In short
Heraklion: ships berth alongside in the commercial port, no tender. A port shuttle reaches the exit in 5 minutes; from there the Koules fortress is 10–15 minutes on foot and Lions Square about 20. Knossos is 5 km south: bus 2 from the station opposite the port, 20–25 minutes. Four hours covers the old town; a full day adds Knossos.
Where do cruise ships berth in Heraklion, and how do you get into town?
At the cruise piers in the eastern part of the commercial port, about a kilometre from the old town. Ships berth alongside — there is no tender. A port shuttle bus takes you from the ship to the port exit in about 5 minutes; from there you walk along the seafront to the Koules fortress and the Venetian harbour in 10–15 minutes, and up to Lions Square in the old town in about 20.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where the ship berths | Heraklion's commercial port has several cruise berths, on Piers II, III and IV–V; the cruise terminal is on Pier IV–V. The port can take up to five ships at once. Your berth is in the daily programme. |
| From the ship to the exit | A shuttle bus runs inside the port from the ship to the exit in about 5 minutes. Take it rather than walking: lorries and ferry traffic use the quays. |
| Into town on foot | From the port exit along the seafront: the Koules fortress and the Venetian harbour in 10–15 minutes, the Archaeological Museum in 10–15, Lions Square with the Morosini Fountain in about 20, partly uphill. |
| To Knossos | The palace of Knossos is about 5 km south of the centre. City bus line 2 leaves from bus station A, across the road from the port, roughly every 20 minutes and takes 20–25 minutes; a taxi takes 15–20 minutes. |
| Typical call | Usually 7–10 hours, during the day. For some Greek-island cruises Heraklion is also a start or end port. Exact times are in the daily programme. |
| Time zone | Greece is on Eastern European Time — one hour ahead of Italy, France and Spain. If the ship keeps its own time, the daily programme says so; always count all-aboard in ship's time. |
| Money and language | Euro. Greek; English is spoken almost everywhere in the centre. Cards are taken almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for the bus and small kiosks. |
| Documents | Greece is in the EU and Schengen. If the ship comes from a Schengen port (Piraeus or Italy, for example), there is usually no separate check; if it comes from Turkey or elsewhere outside Schengen, checks take place on board or at the port. Carry the document your cruise line asks for (what to check). |
| All aboard | Usually 30–60 minutes before departure. From Knossos allow at least an hour to get back — bus, walk to the gate and shuttle; from the old town, at least 40 minutes. |
- Wind21 km/h
- Sea23°
- Sunset18:44
- Thu19°17°💧100%
- Fri20°13°💧0%
- Sat18°13°💧58%
- Sun20°10°💧0%
- Mon22°11°💧0%
- Tue23°12°💧2%
- Wed26°13°💧7%
Forecast by Open-Meteo, updated hourly. Check the forecast again the day before your stop.
What can you fit into a day in port in Heraklion?
The Venetian harbour, the old town and the Archaeological Museum are all within walking distance of the port, and Knossos — the reason many people come — is 20 minutes away by bus. On a call of 7 hours or more you can do both.
Koules and the Venetian old town
Start at the Koules, the 16th-century Venetian sea fortress at the end of the harbour mole: a small exhibition inside, and from the roof a view over the port and your ship (admission charged; opening days vary). Then walk up 25 Avgoustou street past the church of Agios Titos and the Venetian Loggia to Lions Square and the Morosini Fountain of 1628. Try a bougatsa — Cretan custard pie — on the square.
The Archaeological Museum
One of Europe's great collections of Minoan art: the original Knossos frescoes, including the famous bull-leaping scene, the snake goddess figurines and the Phaistos Disc, still undeciphered. Allow 1.5–2 hours. It is 10–15 minutes on foot from the port exit and 5 from Lions Square; nearby, the 1866 market street sells herbs, honey, olive oil and cheese.
Knossos and the museum — on a call of 7 hours or more
Knossos is the largest Minoan site and, since 2025, part of the UNESCO-listed Minoan Palatial Centres. Bus line 2 from bus station A opposite the port takes 20–25 minutes; go early, because by midday the site is full of groups and there is little shade. Allow 1.5–2 hours there, then see the originals in the Archaeological Museum on your way back to the ship.
The Venetian walls and Kazantzakis
The 16th-century Venetian walls ring the whole old town. On the Martinengo bastion lies the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis, author of "Zorba the Greek", with a view over the city to Mount Giouchtas — no ticket needed, about 25 minutes on foot from Lions Square. On a long call, a ship's excursion to Agios Nikolaos and the island fortress of Spinalonga takes over an hour each way, plus a short boat ride.
Places on the map
The places from this guide, ready for your phone. The numbers on the map match the list. “Map” opens Google Maps; “Walk from the pier” shows the walking route from where ships usually dock.
Map images are loaded from OpenStreetMap servers. Your choice is remembered in this browser.
- ⚓Cruise pierMap
- 1Koules fortressMapWalk from the pier
- 2Church of Agios TitosMapWalk from the pier
- 3Venetian LoggiaMapWalk from the pier
- 4Lions Square (Morosini Fountain)MapWalk from the pier
- 5Archaeological MuseumMapWalk from the pier
- 6Kazantzakis' grave (Martinengo bastion)MapWalk from the pier
- 7Palace of KnossosMap
- ⏱Will I make it back?Plan your day here by the minutePlan →
Which pier your ship uses depends on the day: check the daily programme.
Knossos on your own: what you need to know
Knossos is the main reason many passengers go ashore in Heraklion, and it is easy to do independently if you get the timing right.
- Getting there. City bus line 2 from bus station A (across the road from the port exit) to the stop at the palace entrance, roughly every 20 minutes, 20–25 minutes on board. Buy your ticket at the station kiosk before you get on.
- Palace tickets. From May to October it is best to buy an e-ticket in advance on the Greek Ministry of Culture's site (hhticket.gr): at the booth, midday queues can take 30–40 minutes. A combined ticket with the Archaeological Museum is also sold.
- Opening hours. From April to October the site opens at 8:00 and stays open into the evening; in winter it closes in the afternoon. Hours change, so check before you go.
- What you will see. Much of the palace was rebuilt in concrete by Arthur Evans in the early 20th century: the throne room, the red columns, copies of the frescoes. The originals are in the Archaeological Museum in town, so the two visits complement each other.
- Heat. There is little shade, and it is hot from May to October. Take water, a hat and comfortable shoes — the stones are uneven and slippery.
On your own or on a ship's excursion?
Heraklion is easy to do on your own: the old town and the museum are walkable from the port, and Knossos is a single city bus away.
A ship's excursion makes more sense on a short call when you want Knossos with a licensed guide and no queues, on days when several ships are in and the buses are packed, or for anything further afield: Spinalonga, the Lasithi Plateau with the Dikteon Cave, or the palace of Phaistos in the south — all more than an hour each way. The ship generally waits for its own excursions if they run late — it does not wait for independent passengers.
How do you make sure you are back on board in Heraklion?
- Ship's time. Greece is an hour ahead of Italy. If the clocks on board have not changed, check the daily programme and set your alarm by ship's time.
- The bus back from Knossos. When several ships are in, buses fill up by midday. Take an earlier one than planned, or a taxi.
- The port shuttle. From the port gate to the gangway, allow another 10–15 minutes including the wait; towards the end of the call there can be a queue.
- Wednesdays at the museum. In summer the Archaeological Museum opens only at 13:00 on Wednesdays. On a Wednesday call, start with Knossos or the old town.
- What to take. Your cruise card, the document your cruise line asked for, water, a hat and sunscreen, a little cash and a phone with the ship's emergency number.
Where do cruises calling at Heraklion start?
Heraklion is mainly a port of call: Crete features on Greek-island and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries, and some cruises start or end here. Departure ports:
- Cruises from Athens (Piraeus) — Greek-island cruises, many of them calling at Crete.
- Cruises from Venice — Eastern Mediterranean sailings down the Adriatic to the Greek islands; some call at Heraklion.
- Cruises from Kuşadası — Aegean cruises that combine Turkey with the Greek islands.
- Venice or Athens (Piraeus)? — the two Eastern Mediterranean start ports compared.
Often on the same itinerary: Santorini in a day, Rhodes in a day and Athens from Piraeus in a day.
Common questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Heraklion?
Cruise ships berth at the cruise piers — Piers II, III and IV–V — of Heraklion's commercial port, about a kilometre from the old town; there is no tender. The cruise terminal is on Pier IV–V, and a port shuttle bus takes you from the ship to the port exit in about 5 minutes.
Can you walk from the Heraklion cruise port to the old town?
Yes. From the port exit it is 10–15 minutes along the seafront to the Koules fortress and the Venetian harbour, 10–15 minutes to the Archaeological Museum and about 20 to Lions Square, partly uphill. Take the port shuttle from the ship to the exit.
How do you get from the Heraklion cruise port to Knossos?
City bus line 2 runs from bus station A, across the road from the port, roughly every 20 minutes and takes 20–25 minutes. A taxi takes 15–20 minutes. When several ships are in port, leave early: the buses fill up fast.
What can I see in Heraklion in 4 hours from a cruise ship?
In 4 hours in Heraklion you can see the Koules fortress, 25 Avgoustou street, the church of Agios Titos and Lions Square — or the Archaeological Museum with its Minoan frescoes plus a walk through the old town. Knossos needs 3–4 hours including the journey, so keep it for a longer call.
Do you need to book Knossos tickets in advance?
From May to October it is best to buy an e-ticket in advance on the Greek Ministry of Culture's site: midday queues at the booth can take 30–40 minutes. A combined ticket with the Archaeological Museum is also sold. Opening hours change with the season, so check before you go.
Do I need my passport to go ashore in Heraklion?
Greece is in the EU and Schengen. If the ship comes from a Schengen port, there is usually no separate passport check; if it comes from Turkey or elsewhere outside Schengen, checks take place on board or at the port. Take ashore the document your cruise line asks for.
How the club fits in
Cruises calling at Heraklion that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which itineraries calling at Heraklion are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Practical port information is summarised from public sources as of October 2026: berths, call times, timetables, entry rules and visiting arrangements may change. Before you travel, check the ship's daily programme and the requirements for your passport. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.