This neighbourhood
2 hours
Cretan Wine Tasting onboard @ Heraklion Venetian Port
Uncork the secrets of Crete's most extraordinary wine heritage: A sensory voyage through generations of Mediterranean viticulture
from€418 Check dates
What to order at Ippokampos
- Must order
- Whatever came in that morning, grilled whole
- Signature dishes
- Grilled fish, Octopus, Shrimp
- Editor tip
- Tables spill across the promenade opposite the water, and the seafront ones go first on a summer evening.
Food experiences in Venetian Harbour
3 hours
Sunrise Balloon Flight with Breakfast - Lasithi Plateau
Watch the sun come up over the Lasithi Plateau from a hot air balloon, then celebrate back on the ground with sparkling wine and a real Greek breakfast. One of the bes...
from€250 Check dates
Private tour · 8 hours
From Heraklion: Premium Olive, Wine & Monastery Guided Tour
Explore Crete's rich history and flavors on a tour of Agarathos Monastery, an olive farm, and a boutique winery. Enjoy tastings, a local meal, and panoramic views.
from€213 Check dates
Location
Address: Sofokli Venizelou 3, Iraklio 712 02, Heraklion
Also in Venetian Harbour
Ligo Krasi Ligo Thalassa ★ 4.3
Ligo Krasi Ligo Thalassa is the Heraklion harbour table for a long seafood lunch, with mezedes, lobster spaghetti and the Venetian fortress in view.
OrderSeafood mezedes, then lobster spaghetti to share
TipThe terrace looks over the harbour to the fortress, which is worth waiting for an outside table in summer.
More casual dining in Heraklion
Athali ★ 4.3
Athali is an easy all-day Cretan taverna in central Heraklion, cooking wood-oven meats and wild greens from lunch until one the following morning.
OrderWhatever the wood oven is holding that day
TipKydonias meets Kapetan Charalampi here, two minutes from Peskesi, so it is a useful fallback when that room is full.
Apiri Greek Eatery ★ 4.4
Apiri Greek Eatery is a good-value Heraklion dinner, grilling octopus and sea bass and charring its wild greens pie over open coals every night.
OrderThe char-grilled wild greens pie
TipSmall room, so book for dinner. Lunch is quieter and the same kitchen is running the grill from 13:00.
Chalali ★ 4.0
Chalali is the cheap Cretan taverna on Strofadon that keeps central Heraklion honest, with mezedes, grills and raki for well under a tenner.
OrderA mezes spread with a carafe of raki
TipClosed Mondays, and prices sit well under the old-town average, so the room stays local rather than filling with cruise traffic.
Ligo Krasi Ligo Thalassa ★ 4.3
Ligo Krasi Ligo Thalassa is the Heraklion harbour table for a long seafood lunch, with mezedes, lobster spaghetti and the Venetian fortress in view.
OrderSeafood mezedes, then lobster spaghetti to share
TipThe terrace looks over the harbour to the fortress, which is worth waiting for an outside table in summer.
Pagopoieion ★ 4.2
Pagopoieion is the all-day room on Agios Titos square in Heraklion, an old ice factory pouring coffee from nine and serving through to dinner.
OrderMushroom risotto, with a glass off the Cretan list
TipThe old ice factory on Agios Titos square works as breakfast room, lunch stop and wine bar, so time your visit to the mood you want.
Krasas ★ 4.0
Krasas is the Ikarou grill house that Heraklion falls back on, running gyros and skewers until three in the morning at prices well under a tenner.
OrderA pita gyros with everything, eaten standing
TipOpen until 03:00, which makes it the default stop after a long evening on Ikarou.