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Off the Beaten Path in Heraklion
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Heraklion Off the Beaten Path

My father in our hike to Rouvas canyon. - Heraklion
My father in our hike to Rouvas canyon.
by Elena_blue
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Heraklion attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Heraklion Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 14  
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Subway
  • Tip Rating:
    • kevin36
  • Updated By kevin36 on August 18, 2007
  • Heraklion Page by kevin36
    • Art Exhibition - Heraklion
    Art Exhibition
    by kevin36, 4 more photos
    When you go into Heraklion town look fro the subway near to the square a surprise awaits you in the subway walkway.
    An Art Exhibition,and a very good one too,well worth a look.
    Hard to believe from the outside as it looks just like a normal subway.
    And it is FREE

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  • Website: http://www.greeka.com/crete/heraklion/index.htm
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    A beautiful church, mountain scenery near Heraklio
  • Tip Rating:
    • Elena_blue
  • Updated By Elena_blue on August 30, 2006
  • Heraklion Page by Elena_blue
    • St. John church, in beautiful mountain scenery. - Heraklion
    St. John church, in beautiful
    mountain scenery.
    by Elena_blue
    15 kms from Heraklion is village Anopolis where there is a glorious new built church of saint John. The church is located in a beautiful mountain scenery. It is an ideal afternoon ride by car, if you stay in the area.
    Combine it with an afternoon drink or dinner to a nearby village. You can also combine it with visit to the nearby water amusement park.
    On a small, easy ride you can experience and enjoy the scenery, a beautiful church, the religious feeling of locals and also the easy going life to the pisturesque villages of the area.
    To go there, go from Heraklio eastwards by the north coast. At Kokkini Hani village turn right (there are signs to "Anopolis"), drive upwards to the hill. On the big crossroad go left to go to the church or turn right to go to the water amusement park.

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    Science!
  • Tip Rating:
    • fassolia
  • Updated By fassolia on July 3, 2004
  • Heraklion Page by fassolia
    • FORTH institute,Voutes - Heraklion
    FORTH institute,Voutes
    by fassolia
    Did you know that in Heraclion there is a reknown technological institute called FORTH,with some good achievements in the fields of molecular biology ,physics and computer science?Foreign students come here to have their master degree too!Now,HOW can you do science in a place like this,you wonder.Believe me you can.
    FORTH

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    Hike to the Rouvas canyon
  • Tip Rating:
    • Elena_blue
  • By Elena_blue on August 29, 2006
  • Heraklion Page by Elena_blue
    • My father in our hike to Rouvas canyon. - Heraklion
    My father in our hike to
    Rouvas canyon.
    by Elena_blue
    Rouvas canyon is on the south side of Psiloreitis mountain. Come here to enjoy hiking in a fabulous mountain scenery.
    The path starting-end point is on lake Zaros (see relevant off the beaten path tip), about 50 klms south of Heraklion. The distance to cover is about 5klms to arrive to a plateau with st. John church and also the same distance backwards. It took us totally about 5 hours to enjoy it on a slow pace.
    BE CAREFUL: In Crete hike either early in the morning or in the afternoon. The heat during daytime is high and you are in the danger of sunstroke.

    For more details, have a look to my travelogue "Hiking in Rouvas canyon"

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    Psiloreitis mountain shelter stay
  • Tip Rating:
    • Elena_blue
  • By Elena_blue on August 30, 2006
  • Heraklion Page by Elena_blue
    • Mountain, trees and on the background, sea. - Heraklion
    Mountain, trees and on the
    background, sea.
    by Elena_blue
    On the south side of mountain Psiloreitis the local villages Zaros and others maintain a self catered furnished shelter. It might be available on request on the spot for a 1-2 nights stay. I didn't go there but I know the place and it is beautiful. Mountain scenery, overlooking the south coast of Crete and the sea. For details, ask George at tavern Votomos, see relevant tip about trout and salmon.

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    Lake Zaros
  • Tip Rating:
    • Elena_blue
  • By Elena_blue on August 29, 2006
  • Heraklion Page by Elena_blue
    • Zaros lake. - Heraklion
    Zaros lake.
    by Elena_blue
    Lake Zaros is a lake near the village of Zaros, about 50 kms from Heraklion southwards. It is a peaceful scenery on the bottom of Psiloreitis mountain. During August there are many different activities, like a "water festival" with a fishing competition, children activities and so on. Come here to enjoy the scenery, have a drink or a meal, eat trout to the nearby fish farms or take the hiking path of Rouvas canyon - see the relevant off the beaten path tip.

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    15 km East of Sfakia, there's...
  • Tip Rating:
    • lichinga
  • By lichinga on September 12, 2002
  • Heraklion Page by lichinga
    • Heraklion Off the Beaten Path
    by lichinga
    15 km East of Sfakia, there's very interesting spot with a small white beach dominated by an ancient Venetian fortress: Frangokastello. A pleasant point of rest. The picture is taken from the beach, and the following one from the bare interior of the caste itself.

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    The most enthusiasming tourist...
  • Tip Rating:
    • lichinga
  • By lichinga on September 12, 2002
  • Heraklion Page by lichinga
    • Heraklion Off the Beaten Path
    by lichinga
    The most enthusiasming tourist experience in Crete is likely the mountain hike through the Gorge of Samaria. It needs a full two days and a little effort in organisation. In the afternoon, take the bus from Chania to Omalos, the terminal point in the mountain, where you can sleep in a small mountain hotel. Early in the morning, you have to walk for a while until reaching the top end of the Samaria valley pathway, from there you enjoy wonderful sight over the mountains in a cold climate which contrasts the hot temperature of the beaches. From the top, the trekking will lead you across a wood of pinetrees (a speceis is unique to this area) via an easy path downhill, the first crucail point is the arrival
    at the ancient church of Agia Rumeli, then the passage through the narrowest point of the gorge, where the opposite cliffs are no more than 2 metres apart and you have to walk in the scarce waters of the creek; finally, a flat short plain will lead you to the final reward of the wonderful isolated beach where no one on Earth could resist an immediate dive in the waters of the Lybian Sea! From the beach, there's a boat service to Paleochora to the east, or to Sfakia to the West; from both points the bus connection may lead you back to Chania. The path is really amazing, because it allows you to experience the different
    climates of the islands, and it does not require an excessive effort, equipment or training.

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    On our last day, just 'by...
  • Tip Rating:
    • Rieke
  • Updated By Rieke on September 12, 2002
  • Heraklion Page by Rieke
    • Heraklion Off the Beaten Path
    by Rieke
    On our last day, just 'by accident', we had the best encounter of our stay ! We were driving around, to take some more pictures, and when I left the car to take a photo of a cactus, I heard some voices shouting something in Greek. I turned around and saw two elderly people making signs to come. Curious as I am, I did not hesitate and walked through the fence. They were making signs with their heads and hands towards the corner of the garden. I had to go there and take pictures. As I came closer to the corner, I saw a kind of very small open 'shower base', where 3 people stood barefoot, crushing grapes !
    They started laughing when they saw my face, total unbelief ! Very friendly, they immediately handed me 3 bunches of grapes and asked me to take pictures, if I wanted ! Of course, I did not hesitate ! You can see some more pictures in my travelogue !

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    The best way to see the city...
  • Tip Rating:
    • anniina
  • By anniina on August 26, 2002
  • Heraklion Page by anniina
    • Heraklion Off the Beaten Path
    by anniina
    The best way to see the city and the whole Crete is to rent a car and GO! You will allways find some place to sleep and have a good time! It´s also the best way to meet local people!And the beaches...in the southern coast of Crete (for example near Kali Limene) you will find beaches that 'belong' to somebody local..Roads to these beaches usually go through somebody's yard, so go to the owner and ask if you can go to the beach. This way you find the most beautiful, quiet and interesting beaches where you can for example like I did, see the locals fish sharks

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