Hersonissos Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Hersonissos

Hersonissos is a real mixed bag of a resort, with numerous villages and rural areas lumped together with a substantial and busy town that forms the main resort centre. The main town is basically a modern construct, and although there are no tower blocks, its historic past, as evidenced by a scattering of small ancient ruins, is largely lost from view.

Nowadays the focus is a substantial harbour area with numerous bar-eateries on a busy raised waterfront stretching along most of the resort's length; periodically there are steps down to small unimpressive beaches. Just inland is the long, lively central commercial area where a good selection of bars, shops, tour agencies, restaurants and nightlife flanks the main road that continues to be busy despite the addition of a bypass to take most heavy vehicles and some of the traffic.

A mixed resort offering a catch-all holiday cocktail and no particularly outstanding attributes. The main resort is a busy town with an attractive water front and a healthy nightlife, bringing young and more mature guests side by side. Less suited to beach connoisseurs or those looking for a traditional town. The outlying hill villages and W coastal agricultural areas suit more independent holidaymakers seeking a quieter, less commercial environment.

There is a wide choice of apartments, from the absolute basics to attractive modern developments, but all reflect the simplicity characteristic of Greece. There is a good selection of hotels, from a few small and homely places to large, dated B&B tourist establishments and a handful of superior options offering varying degrees of comfort and luxury.

Locality:

Hersonissos is on Crete's N coast (17 mls E of Heraklion and 23 mls NW of Aghios Nikolaos). It is on the north east facing shore of a large bay, stretching for about 2 mls on both sides of the busy main coast road and filling a narrow coastal plain that rises to the foothills of the Dikti Mountains where several small villages, slowly merging into one owing to tourist development, overlook the resort.

The town beaches of the main resort are small and tend to get crowded in high season, making the poolside a better option for those staying in the main resort. The only reasonable central option is slightly W of the harbour and a good trek from most accommodation. Farther W are good-sized, undeveloped stretches of coarse sand, which, while serviceable, do not match the stereotypical image of pristine tourist beaches; these tend to be more appealing when adjacent to larger hotels which provide loungers and shades. Much of the coastline is rocky, with sunbathers perched just above the water or on tiny pockets of sand flanked by boulders; some of the sandy beaches have rocky sea entry.

Good supply of minimarkets and bakeries. A wide range of souvenir shops offer everything from tacky plastic trinkets and T-shirts to quality locally produced crafts and artwork. Locally produced leather is good value, as is Cretan pottery and crochet work. Numerous shops offer herbs, spices and foodstuffs produced and gathered in the mountains.

During the daytime many spend it topping up the tan by the pool or on the shore. There is an open-air museum of traditional Cretan life. There are a couple of water parks. There is the full range of water sports, from scuba diving to para-sailing. Hill walking.

The nightlife here offers bars and restaurants along the raised water front. The main road and side streets are also busy with eateries, watering holes, games arcades and shops that stay open until late at night. There is a reasonable selection of nightclubs and bars, some with live music, all offer entertainment into the early hours and beyond.

There is a wide selection of mid-range taverna-style restaurants serving traditional fare, pizza and pasta dishes. Local fast-food joints. Local fish is widely available, with a couple of speciality restaurants. Dining tends to be relaxed and casual, with formal dining limited to a few small a la carte options in the larger hotels. Some Chinese and Indian restaurants.

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Population: 10.668.400
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Greece - Athens

Country Dialling Code: +30
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

2 parallel circular prongs with a female earth connector

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.

Once upon a time, the Olympic Games started here along with democracy and the foundation of philosophy, science and mathematics. Nowadays the country attracts its tourists with simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic wonders.

The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.

In the S of the mainland, the capital Athens suffers from being overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless intrigues and delights visitors and is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon. In contrast, Thessaloniki in the N is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. The remains of Greece's past and wonders are mainly found on the Peloponnese Peninsula, S of Corinth.

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Hersonissos Travel Guide

Hersonissos Suitability Profile