Development of the port town of Hersonissos

The original fishing villages gradually became a harbour town, especially important in Hellenistic-Roman times, and the remains of this important harbour are still preserved today. The remains of the breakwaters can be seen on the shoreline, and much of the harbour has sunk into the sea, which is currently the site of underwater archaeological research. The town prospered, but continued to maintain its fishing tradition.

With the development of tourism on the island, Hersonissos responded to the demand of tourists and gradually grew into a large holiday resort. The neighbouring towns of Stalida and Malia also underwent a similar development, until over time the three resorts merged into one large area, Hersonissos - Stalida - Malia, which has earned the title of "the largest and busiest resort on the island of Crete".

Hersonissos - resort amenities, tourist services

The resort of Hersonissos, also known as Chersonissos or Limenas Chersonisou, has a large variety of accommodation. If you look at the tour offers of Czech travel agencies, a large percentage of the hotels and apartments on offer are located here or in the wider resort of Hersonissos - Stalida - Malia. Most of the hotels are close to the coast, some have their own pools or private beaches.

In addition to the accommodation, you can use a variety of tourist services in the resort. Of course, there are plenty of shops with all kinds of goods, excellent restaurants and taverns and above all countless bars and discos, which are alive until the early hours of the morning. Live music is a favourite, and some of them also have themed nights. In the evenings, tourists from nearby and further afield flock here, and Hersonissos is the island's renowned nightlife resort.

Adjacent beaches and water parks

The resort of Hersonissos has several beaches, mostly sandy to sand and shingle. Tourists have beach service in the form of sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars and refreshments. Swimming is very pleasant in this area, the water is usually warm and beautifully clear. You will often see families with children playing in the shallow waters. There are about ten beaches in total, including the beach of the same name in Hersonissos.

The beach life is in keeping with the character of the resort as a whole, so the beaches here are very lively, with good tourist facilities and water sports on offer. There are also several water parks in the area where you can enjoy a lot of fun. You can also try bungee jumping at the Star Beach water park, which is smaller and right by the sea. High in the hills is the larger Aqua Splash Water Park. Probably the most popular, however, is the Anapolis Water Park, about 10 km to the west, towards Gouves.

History and historical monuments

The area of Hersonissos has a very long history, with the oldest finds dating back to 6,000 BC. After that, the most evident traces of settlement date back to the period around 3,000 BC, from which the remains of individual settlements or graves have been preserved. The most famous historical monument from this era is the Minoan palace of Knossos, which dates back to around 2 000 BC. Knossos was probably the administrative centre of the entire Minoan civilisation, and today it is a vast archaeological site that bears witness to the local Minoan civilisation. It is close to the capital Heraklion.

The Gulf of Malia and its surroundings are generally considered to be the first inhabited area in Crete.

Over time, the small fishing villages here grew and merged into the pretty and important harbour town mentioned at the beginning of this article. The remains of the Roman port can still be seen on the coast of the resort today. Hersonissos used to be a favourite place for the inhabitants of Heraklion, who came here to relax.

A well-preserved mosaic floor from the 5th century is cited as an interesting historical monument. It can be viewed in the entrance area of the local Eri Beach Hotel. You can also visit the open-air museum of traditional folk architecture Lychnostatis.

Trips to the surroundings

Hersonissos is strategically located in terms of travel and transport. It is located close to the main road along the northern coast, providing good transport links to other resorts on the island. The nearby capital Heraklion is certainly worth a visit, with its massive fortress, the famous archaeological museum and the fine Byzantine church of St Titus. Tours of the archaeological sites with the remains of the temple of Knossos are also organised as optional excursions.

Nature lovers and walkers will appreciate the surrounding countryside. Just beyond the resort, the hills begin to rise and towards the south-east you will see the Selena (Selena Oros) mountain range, which forms the northern part of the highest mountains in the area, the Dikti Mountains.

From the port of Chersonissos you can also take boat trips to the surrounding coastal towns.

For whom the centre is suitable

We would recommend the holiday resort of Hersonissos to those who are going on their holiday mainly to have fun. Hersonissos is a bustling resort with a non-stop nightlife and pleasant beaches, where you will be well looked after at the same time.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for more peace and quiet and contemplation in the surrounding countryside, try the quieter resorts of Bali, Plakias or Paleochora.

More touristic destinations of Crete

Close resorts: Anissaras, Stalida

Most favourite resorts of Crete: Adelianos Kampos, Agia Marina, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion (Iraklion), Hersonissos, Chania, Ierapetra, Kalamaki (Matala), Malia, Platanias (Chania), Rethymno, Stalis

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Crete.