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Hersonissos, Crete: where to stay and how to get there

Hersonissos in Crete: summer flights to Heraklion from Dublin and Belfast, best months, sea temperatures, and where families and couples should stay.

Updated Saturday 17 October 2026

Why go

Hersonissos is one of the main resort areas on the north coast of Crete, about 25 km east of Heraklion. The harbour town is busy, with a long strip of bars, hotels and restaurants, and small bays to the east.

The bigger draw for many is what sits around it. Traditional hill villages are a short walk uphill, and the Minoan palace at Knossos is under an hour away. You get a lively resort and real Greek island life within a few kilometres.

Getting there from Ireland

Fly to Heraklion (HER). Direct flights run in the summer season only:

  • Dublin: Aer Lingus, about 4 hours 25 minutes
  • Belfast International: Jet2.com, about 4 hours 30 minutes

From Cork, Shannon and Knock, you would need to connect.

Hersonissos is about 25 km from Heraklion airport, so transfers are short. Stalis is about 30 km from the airport.

When to go

Air temperatures are 1991 to 2020 averages for Heraklion airport, from Wikipedia’s climate table. Sea temperatures for Heraklion come from seatemperature.org.

  • Spring (April and May): highs of 20°C to 24°C. The sea is cool, at 17°C to 19°C. Good for walking and visiting sites.
  • Summer (June to August): highs of 28°C to 30°C. The sea warms from 23°C to about 26°C in August.
  • September: highs around 28°C, with the sea still near 25°C. A strong month for couples.
  • October: highs around 24°C and the sea near 23°C. Warm enough for the beach, but check flight dates if you are looking at midterm.
  • Winter: highs of 15°C to 17°C, with no direct flights from Ireland.

Where to stay

  • Hersonissos harbour: the centre of the action, with hundreds of bars and big hotels. Best for groups and night owls.
  • Koutouloufari and Piskopiano: traditional villages about 1 km uphill, with tavernas and quieter evenings. A good base for couples.
  • Stalis (Stalida): a long sandy beach between Hersonissos and Malia, quieter than both and popular with families.
  • Malia: further east, known for its nightlife on the beach road, with an old village and a Minoan palace site nearby.

Good for

  • Families who choose Stalis or a hotel outside the centre
  • Couples who stay in the hill villages
  • Groups who want nightlife
  • History fans: Knossos, the largest Minoan site, is about 5 km south of Heraklion

Kids will like the water parks in Hersonissos, including Star Beach and Aqua Splash. The Lychnostatis Cretan Museum shows traditional island life. Further east, near Elounda, is the fortress island of Spinalonga. It was a leper colony until 1957 and is now one of the most visited sites in Crete.

Late deal tip

Hersonissos hotels vary a lot in how close they are to the bar strip. A late deal on a central hotel can mean noise until the small hours. If you have kids, look at deals in Stalis or the hill villages instead, and check the map before you book.

Sources

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