About Hersonissos

Limani Hersonissou (“Port of Hersonissos”) is a seaside town located 25km east of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. The town has been named after the small peninsula which is formed in the area of the harbor and is beautifully situated around a gulf, which is naturally divided in many beautiful beaches.  Limani Hersonissou has been inhabitated continuously from the Minoan Era until the present days and the contemporary town has been built on the ruins of ancient Hersonissos.

Limani Hersonissou has a long history, which is depicted in the numerous monuments and remains scattered around the town. The town was a prominent seaport and commercial venue in the surrounding region from the ancient until the Byzantine times. Especially during the Roman occupation, Limani Hersonissou met considerable prosperity and many works were accomplished at that time, like the harbor with fish tanks and a fort, an aquaduct, fountains and a big theater. Still visible nowadays are remains of the Roman harbor and aquaduct in the town and the inland, along with the well-preserved mosaic fountain in the seaside pedestrian zone of the town. Excavations and restoration works have recently begun in the Roman theater, which will be exposed in the near future.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Limani Hersonissou met a small decline due to pirate raids, which led the locals to move towards the inland and inhabitate the villages of Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari. Soon afterwards, the town revived and its economy was based mostly on fishery, commerce and trading of local products.

Limani Hersonissou was a small, picturesque seaside town when touristic development began in the 1960s and reached its highest point in the 1980s. The town attracts thousands of tourists each year and can meet their different tastes and expectations; that is why it continues to be a cosmopolitan destination and one of the most popular holiday resorts in Greece and Southern Europe. The seaside street (Agias Paraskevis) has been formed into a pedestrian zone, where the visitors can choose among a wide variety of cafeterias, beach bars, taverns and restaurants serving traditional and international dishes, as well as pubs and night clubs. Agias Paraskevis Street ends in the picturesque small church of the Christian saint Agia Paraskevi, which is located on a small hill offering a panoramic view of the town, outstandingly beautiful especially in the night time. Numerous stores and entertainment spots can also be found in the more crowded Eleftheriou Venizelou street. Next to the several options for the day and night time, the visitors can choose among the splendid beaches located in the area; crowded or more quiet, sandy or rocky, more or less organized, all beaches await the visitors for swimming in their crystal clear blue-green waters and moments of relaxation under the Mediterranean sun.

About the area

Limani Hersonissou is located in a wider area of great beauty, with many alternative options for the visitors who want to combine excitement and fun with quieter moments closer to tradition and nature.

Just 2km from Limani Hersonissou and its wonderful beaches, the traditional villages of Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari await the visitors for walks in their picturesque narrow streets and relaxed moments in the local cafés and restaurants.

Further towards the inland, one-day trips will lead the travelers to landscapes of unique natural beauty and small villages, where they can admire the well-maintained Cretan character and enjoy the remarkable hospitality of the locals.

How to reach

Directions from Heraklion International Airport to Nancy Hotel in Limani Hersonissou

From the exit of the airport follow the National Road with direction to Agios Nikolaos. Drive straight ahead for about 20km. Take the exit on your right to Kastelli and afterwards turn left for Hersonissos. Drive straight ahead for 2km and turn right for Hersonissos village (Old Road). After approximately 2 km you will arrive in Limani Hersonissou (“Port of Hersonissos”). Continue on the main road (Eleftheriou Venizelou Street) and after passing by a medical center on your left and a large super market on your right, you will find Agias Paraskevis Street on your left. Nancy Hotel is located on number 9 of Agias Paraskevis Street. Free parking places are available in parking lots at a short distance in the surrounding area of the hotel.

Directions from Heraklion Port to Nancy Hotel in Limani Hersonissou

From the exit of the port turn left on the traffic lights. Turn right on the second traffic lights you will meet and then drive straight ahead. After crossing four traffic light spots (distance of approximately 1km), turn right to the National Road with direction to Agios Nikolaos. Drive straight ahead for about 20km. Take the exit on your right to Kastelli and afterwards turn left for Hersonissos. Drive straight ahead for 2km and turn right for Hersonissos village (Old Road). After approximately 2 km you will arrive in Limani Hersonissou (“Port of Hersonissos”). Continue on the main road (Eleftheriou Venizelou Street) and after passing by a medical center on your left and a large super market on your right, you will find Agias Paraskevis Street on your left. Nancy Hotel is located on number 9 of Agias Paraskevis Street. Free parking places are available in parking lots at a short distance in the surrounding area of the hotel.