Agia Pelagia is 22 km from the lively capital Heraklion. The city of Heraklion offers plenty of variation; busy shopping streets, the many terraces on the small squares, the colourful daily market and of course the nice taverns serving Kretan specialties. Take a lovely stroll alongside the harbour, the old Venetian fortress walls, the nice market, the shopping streets, the Morosini fountain, the beautiful churches such as the Agios Minas and Agios Titos, the large freedomsquare and the impressive archaeological museum.

Sightseeing in Heraklion:

*Archaeological museum: this museum is unique in the world, because the Cretan art is only to be seen in this museum. It is the most important and the most beautiful museum harbouring Minoan art. (mon: 13.00-18.00, tue/sat: 8.00-18.00, sun free!) It is recommended to visit this museum first before seeing Knossos. However, momentarily, the museum is closed. It will reopen again probably in November 2007.

*Port fortress Koules: This Venetian fort dates from the 16th century and can be visited in the summerseason daily from 9.00-15.00

*Titus Church: The church had already been founded in the 10th century, but was completely restored in the 20th century. Left in a side chapel candles are always burning by Titus' skull, who was a friend of Paul and the first bisshop of Crete.

*The town hall

*Agios Minas church

*Venetian Loggia (1627)

*The former Venetian Agios Markos-Church from 1239 is used for exhibitions, concerts, and lectures.

*Morosinis fountain dating from 1628, of which the basin is decorated with nymphs, dolphins, bulls and other mythological animals.

*Martinengo-bastion: here is the grave of the famous writer Nikos Kazantzakis, author of a.o. Zorba the Greek.

*Historical museum

*Plateia Elefterias (Freedom square)

How to get there:

Heraklion can be reached by bus from Agia Pelagia. However, do not expect bus connections to be as you're used to. From Agia Pelagia, the bus leaves at 9.15, 10.00 and 15.15. A one way ticket costs 2,50. The bus back from Heraklion leaves at 8.30, 9.15 and 14.30. So, if you go to Heraklion in the morning, you can get a bus back at 15.15 at the latest. Therefore, if you want to spend the whole day in Heraklion, to have a nice diner or a night out, then the only way back to Agia Pelagia is by taxi. For a taxi, you will pay approximately 25 euro.

It is probably a better option to rent a car and park the car at the harbour of Heraklion. A day ticket will cost you only 3 euro. It is not recommended to drive into the city centre, because the traffic is incredibly chaotic, and if you don't know the way it is even worse. From the harbour, you can easily walk into the centre.

For renting a car, you can visit: www.rent-a-car.kritinet.com