Exploring Heraklion - Our Day in Port | #ThingstodoinHeraklion |

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Heraklion is the principal city in Crete and a popular stop for cruise ships. With the historical temple of Knossos being just to the South of the city, most excursions and bus tours aim to take you there. However the city and entire Heraklion area has a rich history. We decided to skip Knossos and the undoubted queues and explore Heraklion on foot. The main city lies as a citadel with a near complete cirtcuit of city walls from the Venetian period.
It is a city rish in antiquities from this period and earlier. It has a pretty hatbour, bustling market and plentiful bars and cafes.
However as we found that away from the main tourist and shopping areas, the city and its community face many challenges with extensive dilapidation and vandalism of property and even the historical antiquities. This was saddening and you cant but feel for the local community. It is still a fascinating place though and we were glad we stepped away from the main tourist spots.
This video hopefully gives a balanced view of what we saw and experienced. The awesome, the inspiring, the beauty and the saddening sights too.

#cruise #heraklion #crete #greece #mediterranean #greekislands #mediterraneancruise #greecetravel #historicalgreece #exploringcrete
#whatscretelike #heraklioncruiseport #heraklioncrete

00:00 Introduction
00:12 Getting out of the port
00:24 Walk to the city
01:04 Exploring the city centre
02:08 Discovering the citys problems
02:32 Supermarket and city map
02:47 Attempting to walk the Citadel walls
04:16 Back to the city and ship

[izzyrov]

Thanks for all the info! We're going there in a few days time.

[sistersontheseas]

Interesting video, we've flown into Heraklion airport but never visited the city itself, looks like there's enough there to stay busy for a day.

[TravelCruiseWorld]

Packed with practical information, this is a great guide; nicely filmed and edited.
Its not a port we've visited so we feel you've done a great job of highlighting what to expect, both good and not so good.
We share your view on the run down and neglected aspect of the city that you showed.
Our experience of Chania in northern Crete with P&O last year had none of that, which perhaps shows that its not a Crete issue, but something not working in Heraklion with those with responsibility to make change.

[louistracy]

Mural or graffiti, mate? Yes, your presentation is somewhat balanced. Respect for that empathy.

[louistracy]

The market vendors are not inquisitive. They saw you coming 4 decades ago.