Things To Do in Hersonissos

For a fun but laid-back night out, you can’t beat this cheerful bar. You can sit outside and sip a cocktail on one of the comfy sofas beneath the vine-draped roof, or head inside for karaoke and quizzes. By day, you can dig into generous breakfasts and burgers, coffees and milkshakes.

After dark, the waterfront bars and clubs really get going. And the great thing about Hersonissos is that all the venues are strung together so you can pop easily from one bar to the next, before heading to a club. You can take your pick of Seventies and Eighties nights, techno, house or chart music – and foam parties, too.

You’ll find much more than the usual tourist souvenirs here – the waterfront shops offer genuine quality designer gear, and there’s a nice line in competitively-priced leather goods, too. You can also look out for locally crafted ornaments and jewellery, wine and cheese. And if markets are more your thing, you can hold out for the bustling one here on Saturdays.

Star Beach is the most popular stretch of the trio – it has its own small waterpark with slides and chutes, plus the famous bungee rocket. You’ll also find beach bars and a DJ playing music to keep the pace upbeat. That said, there’s plenty of space to just unwind on a sunlounger between dips in the sea.

When it comes to eating out, it has to be said that Hersonissos does come with quite a few chips-with-everything places. But you’ll also find Greek tavernas here, too, so do pop in for some authentic cooking – like chicken souvlaki, moussaka and xifias, a small fish you eat whole. And there are some great traditional places in the villages up in the hill, too.

This family-run restaurant does the simple dishes well – it’s famed for its roasted rabbit, Greek salad and meze. There’s no traditional menu here – instead, you get the day’s dishes written on a notepad. It’s a wildly popular place so expect to turn up early and queue in high season. As you sip your raki, you’ll think it worth the wait.

Just a few kilometres to the east of Hersonissos, near Malia, you can find the ruins of one of Crete’s largest Minoan palaces. Built in around 1900BC, excavations have revealed features including the central courtyard, crypts and theatre. There’s a small entrance fee, and opening times change, so it’s a good idea to check first.

This cocktail bar is in prime position next to the beach, so it’s a good place to kick off your evening. House specialities include tropical cocktails and variations on old favourites like the pina colada. The bar staff are extra-friendly, so if you do stick around you’re in for free shots, lively music and – if it’s that kind of night – dancing on the tables.

You’ll find Greek kebabs and English favourites on the menus at the waterfront restaurants here. If you fancy something more traditional, though, head up the hill to the villages where you can tuck into pastries that come filled with aubergine, cheese or courgettes. You might also want to try Merida – it’s a small fish that’s eaten whole.

Sunbeds by day and clubland by night – the waterfront in Hersonissos works hard for its money. Most clubs along here don’t charge an entrance fee, so in an evening you can easily dip in and out of venues. You could kick off with a hit of Seventies perhaps, then move onto some house and techno – then dive into a strobe-lit foam party.

The Panagia Festival is a big deal in these parts, and over in Mohos – a small village a few kilometres inland – the locals will show you how it’s done. If you want to skip the church service and procession, come back the next day for the barbecue and Cretan dancing. Once this lot get going, they really know how to party.

The beachfront shops have bagged the designers. Giorgio Armani is here, along with the likes of brands like Diesel and Levi. Price tags are a little cheaper than back home, so you might want to make some space in your case. The resort’s retail places also do a good line in jewellery, leather and handcrafted souvenirs.

At this family-run restaurant, you can dispense with the formality of a menu – just pick your fish from the tanks. It’s all good, but the shrimp scrubs up particularly well when it’s grilled. If you like a list, though, you can choose from any number of Greek dishes. Either way, it all ends with a complimentary chaser of raki, Crete’s national spirit.

At this popular aquarium, you can pose for photos with hundreds of local sea creatures and reptiles, as well as a few from further afield. The giant pythons Naga and Raja definitely aren’t camera-shy. Most of the animals have been rescued or nursed back to health, and the friendly staff will be happy to tell you their stories.