Heraklion Tourist Traps

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The guided tour to the Acropolis in Athens did my head in, it was like being herded like Sheep. following the guide with her lollipop stick, follow me please (baahhhh) don't get me wrong ,she was very informative and very knowledgeable, but tended to repeat herself a lot.
The Acropolis at the time we went was surrounded by scaffolding and very busy with tourist fighting to get pictures(thousands of them),although a magnificent site to see, was too crowded for my liking.

Unique Suggestions: Hard to suggest anything ,apart from maybe go when the tourist have gone!. (me Included).

Fun Alternatives: Try One of the other trips with Ocean Village, Like easy Athens, you get to see the Acropolis but not actually visit the site.Athens

The major problem in Heraklion is the heavy traffic jam in the city centre, among with the lack of parking places. So avoid taking a car and don't expect to find easily a place to park.

Unique Suggestions: Try to find a place to park on the street, near the place you are going. You don't know, its maybe your lucky day.

Fun Alternatives: You can find parking to the below areas:
Vigla: From the Libert sq. drive in Pediados str., turn first street on the left and you are there. No payment
Museum parking area: From thw Liberty sq. drive to the Ikarou street towards the port, outside the archaelogical museum. Payable.
Along the city walls.
In the port area.

Matala - Once a secluded beach, limited by high reefs. Then a large hippies community established in the pre-historic caves along the reef, it happened in the Sixties.As you may imagine, when the number exceeded the limited carrying capacity of the environment (and the inhabitants nerves' capacity) the area has been fenced and entrance prohibited. Now, the beach is still a good one, though not one of the best, and you may also climb the reef and have a look at the small caves. All in all, an unworth long trip, in comparison with the small results. Of course, there's nothing left of the original hippy atmosphere.

Don´t go there during the summer months! Only turists,turists and turists everywhere! Best time to go is from October to April! But remember, the beaches are not clean at that time because they take care of them only during turistseason! Also many restaurants and cafes are closed at that time.

I told you at the beginning,all of Heraclion is a tourist trap!But,still,to my surprise many tourists seem to enjoy it.Maybe because of the myth that rest of Crete has created.It's up to you!

If you believe that in the night there is a little more quiet then forget it. If you want to sleep then u need to find quiet place in hotel or just go out with other people :)