Reviewed · MARKETS

Heraklion: Heraklion Market & CretAquarium *SKIP The Line

★ 3.5 · 14 reviews From $21 Operated by PLATANOS TOURS · Bookable on GetYourGuide
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Cretaquarium’s jellyfish displays are the star of this day out, but the real appeal is the pairing: one stop gives you sharks, sea turtles, tuna, and tiny Mediterranean fish, while the next puts you in the middle of Heraklion’s Venetian streets and port. I like the easy hotel pickup and the chance to see two very different sides of Crete without arranging buses yourself.

I also like the generous block of free time in Heraklion, enough for lunch, a museum, shopping, and a walk to the harbor. The catch is the open market, which is mainly fruit, vegetables, and inexpensive textiles rather than handmade Cretan crafts, and some families may wish that time had been added to the city instead.

In This Review

Key points at a glance

Heraklion: Heraklion Market & CretAquarium <em>SKIP The Line – Key points at a glance’ /></p> <ul> <li><strong>Cretaquarium in about 80 minutes:</strong> See sharks, tuna, sea turtles, clams, jellyfish, and other Mediterranean species.</li> <li><strong>Heraklion’s Venetian center:</strong> Visit Liberty Square, Morosini Lion Fountain, the town hall, Koules Fortress, and the Venetian Walls.</li> <li><strong>Three different time blocks:</strong> The schedule gives about 1.5 hours at the aquarium, 1.5 hours at the market, and roughly two hours in central Heraklion.</li> <li><strong>Pickup from resort areas:</strong> Collection is offered around Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Gouves, Kokkini Chani, Heraklion, Ammoudara, and other listed locations.</li> <li><strong>Aquarium entry costs extra:</strong> Adult admission is €12, and children ages 5 to 17 pay €6. Tickets can be bought on the bus to skip the ticket line.</li> <li><strong>Best for families and first-time visitors:</strong> The bus handles the long route, while the day mixes wildlife, shopping, history, and unstructured city time.</li> </ul> <h2 id="why-this-crete-day-trip-works">Why this Crete day trip works</h2> <p><img width="800" height="450" decoding="async" src=