Hersonissos sits on the north coast of Crete approximately 26 kilometres east of Heraklion Airport — a transfer of around 25–30 minutes under normal traffic conditions, making it one of the most accessible resort areas on the island. It is Crete’s most developed and most visited resort — a long, well-equipped stretch of north coast beach with a strong all inclusive hotel offer, good taverna and restaurant options in the town centre and easy access to Heraklion’s historical sites.
The beach in Hersonissos runs along the front of the resort in a series of connected sandy coves — not a single unbroken strand but a pleasant sequence of bays with calm, clear Cretan water. The resort itself is well-developed and lively — particularly in July and August when it is very busy and the evening atmosphere on the main strip is genuinely energetic. For guests who want a full-service Greek island resort with everything within easy reach, Hersonissos is the most complete answer on the Crete north coast.
The all inclusive hotel offer here is the strongest of any area in Crete. Properties like Creta Maris Beach Resort, Aldemar Royal Mare and Grecotel Club Marine Palace represent some of the finest all inclusive hotels on the island — well-maintained, professionally run and with food standards that consistently exceed what guests expect. Eleni considers Creta Maris in particular one of the best all inclusive properties in all of Greece — a large resort that manages the difficult balance between scale and quality more successfully than most comparable properties in the Mediterranean.
Beyond the beach and the hotels, Hersonissos has more to offer than its reputation as a package resort sometimes suggests. The Minoan Palace of Knossos — Europe’s oldest civilisation, dating back 3,500 years — is 30 minutes away by taxi and genuinely one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum, the finest collection of Minoan artefacts in the world, is similarly accessible. For guests who want a beach holiday with serious cultural interest on the doorstep, the Hersonissos location works very well.
One honest point worth making: Hersonissos in high season is busy — genuinely busy, in a way that some guests find lively and others find overwhelming. The main entertainment strip, particularly at night in July and August, is loud and crowded. Guests who want a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere should consider Stalida just to the west, which has a similar beach position but a noticeably calmer character, or Chania or Rethymno on the west coast for a more refined Cretan experience. But for families who want maximum facilities, a lively atmosphere and the confidence of a well-established resort, Hersonissos is the strongest choice in Crete.
For all inclusive holidays in Hersonissos, cheap Crete holidays from the UK or luxury Hersonissos hotels — book through GotoBeach with full ATOL protection under licence #11211, low deposits from £30 per person and the honest advice of someone who was born on this island.
