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 You are in luck if you'd like to get out of Heraklion (realistically you need a car,
taxi or motorized wheels if you only have a day). Some very good and interesting places are nearby.
Rogdia has a panoramic view, really one of the best, of Heraklion and a lot to see besides. It's a chance to get a bit closer to the more traditional face of Crete and it's 20-30 minutes away.
Archanes has won the European award as having best long term plan for a restored village and second best restoration in
Europe (there you are!). It has re-paved streets and walkways, proudly presented courtyards and balconies with beautiful flower arrangements. Also interesting archaeological sites in and outside this sizeable village. Attractive Kafeneia and tavernas. A 25-30 minute drive from the centre of Heraklion.
Achlada much of Achlada is filled with old buildings and ruins, but there are also wonderfully restored houses, two delightful small
Kafeneia in the old centre and two at the roadside by the main church above the village. The views are magnificent. On the way up to Achlada from the National Road be sure to look out for the sign to the
Old Fountain, a great place to sit and admire the views over the
Agia Pelagia peninsula and beyond to Dia island. The old fountain, well-worn and carved with insignia and dates, still gurgles fresh water.
About 25 minutes from the centre of Heraklion by car - west on the National Road and the same turn left as to Agia Pelagia (the second turn thus sign-posted after you've passed the signed right turn to Made/Athina Palace).
Karteros a few kilometres from the airport on the Old national road, east of Heraklion, you pass a BP petrol station selling large earthenware pots and if you look carefully a right turn is sign-posted (bearing the British Horse Society logo) to the Riding centre of Crete. Here you can enjoy horse or pony rides, horse and wagon tours along the nearby canyon and at certain times, wonderful traditional Cretan meals - food is cooked in a traditional oven.
Also, at certain times you will see Raki
(Tsikoudia), which is the Cretan equivalent of Grappa, being made.
Tel: 2810-380 244. Best to telephone for times and availability.
 Amoudara
(or Ammoudara) west of Heraklion is home to a long and popular stretch of sandy beach and the luxurious Candia Maris hotel among others of varying standards. Restaurants, tavernas, cafes, music bars, gift and jewelry shops are available along the road, with some beach-side tavernas. You can continue from here by car to Rogdia.
For movie fans, or those with the need for a big screen, there is the new
5-screen multiplex cinema "Technopolis", with cafe and fast-food
offerings to quell the pangs of hunger after the excitement and drama
fades.
A bus to Amoudara can be taken outside the Astoria cinema (next to the Astoria hotel) on Eleftherias square. The tiny hut/kiosk there sells tickets and it's best to
buy tickets for the return as well.
Made ("Mathvay") formerly part of Lygaria
- let's give you a different view. Small and boasting one occasionally-open
taverna, seasonally open mini market and a beach bar interestingly woven into the rocks on one side of the small bay
(though this tends to play the cursed dance-thump music pleasing employees
more than guests). Above the beach bar - where you can also eat, is the cliff-clinging Athina Palace hotel, with its several large swimming pools and
a steep climb from most of its rooms (with expectedly fine views) to the entrance. 20 Minutes from the centre on the National Road, heading west, in the direction of Rethymno.
Banks open: 7.30 or 8.00 until 13.30 Monday to Friday Currency
Converter & Euro guide
Money can also be changed at the central post office (8.00 to 8.00 except Saturday, until 15.00 - closed Sunday), hotels and some places at Lion square or on 25th August. Numerous ATM machines take Visa (the most frequently available),
MasterCard and other cash or credit cards. "Cash is king" in Greece - prices for many items can be lower if you pay cash and credit cards do not always receive an automatic welcome.
Shops Open: 8.00 or 9.00 to 14.00 Monday to Saturday and 17.00 or 17.30 to 20.00/20.30 Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.
Most shops are closed on Sunday - tourist shops (many on Daedalou street) are an exception
from May until early October. In villages shops are open longer hours and often all day without a break,
some also on Sundays.
Cafes and restaurants of course open much longer hours and most open on Sundays. On Sunday you can find many items available at street kiosks
- the large ones are almost small convenience/drugstores (ask for what you need, they often have it hidden amongst the myriad items they sell).
There are always at least a few Pharmacies/Chemists open in Heraklion - each pharmacy has a notice in the window showing which
are open out of normal hours (& where) - this works on a rota system (you way want to ask someone to help you interpret this!).
Some tourist information is provided at the re-instated EOT tourist
office opposite the Archeological museum, on Xanthoulidou street. The
opening hours are Monday to Saturday: 08:30-15:00.
 Books about Crete, Maps and more:
A great selection is available on Handakos street (the continuation of
Lion square), across 25th August street from the smart shopping at
Daedalos street: Road Publications shop (maps & guidebooks galore)
is a little way down on the left and all the way down (at No73) is Planet bookstore,
which is next to a Mexican restaurant.
If you would like to buy your guides and maps before arriving in Crete, you
can.
Foreign newspapers and magazines are available at Astrakianakis (look for the Parker pen sign!) which is 10 metres down from "Lion Square" on 25th August. Also, the useful
Foto Express Film processing and camera shop on Eleftherias square, has a smaller selection of foreign newspapers and magazines.
Foreign language general books - your language? - are best found
at Planet bookstore mentioned above.
Taxis:
Apart from waving down a cab, there are taxi stands scattered around Heraklion. Three useful ones are Eleftherias Square opposite the outdoor cafes, on 25th August below &
almost-opposite Lion
square and at bus station A (see below). Radio taxi tel: 2810-210102, 210146.
Buses:
There are THREE operating bus stations. (see
map)
Rethymno and Chania station is now included within
bus station A below.
Bus station A (tel: 2810-245019, 245020) is
across the road from the port, near the marina. For: Chania, Rethymno and connections to Imbros, Sfakia,
Kastelli and other places in west and south-west Crete, and
destinations on the north coast east of Heraklion (including
Hersonissos, Archanes,
Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi Plateau).
Next to it is the bus station
for local, city and Knossos buses (tel: 2810-220755, 226065).
Bus station B (tel: 2810-255965) at Hanioporta (part of the old
city walls, at the beginning of 62 Martyrs street). For all other destinations - this means
Anogia,
Rogdia, Agia
Gallini, Mires, Matala, Phaestos, Gortyn and places in between.
See bus schedules to/from Heraklion.
(Phones: see Calling
Crete)
And if you are ready to leave Heraklion, you can check Flights
to/from Heraklion and Ferries to/from Heraklion. Or,
if you want to get a better idea of the place, see the Heraklion photo album.
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