The area of Hersonissos is one of the most touristically developed areas of Crete, offering all the infrastructure needed for a comfortable stay. At the same time, it is an area of important natural and cultural wealth: beautiful nature, remarkable monuments, museums of great importance, picturesque villages and other points of interest worth discovering.
One of the largest and modern most modern aquariums in Europe, the CretAquarium is found in Gouves just 7 km away from Hersonissos. The aquarium is dedicated to the rich sea bottom of the Mediterranean and offers 60 different sized tanks. You will get the chance to see sharks, jelly-fish, hippocampuses, sea anemones, tropical species that have emigrated to the Mediterranean from neighbouring seas, you may even see sea turtles Caretta-Caretta that CretAquarium accommodates and provides shelter for every now and then. The aquarium offers a souvenir shop and a restaurant should you wish to enjoy your meal there.
Opening period: Throughout the year (including Bank holidays)
Opening times:
1 November – 31 March: daily 9.30 -16.00
1 April – 31 October: daily, 9.30 – 19.00
Entrance:
General entrance fee €12,
Children 0 – 4 years old: Free entrance
Children 5-17 years old: €6
Tel.: + 30 2810 337788
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 7 km.
The Museum of Rural Life in Piskopiano in Hersonissos that belongs to the Historical Museum of Crete is housed in a stone-built building of the 19th century. It includes various themed collections, all connected the countryside of Crete. Among others, you may admire the traditional earthenware pot (rakokazano), the vat, the oven, agricultural tools, the olive mill and of course a collection of weaving artefacts and weaving tools of great importance. The museum is wheelchair friendly and has a shop for you to purchase souvenirs.
Opening period: June- October
Opening times:
Monday –Wednesday-Saturday: 10.00-18.00
Tuesday – Sunday: closed
Entrance fee: €4
Tel. +30 28970 23303
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 1 km
The Minoan palace of Malia is found just 3km east of Malia, next to a beautiful beach. It is the third largest in size palace of Minoan Crete (following the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos) and -according to the myth- was the residence of Sarpedon, brother of Minoa and son of Zeus and Europa. The famous bee pendant was found here and is now part of the exhibition hosted at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Opening times:
All year except Tuesdays, 08.00 - 18.00
Entrance fee:
Adults: €6
Students: €3
Tel. +30 28970 31597
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 4 km
Lychnostatis is one of the most popular and awarded museums of the area. Its folklore collection is a journey in the traditional life and the folklore culture of Crete, while its naturalistic collection, the garden of the museum, full of Cretan aromatic plants and plants of healing powers offers you the chance to discover the importance of the flora and nature of the island. In general, the museum tries to project the ecologic way of life and to connect it with the folklore tradition of Crete.
Opening period: 1 April – 31 October
Opening times: 09.00 – 14.00 daily Saturday closed
Entrance fee:
Adults: €8
Students: €4
Children (4 - 12 years old): €3
Tel. +30 28970 23660
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 500 m.
The Lassithi Plateau is the largest in Crete. It is found at an altitude of 850 m and is circled by the mountain tops of mount Dikti. Its features are the old windmills with their white sails that painted a magical picture in the past, although now there are only a few remaining to remind people the old tradition of the area. Visit the picturesque villages found around the plateau, taste the local traditional cuisine and visit the Monastery of Palagias Krystallenias and the Monastery of Vithiani. The most important of the sights of the plateau is the cave of Dikteon Antron and according to the myth is Zeus' birthplace. For those wishing to do more exploring, a drive to the smaller and uninhabited beautiful plateau of Limnakaros is a must.
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 31 km.
The picturesque mountainous village of Krassi is built in a location full of greenery. Its two features are: a huge perennial plate-tree that is among the 5 largest trees in Europe and the «Large aqueduct» of 1890 that its water runs in three large troughs. Taverns of traditional Cretan cuisine are also found around. Ideally, you may visit the village on your way down towards the plateau.
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 15.5 km
Less than 1 km from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel, the traditional village of Koutouloufari is found on a hill-side, offers unobstructed views to the coastline of Hersonissos. Its paved narrow alleyways are decorated from samples of the traditional Cretan architecture, is full of stone-built houses with arches and flowery yards. Although the village stays true to its traditional nature, it has all the necessary infrastructure, such as taverns, cafes, bars, shops to welcome visitors any time of the day.
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 1 km
On the way to Lassithi Plateau, you will find one more village that is worth visiting. A village with many notable historical monuments. Many churches with interesting frescoes are found here: the church of St. Antonios, of St. George, of the Annunciation of Mary, the church of St. Constantine just outside the village and the church of Assumption of Mary on a hill northwest of the village.
The cave of Saint Photini with its church is another point of interest. The cave is on the Louloudaki mountain, 7 km for the settlement at an altitude of 760m. Even today, many people come to pay their respects. Apart from its religious value, it carries a historical significance, as during the Cretan revolutions, the cave was used as a hideout by the locals.
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 15.5 km
In order for you to get acquainted with the history of the area, there is no need to travel far... Even at the Hersonissos Port you may walk around to admire many important monuments that bear the mark of different historical periods.
From the east, just 2 km from the Port you may visit the Early Christian Basilica of St. Nikolaos found next to the sea. It is a three-nave church perhaps built on top of the ruins of a Roman temple. Possibly dating back to the late 5th and early 6th century, it has impressive mosaic floors with animals, plants, geometric shapes and colonnades between the three naves. Today, the sea covers part of the church.
Continuing towards the west, on the coastal road of Hersonissos, the fountain Sarakino is found decorated by impressive mosaics and sea scenes.
Finally, the ruins of an early Christian Basilica of the 5th century are found on the rock of Kastri. The impressive mosaic floors with plants and geometric shapes are visible even today.
The Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa is an old convent found on the northern side of mount Dikti, next to a road that leads to Lassithi Plateau. It is famous for the healing powers of its icon of Panagia Kardiotissa. The icon has been stolen many times in the past, however, according to traditions, it always returns to the convent. The stone-built church of the convent is dedicated to the Birth of Mary and celebrates on the 8th of September. Inside the church, many frescoes on the 14th and 15th century are found.
Tel. +30 28970 51203
Aquaworld Aquarium is a natural history museum in Hersonissos, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Founded in 1995, Aquaworld was founded and developed by Scotsman John Bryce McLaren. The majority of the animals on display are either rescued or were unwanted pets which now have a home in this environment.
Aquaworld encourages interest in the rescued creatures within their recreated natural habitat and is open daily from 1stof May until 31st of October each year. It is one of only three aquariums in Greece.
Entrance fee:
€10 (Adults)
€5 (3-12years old)
Tel. +30 28970 29125
Distance from Cretan Blue Beach Hotel: 1 km
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