This active beach town on Crete's north coast has archaeological ruins from Roman times, waterfront tavernas, and long sandy beaches near the Aegean Sea.
Limenas Chersonisou sits 27 kilometers east of Heraklion along Crete’s northern coast. Start your day at the harbor, where a Roman fountain displays mosaics of fishermen hauling nets. Spend an afternoon at Star Beach, sliding down water chutes or jumping from inflatable platforms into the Aegean. Walk up Kastri Hill to see stone walls from 5th-century churches, their floors patterned with zigzagging tiles. The Laographic Museum of Lichnostatis keeps handwoven baskets and iron olive presses used by farmers a century ago. Sandy areas like Potamos Beach fill with sunbathers by midday, and after sunset, music spills from bars along the main pedestrian street. Buses run regularly to Heraklion, making it easy to plan trips to larger archaeological sites.
Swimming Areas and Water Parks
Star Beach draws crowds with its three-story slide tower and a shallow pool for younger children. Rent a jet ski near the pier or try parasailing above the bay, where instructors guide first-timers. Most beaches charge around €5 for a sunbed and umbrella, with servers bringing frappés or fresh orange juice to your spot. Head west past the old marina to find narrower strips of sand, where snorkelers float above submerged blocks from a Roman dock. Look for sea urchins clinging to crevices between the stones. Early mornings are best for swimming here before boats arrive.
Evening Entertainment and Bars
Agias Paraskevis Street fills with music after 10 PM, as clubs like Heaven and Amnesia blast dance hits through outdoor speakers. Many bars offer two-for-one cocktails until midnight, with fire dancers performing on elevated platforms. If loud crowds aren’t your style, grab a table at one of the seafood grills along Navarhou Nearchou Street, where twinkling lights reflect on the water. Families with kids often head to the go-kart track near Star Beach, open until 11 PM, or watch acrobatic shows at the Labyrinth Theme Park. Bring earplugs if staying in a hotel near the main strip—bass rhythms echo into dawn during summer.
Ancient Ruins and Local History
Five minutes by foot from the harbor, three crumbling basilicas reveal mosaic fragments of dolphins and crosses near Kastri Hill. Don’t miss the Roman nymphaeum on Akti Koundourou Street, its stone niches once holding statues above a freshwater spring. The Laographic Museum of Lichnostatis displays black-and-white photos of villagers harvesting wheat with sickles, alongside spindles used for spinning wool. Follow the marked trail east of town to find low walls marking Roman pottery kilns, now surrounded by olive trees. Divers with permits can explore collapsed columns offshore, but snorkeling gives a clear view of the underwater ruins on calm days.
Where to Eat
Waterfront tavernas grill whole fish over charcoal and serve dakos salads topped with crumbled mizithra cheese. At Elli restaurant on G. Sanoudaki Street, try rabbit slow-cooked with onions and cinnamon or stuffed zucchini flowers drizzled with lemon. For breakfast, grab a flaky tiropita cheese pie from Savoidakis Bakery, open daily from 6 AM. International menus cater to British and German tourists near Star Beach, with pizza slices and schnitzel available. Around 7 AM, fishermen at the small marina sell just-caught bream and sea bass from coolers on their boats.
Shops and Getting Around
Eleftheriou Venizelou Street has stores selling leather sandals, silver evil-eye charms, and jars of thyme honey. Stock up on sunscreen and snacks at the ABC Market, which stays open past midnight. Buses to Heraklion leave every hour from the station near the post office, with tickets costing €2.50 each way. If driving from Heraklion Airport, take the National Road toward Agios Nikolaos and watch for the Limenas Chersonisou exit after Gournes. Parking near the beach costs €3 per day during peak season.
Day Trips Within an Hour’s Drive
The Minoan Palace of Knossos, 25 kilometers west, reveals reconstructed frescoes of bull-leaping athletes and a throne room with alabaster seats. At Cretaquarium in Gournes, walk through tunnels surrounded by jellyfish and moray eels in tanks lit with blue light. Hike the Aposelemis Gorge trail to see abandoned stone mills and seasonal wildflowers like yellow sage. Drive 45 minutes east to Agios Nikolaos, where cafes circle a deep lake linked to the sea by a narrow channel. Guided boat tours from there visit Spinalonga Island, a former leper colony with Venetian fort walls.
