Heraklion Practical info


General Info
CLIMATE
Heraklion Prefecture, the largest in Crete, is located between the prefectures of Rethymno and Lasithi and the mountains Idi and Dikti. It has a Mediterranean climate, but there are differences between the northern coast, the mountainous areas and the southern coast, which is the hottest and driest.

TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.  All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 7 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).
The Area Code for Heraklion is: +30 2810.
If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY
Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color)
1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.
Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.

Getting There
BY AIR
The International Airport of Heraklion is connected with the mainland and various countries abroad.

For more information on flights, please visit:

Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos: www.aia.gr

Heraklion International Airport: +30 2810 397800, www.hcaa-eleng.gr

Olympic Airways: For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit Olympic Air website www.olympicair.com
Athens Office: +30 210 355 0500, 8018010101

Aegean Air: For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit Aegean Air website www.aegeanair.com
Tel.: 801 112 0000/+30 210 6261000

Cyprus Airways: http://cyprusair.com
9 Ch.Trikoupis str., Tel.: +30 2810 342776

BY BOAT
Frequent routes connect the port of Heraklion with the port of Piraeus and the trip lasts about 7-8 hours.

Minoan Lines
: www.minoan.gr
Tel.: +30 210 3376910
E-mail: [email protected]

Anek Lines: For accurate timetables and ticket costs visit Anek Lines website www.anek.gr
Tel.: +30 210 4197470
E-mail: [email protected]

GA Ferries: 5, 25th August str., Tel.:+30 2810 346185,

Piraeus Port Authority: +30 210 42 26000
Heraklion Port Authority: +30 2810 338110

Local Transportation
LOCAL BUSES
The long distance bus service (KTEL), connects the city of Heraklion with Chania, Rethymno and Lasithi. From the central station, KTEL buses reach various villages and settlements in the prefecture.

KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi Tel: +30 2810 245019-20, Heraklion Port
KTEL Chania-Rethymno Tel: +30 2810 245019-20, Heraklion Port
KTEL Heraklion-Messara Tel: +30 2810 255965, Chanion Gate (Chanioporta)

City Buses (blue colour) Tel.: +30 2810 226065 and 220795

TAXI SERVICE
Heraklion: +30 2810 231223, 321330

RENT A CAR/MOTORBIKE
Crete is ideal for renting a car or a motorbike. The scenery rewards you with beautiful landscapes constantly changing. Except for the National highway though, the roads require attention as they are usually narrow and winding and not well maintained.

Local Services

BANKS & ATMs                                                                              
All Greek banks have branches in the city of Heraklion. You can also find bank branches or ATMs in the smaller towns and some villages.

MONEY EXCHANGE                 
Banks exchange all major currencies, traveler’s cheques or Eurocheques. Post offices exchange cash, but not traveler’s cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels exchange cash and traveler’s cheques but usually charge a higher commission. Credit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants, however, in villages you will most probably have to pay only in cash.                                                                               

POST OFFICE                                                                                           
The Greek post office is called ELTA. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.

Heraklion Post Office: Daskalogianni Sq., tel.: +30 2810 234468

POLICE STATION                                                                              
Heraklion Police Station: 1 Agiou Artemiou Str., N.Alikarnassos Tel.: +30 2810 274010
Heraklion Municipal Police: 172 Ethnikis Antistaseos str. (close to the port) tel.: +30 2810 334181-5

MUNICIPALITY OF HERAKLION
Tel.: +30 2810 399399
Website: www.heraklion.gr


Useful Numbers
  • Tourist Police: 171
  • Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 210 9699101-3
  • Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174
  • Heraklion Port Authority: +30 2810 338110
  • KTEL Heraklion Tel: +30 28430 22272
  • Taxi Heraklion: +30 28410 24000


INTERNATIONAL PRESS                                         
Even though International Press can be found in some villages and settlements we suggest you to look for it in the city before starting your trip.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

  • Police: 100
  • Fire Department: 199
  • Ambulance: 166


HEALTH
Two public hospitals are located in the city.
Venizeleio General Hospital: +30 2813 408000
Knossos Highway (in the city suburbs)
University Hospital: +30 2813 402111
Vouton - Stavrakion Junction (following Panepistimiou str. towards Voutes)

PHARMACY
In every town and big village there is at least one pharmacy. Pharmacists are highly trained and well-qualified to deal with the majority of minor medical complaints or to prepare prescriptions. The opening hours are listed at the front doors or in the windows of each Pharmacy. For your convenience find below an indicative list with pharmacies:

Alexaki Eleni
Vikela 11
+30 2810201647

Drakoulakis Nikolaos
M.Archagellos 28
+30 2810318406

Kouvidi Evangellia
Papanastasiou 178
+30 2810320552

Matsanis Sotirios
Papanastasiou 91
+30 2810322567

Panagiotaki Pelagia
Eth.Antistaseos 16
+30 2810213368



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