Cruise Passenger Terminal (Pier IV–V)
Purpose-built cruise terminal opened in 2017 (about 2,500 m2) with passport control and security, used for homeport and transit calls; passengers reach it by free port shuttle from the berth.
Not on the map yet
Heraklion, Greece
Heraklion (also spelled Iraklion) is the largest city and administrative capital of Crete and the fourth-largest city in Greece, with a municipal population of about 179,000 (2021). More about Heraklion →
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Ship schedule by month
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Eastern European Time)
ShipDateArrivalDeparture
Showing 7 of 7 calls in October
Cruise Ships in Heraklion
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Eastern European Time)
Today · Fri 23 OctQuiet
1,110 people in port
1 ship · ships alongside 08:00 – 16:00
59% quieter than a typical day in Heraklion. Busiest 08:00 – 16:00, when 1 ship is alongside.
Next 7 days
Quietest: Fri 23 Oct · busiest: Thu 29 Oct- Fri23 Oct1.1kQuiet1 ship
- Sat24 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sun25 Oct2.8kTypical1 ship
- Mon26 Oct1.4kLight1 ship
- Tue27 Oct3.9kBusy2 ships
- Wed28 Oct1.2kQuiet1 ship
- Thu29 Oct3.9kBusy2 ships
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Heraklion day.
Planning a day in Heraklion?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Where is the Heraklion cruise port?
Ships dock alongside in the commercial Port of Heraklion, east of the old Venetian harbour, at cruise berths on Piers II, III and IV–V; up to five cruise ships can berth at once. The Port Authority runs two passenger terminals, including the 2017 Cruise Passenger Terminal at Pier IV–V used for homeport operations. Walking inside the working port is not permitted, so a free shuttle bus runs from the berth to the terminal.
From the passenger terminal on Leoforos Nearchou it is about 2 km on foot (around 25–30 minutes) along the waterfront to Koules, the Archaeological Museum and Lions Square. Pier assignment varies by ship.
Terminal
Cruise Passenger Terminal (Pier IV–V) has no map position yet.
Getting to the Heraklion cruise port
Lions Square (Plateia Eleftheriou Venizelou), Heraklion old town → Heraklion cruise passenger terminal
2–3 km · 10–30 min by car
Most passengers walk west along the waterfront past Koules and the Venetian arsenals, then up 25 August Street to Lions Square (about 2 km, 30 min on foot; about 3 km, 10 min by road). Free CityBus 91 (Red line) runs from Leoforos Nearchou to Eleftherias Square by the Archaeological Museum.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Walk
Freeper person
25–30 min
Flat waterfront route once outside the port; take the free port shuttle to the terminal first.
CityBus 91 (Red line)
Freeper person
Varies
Free; to Eleftherias Square beside the Archaeological Museum (checked 2026-09-08).
Taxi
Variesper vehicle
~10 min
Metered; no reliable published fare for this short trip.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
Passengers may not walk inside the working port; the Port Authority shuttle links the berth with the passenger terminal. Adapted electric vehicles are provided for passengers with reduced mobility.
Parking at the Heraklion cruise port
The Heraklion Port Authority describes tour-bus and passenger loading areas at the cruise piers, but no official or private cruise-passenger car park with published rates was found.
Terminals at Piers II and IV–V have ramped entrances.
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Heraklion city centre
EUR 54–88 / night
Walking to port and museums
Typical hotel
EUR 54–88 / night
Port ~10 minAirport ~15 min
Central hotels near Lions Square, the Venetian harbour and the Archaeological Museum.
Hotels here
- Lato Boutique Hotel
- Capsis Astoria Heraklion
- ibis Styles Heraklion Central
Amoudara beach
EUR 48–92 / night
Beach stay near the city
Typical hotel
EUR 48–92 / night
Port ~20 minAirport ~15 min
Beach hotels west of the city, about 20 minutes from the port.
Hotels here
- Petousis Hotel & Suites
- Malena Hotel & Suites
- Porta Suites
Port times are measured to the cruise piers. Rates rise sharply in summer.
Eating in Heraklion
- Casual lunch per person
- EUR 10–45
- per person
- Restaurant dinner per person
- EUR 10–45
- per person
Prices are approximate. Service is usually included; rounding up is customary.
Where to eat
Lions Square and 25 August Street
Cafes and tavernas on the main street up from the port.
Old Venetian harbour
Fish tavernas by the Koules fortress, walkable from the piers.
Amoudara beachfront
Beach bars and tavernas near the beach hotels.
Old Venetian harbour waterfront
Cafes and fish restaurants by Koules, on the walk from the passenger terminal.
Destination
About Heraklion
Heraklion (also spelled Iraklion) is the largest city and administrative capital of Crete and the fourth-largest city in Greece, with a municipal population of about 179,000 (2021). It sits on Crete's north coast, and its historic centre is ringed by Venetian walls and bastions that withstood a 21-year siege before the city fell to the Ottomans in 1669.
The old harbour is guarded by the Koules sea fortress and the Venetian arsenals, while Lions Square with the 1628 Morosini Fountain, the loggia and Saint Titus Church mark the centre. The Archaeological Museum holds one of the world's main Minoan collections, and the Palace of Knossos lies on the city's southern edge, making Heraklion Crete's principal gateway for cruise visitors.
- Time zone
- Eastern European Time
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
Things to Do in Heraklion
Palace of Knossos
The largest Minoan palace site, with partly reconstructed halls and frescoes, 7 km south of the port and reachable by city bus line 2. Timed entry costs EUR 20 (EUR 10 reduced); arrive early to avoid cruise-tour crowds.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
One of the world's key Minoan collections, including the original Knossos frescoes, about 2 km on foot from the passenger terminal. Admission EUR 20; summer hours 08:00–20:00 (Wednesdays from 13:00) until 31 October 2026.
Koules Fortress and Venetian harbour
The Venetian sea fortress (Rocca a Mare) guards the old harbour beside the vaulted Venetian arsenals, on the waterfront walk into town about 2 km from the terminal.
Lions Square and the old town
The 1628 Morosini Fountain with its four lions anchors the centre, next to the Venetian Loggia, Saint Mark's Basilica and Saint Titus Church, all within a short walk.