Top Heraklion Classes & Workshops

Immerse yourself in Crete’s delectable, rustic cuisine—and leave the bustle of the city behind—when you sign up for this private, hands-on cooking class. Pick a time that works best for you, and meet your driver directly at your Heraklion hotel which then takes you to the village where you meet your guide. It’s a quick drive into the hills, where you’ll cook amidst the Mediterranean scenery. With your guide’s instruction, learn to prepare a number of traditional dishes, from dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves) to lamb with artichokes. Then, sit down to enjoy your multi-course meal, complete with wine.

This Experience is inspired by Percy Jackson’s books and is particularly designed for Youth and Family. It approaches the Cretan Labyrinth and its mysteries from a mythological and historical point of view and focuses on making the story interesting and engaging, but also clear and easy to understand for our little friends. During the tour, you will be using 3D tablets, presenting a three dimensional recreation of the most important parts of the palace. The second part of the tour offers an interactive Workshop on Minoan- Style Pottery, conducted by a rewarded Potter and Artist. You will find out a lot about clay in general and about the Minoan pottery techniques in particular, in a fun and interactive way. Your children will have the chance to learn, play and create their own mythological figure out of clay.

We start our tour and head toward Asterousia Mountains. Our drive continues until re reach the beginning of the Eligia gorge located in the area of Kapetaniana. There a safety briefing will follow where you will be acquainted with your equipment and with all the safety procedures that are necessary for crossing the gorge and the Via Ferrata safely. Once the safety briefing is over, we will enter the gorge. After a short hike where you will observe the geological diversity of the gorge, we find ourselves at the beginning of the Via Ferrata. Through out the entirety of the hike and climb through the gorge and Via Ferrata you will have the opportunity to admire the wild Cretan beauty of the gorge as the imposing peak of Kofinas which is the highest point of Asterousia, decorates the route up until the end. Moving on from Mytiki we follow a circular climbing root which leads us at the end of the Via Ferrata. Afterward, we can visit Kapetaniana, which is a small village in the area.

We will visit a traditional village where in a private area we will have the opportunity to attend an interactive cooking class and take an active part in the preparation of our upcoming meal! We will participate in the harvest of fresh vegetables from the garden and following the necessary instructions we will cook the Kapriko ourselves (Traditional Cretan dish with pork baked in a wood oven). Then, we visit the village of Fodele and the museum of El Greco and see the beautiful church of Panagia in the area. Our next stop is the Monastery of Ag. Panteleimon and later we find ourselves at a traditional village of the area where we will have traditional handmade cheese pies and tsikoudia (traditional cretan hand made alcoholic beverage). Immediately after, the road will lead us to Voulismeno aloni. Later, after a short stop in a very beautiful panoramic view point of Heraklion, we will go back to our first station and enjoy our dinner overlooking a wonderful sunset.

Visit Elounda and ride a boat to Spinalonga Island on this day trip.  Travel to Elounda and cruise to Spinalonga in Mirabello Bay, where a Venetian fortress and old village once housed a leper colony. Explore the ruins where lepers were confined, and enjoy a swim and barbecue lunch. After docking back at Elounda, drive to Agios Nikolaos’ to see its harbor and reputedly bottomless lake. Pickup and drop-off from selected hotels included.

Maximize time in Crete with a full-day combination guided tour. Get picked up at your hotel and set out on a coach sightseeing tour focused on archaeology and culture. See popular landmarks including the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, Dikteon Cave, and the Palace of Knossos. Admire panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau, visit an olive oil factory, and go inside a ceramic workshop to see a potter at work.

Samaria Gorge is one of Crete’s top attractions and the longest gorge in Europe. Embark on a full-day excursion to the western part of Crete and enjoy a walking tour of the great gorge. Spend your day ascending steep inclines, visiting the old village of Samaria, seeing the church that the gorge is named after, and ending at the refreshing sea in Agia Roumeli.

Check through Heraklion's sights by open-top double-decker bus and create your own sightseeing itinerary on this hop-on hop-off tour. Settle aboard the yellow double-decker, don the headsets, and listen to the audio commentary as you ride to attractions like Heraklion Fortress, the Natural History Museum, Knossos, and more. Disembark at any of the nine stops or stay aboard for a 60-minute city overview. Your ticket gives you unlimited travel for 24 hours.

Discover the culinary delights of Crete on a day tour from Heraklion that includes wine tasting, olive oil tasting, and learning about the island's terroir. Visit a boutique winery and family-owned olive oil producer to sample wine and oil with your group. You'll have lunch at a mezze restaurant and gain insight into a piece of Crete's culture from a guide.

When you're staying on the island of Crete, discover the island's eastern stretches where traditional villages, storied monuments, and authentic culture awaits. With a local driver-guide for your group, you'll explore with ease, visiting the landmarks you want to see. The Cave of Zeus, Knossos Palace, and the Lassithi Plateau are a few of the sites that can feature on your private tour; just note that entry fees are extra.

Visit the former leper colony and Venetian fortress on Spinalonga Island during this private tour. Sail to this rocky island, and explore the streets, houses, and ruined Venetian fortifications where lepers were confined from 1903 to 1957. Then, relax with a swim stop and barbecue lunch before cruising back to port. Return coach transport, the boat ride to Spinalonga, and select hotel pickup and drop-off in north-coast resorts included.

A day trip that combines relaxation and history gives you the chance to visit the highlights of the Northeast part of Crete, where the picturesque town of Agios Nikolaos with the magnificent lake can be found. Elounda, a small village on the shore of Mirabello bay with spectacular views, is where the boat begins the cruise heading to Spinalonga island, a small uninhabited island used during the history as a fortress and later on as a leper colony.