Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Loading...

Loading...

Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

Paris
London
New York
Berlin
Rome
Los Angeles

Places Foods Stories Newsletters

How Many Countries Have You Visited?

Track every country you've been to and earn passport stamps in the Atlas Obscura app.

Track your countries

How Many U.S. States Can You Check Off?

Mark each state you've visited to reveal your total.

Start Your Map!

It’s Spooky Season.

Explore strange places, curious stories, and eerie events around the world, online and in person.

Explore Spooky Season

All

Greece

Heraklion

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Heraklion

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Heraklion, Greece

Updated September 3, 2026

Email

Unusual Attractions in Heraklion

The ruins of Knossos.

Heraklion, Greece

Knossos

A minotaur, a labyrinth, and a dubious restoration pull in visitors from around the world.

Heraklion, Greece

Phaistos Disc

This famous archeological mystery may be an ancient example of movable type.

Heraklion, Greece

The Prince of the Lilies Fresco

One of Minoan Crete's most famous images, a crowned, lily-adorned figure striding through a garden, was largely invented in the 1900s from a handful of surviving fragments, and archaeologists still argue about what it actually shows.

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Are we missing something unusual?

Dikteon Cave

Psichro, Greece

Dikteon Cave

According to myth, Zeus himself was hidden in this cave to escape being eaten by his dad.

21 miles from Heraklion

Windmills of Lasithi Plateau

Lasithi, Greece

Windmills of Lasithi Plateau

This little Greek plateau is home to thousands of rustic, white-sailed windmills.

21 miles from Heraklion

A map drawn in 1812 depicts the network of tunnels and caves forming the mythical labyrinth.

Moires, Greece

Labyrinthos Caves

Cretean quarry suggests real-life site for ancient Greek myth of the man-eating Minotaur in his labyrinth.

21 miles from Heraklion

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Heraklion, Greece

Archaeology 2

Art 1

Mazes 1

Monuments 1

Mythology 1

Ancient 1

Mystery 1

Retro Tech 1

Labyrinths 1

Ancient Greece 1

Inventions 1

Ruins 1

Restoration 1

Heraklion Leaderboard

Places Added

emdrichardson

1
serflac

1

Join the Ranks!

Add an unusual place to Heraklion.

Places Edited

Martin profile photo

Martin

2
serflac

1
roguetitan

1
Leslie McIntyre

1
hrnick

1

Join the Ranks!

Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

Auriane Reze Duclos

3
daithimor profile photo

daithimor

3
ldt007

3
Jenny89183 profile photo

Jenny89183

3
heatheramos88 profile photo

heatheramos88

3

Join the Ranks!

Visit a place in Heraklion.

Recent Heraklion Activity

markdormand profile photo

markdormand

has been to Knossos
amosjohni profile photo

amosjohni

has been to The Prince of the Lilies Fresco
kitvishnu

wants to go to Knossos
paigehayfield009 profile photo

paigehayfield009

wants to go to Phaistos Disc
frednilsen profile photo

frednilsen

has been to Knossos

Stories About Heraklion

The Minoan Snake Goddess, Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Breasts bare, a snake in each hand, and a museum placard that admits it has no real idea who she is

by Auriane Rezé-Duclos, Community Contributor

August 18, 2026

The Prince of the Lilies fresco

The Palace That Was Mostly Guessed

What I found at Knossos was less Bronze Age palace, more one man's very confident guess

by Auriane Rezé-Duclos, Community Contributor

August 13, 2026

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App

Places

All Places
Latest Places
Most Popular
Places to Eat
Random
Nearby
Add a Place

Editorial

Stories
Food & Drink
Itineraries
Lists
Video
Podcast
Newsletters

Trips

All Trips

Community

Membership
Feedback & Ideas
Community Guidelines
Product Blog
Unique Gifts
Work With Us

Company

About
FAQ
Advertise With Us
Advertising Guidelines
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Terms of Use

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.