Move over Santorini! This beautiful city is the most visited beach destination in Greece

When you dream of vacation in Greece, chances are that Santorini is the first place to arrive in me.

Immediately recognizable by its striking blue and shiny white cityscape that is high and powerful above the Aegean Sea, it is one of the most beautiful cities on earth I have ever had to visit.

Regarding a favorite? I preferred Crete. Less touristy, blissfully calm, and still stamped in the eye of my thoughts is what a photo seems to be that has been stolen from a postcard, but I experienced it in real life.

But travelers come to another island …

Although my favorite city was the beautiful city ChaniaMy only trip to Greece was pre-building, so trends and travel patterns have changed so much since then.

As such, Santorini remains just as iconic, but it has certainly had a down year, with high prices and natural disaster risks that tease the number of tourism. That is where Crete came in to save the day.

Chania is perhaps my favorite Greek outing, but the people have spoken – Greece’s most popular beach destination is none other than HeraklionA under-hyped coastal city seeping Athens vibes in terms of history and with beautiful coasts that have recorded the needs of tourists on sun and sand.

Discover Athens Vibes without the grit

Athens is a phenomenal city to visit. The home base of timeless miracles, lively culture, incredible art and food, there is an underlying anxiety around the city with dirty rear lanes and streets lined with graffiti.

Of course, the no -none of them, by the roductions and sketchiness after sunset, stop to welcome a Smidge under 5 million arrivals in the first half of 2025.

As far as Heraklion is concerned, they also see a large number of visitors for a place where many people could not point to a map.

Heraklion visited 2.1 million travelers from January to July this year, most for every beach destination in Greece.

The largest city in Crete is equal parts beautiful coastline and a time capsule of historical attractions with much less crowds than Athens and not nearly so edgy.

Heraklion (pronounced as Hih-Rak-Lee-olt) has a lively waterfront and countless locations to jump through the city, wondering about architectural treasures that span civilizations.

The following sites are absolute must visitors and you wonder why people behave like Athens is the only wonderful city that takes deep dive in history:

Of course there is no comparison of Athens Akropolis once you see it, but Heraklion is a fantastic alternative and an alternative that should not be overlooked on your next European adventure.

Santorini Who? Heraklion is full of dreamy villages

As a whole, Crete is an amazing island; You could stay for weeks and feel that you are only scratching the surface.

With so many elements to discover, whether the postcard Marinas, picturesque vineyards, beautiful Mediterranean coasts and all the above -mentioned sights, your head will be left behind.

But if there is one aspect of Heraklion that you need to know, it is the surrounding villages on the outskirts of the city, where the most prominent beaches are worth visiting.

First is ArchhanesCovered with rows of colorful houses, picturesque churches, a maze of alleys and traditional Cretan cuisine and beautiful local wine.

Is second Alagni. You must visit Lyrarakis WineryOne of the most beautiful wineries in Crete. This city is also the home base Alagni Cretan ResortThe perfect basis for relaxing in a luxury villa away from the city noise.

Gortyna around the top 3. It is best for history lovers who want even more than what the city offers Heraklion, because you will find serene, legendary streets, quiet lakes and even more Old ruins.

But let’s not forget the beaches because they are a pleasure to visit even in the fall, such as Temps floating in the 70s to mid -November.

According to the last of TripAdvisor listThese are now the top 5 of the top 5 of the 5 favorite Heraklion beaches:

1. Potamos Beach
2. Stalis Beach
3. Komos beach
4. Ligaria Beach
5. Kokkino Ammos Beach

You came the whole side, so why not spend? 5-star Lyttos Beach Hotel is one comprehensive Hideaway in the small coastal city of Hersonissos with free transport to and from the airport.

How to reach Heraklion

Unlike myself, who taps his heels 3 times and “Grandpa!” Screams. And as if I magically transported to Chania when I go to San Diego Greek Festival every year, it unfortunately takes a little more effort to make dreams reality.

Athens is connected worldwide. Heraklion? Not so much, but it is easy to conquer with just one stopover (the same as when visiting Chania).

Heraklion airport is well connected throughout Europe, but if I was it, I would choose a ferry that has become something of a bucket frame item for Greece tourists.

Since Athens is the obvious choice to fly in, maybe spend a few days seeing the sights before they enjoy less crowd and more inviting aesthetics by jumping on board ferryboat With a beautiful sea view.

Or plan to stay for a while – Heraklion is, after all, one of the best digital nomad destinations in Greece …

Sam Sears

SAM, our main writer and journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and wrote more than 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and throwing a light on lesser -known gems.