Peripheral Locations Accessible Through Heraklion Airport Transfers

Heraklion, the capital of the Greek island of Crete, has in recent years gone from a relatively unknown destination to a rising star in the international holiday panorama. Much like its mainland neighbour, Crete has a very specific charm, and the only reason this island was not better known among the tourist crowds was its relatively understated marketing efforts.

Still, just because nothing much was heard about it, by no means meant Crete was a dead spot with regards to tourism. Much to the contrary, actually; its airport is one of the busiest in Greece, and a significant number of Heraklion airport transfers were departing from it daily even before the tourist boom of the past decade or so. The fact that these services have now increased several-fold in volume is simply a result of Crete’s concerted effort to market itself as an alternative for a Mediterranean holiday.

In this regard, one of the island’s strongest suits is its diversity of locations and interests. Heraklion and Chania may stand out as the largest and most popular towns, but their peripheries hold a number of lesser-known ‘hidden gems’, easily accessible through Chania or Heraklion airport transfers and which may interest tourists looking to explore the island beyond its more obvious locations.

Authentic Crete

The outskirts of Heraklion, in particular, provide foreign visitors with a number of towns where the authentic spirit and lifestyle of Crete is very much preserved. These all sit an hour or less from the centre said city, and are easily accessible independently or through Heraklion airport transfers, which also makes them excellent destinations for day trips from the capital of Crete.

For those wanting to enjoy a panoramic view of the capital, Rogdia will be an excellent spot to head to. Sitting a mere half an hour away, this town offers fantastic views over the city, as well as plenty of attractions in its own right. Another good location to get a taste of the authentic Cretan lifestyle is Made (pronounced ‘Mathvay’), a combination of beach resort and traditional village where guests can spend a pleasant holiday break in between the cliffs and the wonderfully blue Cretan sea.

Historic Remains

History buffs will also find plenty with which to entertain themselves when holidaying in Crete, and specifically in this region. No less than two ruined towns are easily accessible through Heraklion airport transfers, and will certainly delight fans of the ancient Greek civilization.

The first of these is Archanes, actually a restored village (and an award-winning one), but surrounded by fascinating archaeological sites that history buffs will certainly delight in exploring. More purely historical, Achlada graces visitors with plenty of interesting ruins, while still offering enough modern infra-structures to satisfy their needs. Both these villages will surely be of interest to fans of historical buildings.

Beaches, Films and Horse-Riding

Finally, fans of more typically holiday-like activities should head to Karteros and Ammoudara. The first is a hub for horse-riding and other horse-related activities, and will undoubtedly constitute a mandatory stop for avid riders. The second offers not only an excellent beach-resort atmosphere, but perhaps the only multiplex cinema on the Cretan coast, with five screening rooms where visitors can catch all the latest Hollywood hits.

It’s clear, then, that visitors to this lovely region need not not restrict themselves to just the capital. There is plenty to see only a short drive away.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Heraklion airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.