the well-preserved ruins while learning about its fascinating history and mythological stories. Wander through the courtyard, examine the elaborate carvings or explore the mysterious Temple Tomb where priests and priestesses roamed.
Localização: 8, Iraklio 714 09, Greece
Abre: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +30 281 023 1940
Knossos Palace
8. Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
A love note to a literary master
Ideal para: História, Alimentação, Casais
The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum pays homage to the life and work of writer and Nobel prize candidate Nikos Kazantzakis. The museum’s permanent exhibition features novels, poems and letters by this Cretan icon who authored the author of Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ. You’ll also find a fascinating array of his personal items.
Take a guided tour with the staff (who are fluent in English and Greek) to discover lesser-known facts about Kazantzakis’ life. Afterwards, grab a seat at the nearby Kampaéti café where you can enjoy a bite to eat in the warm Greek sunshine. This museum is situated in the historic village of Mirtia, 15 km from Heraklion.
Localização: Myrtia 701 00, Greece
Abre: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Telefone: +30 281 074 1689
Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
9. Heraklion Museum of Visual Arts
Impressive collection of contemporary pieces
Ideal para: Alimentação, História
Housed in the former San Marco Basilica, Heraklion Museum of Visual Arts captivates with its large collection of Cretan works. An inclusive organisation that is committed to the preservation and cultivation of intellectual and aesthetic pursuits, the space hosts periodic exhibitions by Greek artists as well as permanent collections by local painters including Aristodimos Papadakis and Maria Fioraki.
After you’ve had your art fix, grab a spot of lunch at the nearby Vardis Taverna, a restaurant serving authentic Greek food under a glorious vine-covered trellis. Alternatively, head to Steam for some of the best coffee in all of Heraklion (and try an authentic sesame bread ring while you’re at it).
Localização: Nimfon 3, Iraklio 713 07, Greece
Abre: Monday–Friday from 6 am to 8 pm (closed on Saturdays and Sundays)
Telefone: +30 281 022 6683
Heraklion Museum of Visual Arts
10. El Greco Museum
A celebration of an iconic Mannerist
Ideal para: História, Viagens alternativas, Foto
On the edge of the village of Fodele, west of Heraklion, you’ll find the El Greco Museum: a charming tribute to the famed Greek painter, sculptor and architect. Known for masterworks such as View of Toledo, Holy Trinity and The Disrobing of Christ, this restored rustic venue purports to be El Greco’s birthplace and dates all the way back to the 16th century.
Art lovers and historians will relish the artist’s painting studio as well as copies of important works and associated documents. While you’re there, enjoy a refreshing drink in the shady on-site cafeteria or visit the ancient Byzantine beauty: the Panagia Church.
Localização: Ethniki Odos 9 2, Pirgou 271 00, Greece
Abre: Wednesday–Monday from 9 am to 7 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Telefone: +30 281 052 1500
El Greco Museum
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