Why should I buy a home in Heraklion if I am Dutch? How does it rank compared to other destinations in Greece for me? In this article, we’ll take you on a tour of Heraklion with the help of Celeste, a Dutch family travel blogger and creator of Family Experiences Greece.
What is Family Experiences Greece?
Celeste is a Dutch parent with two children. Her website features Greek destination travel guides, tips, and advice for traveling with kids. Celeste picks places that stand out in terms of family services, atmosphere, luxury, hospitality, free-play settings, sustainability, and aesthetics.
Celeste’s aim is to inspire parents to spend comfortable quality time with their kids. As Celeste herself says, “Sooner than later, you will realize that spending time together with your family is what makes and shapes your memories in later life. And family memories are precious!”
You can find Celeste on Instagram and on her travel blog.
About Heraklion
Heraklion is one of the most popular regions of Crete among foreigners and it is found on the eastern side of the island, between the towns of Rethymno and Lassithi.
In the area around Heraklion are two of the most famous sites on the island: Knossos Palace and Phaistos Palace. The most popular sights in the main Heraklion town are the Koules fortress, the Venetian port, Turkish and Venetian fountains, Venetian buildings, the Venetian Loggia and also the Archaeological Museum and Historical Museum.
Beaches Near Heraklion
If you and your children aren’t so keen on sightseeing, you will love the beaches near Heraklion. Matala beach, Agia Pelagia and Malia are three of the most popular beaches in the area.
Things to Do in Heraklion
Diving is popular near Heraklion in Hersonissos, Malia, Agia Pelagia, and Gouves. If you can dive, you will see many interesting flora and fauna, and also many ancient shipwrecks. The winds are also ideal for windsurfing, and you can even rent equipment for watersports.
Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos in Crete is one of Greece’s largest and most important archaeological sites, and its history goes back to the 7th millennium BC. It was the political, religious, and commercial center of the Minoan civilization. When visiting Crete, it simply cannot be missed because of its architecture, murals, and unique historical significance.
The palace is made of many parts. On the east side, there were the royal apartments, a sanctuary, and the Queen’s Apartment. The throne room was found on the north side of the sacred apartments, with an entrance from the main courtyard. It was said to be designed by Daedalus, the most famous inventor of the time. Once a visitor entered, it was said to be a maze inside, and it was almost impossible to leave.
Rating Heraklion for The Dutch
Rating Methodology
How did we decide what factors are most important for Dutch home buyers? To solve this challenge, we first asked our sales and legal team, who offer consultation and legal handling to dozens of Dutch clients (both those who do and don’t purchase a property). We then combined this data with a small survey of Dutch clients who ultimately purchased a home to find out their highest priorities.
Sea View
Heraklion has one of the most beautiful coastlines of any area in Crete, and the areas around Heraklion are excellent for homes with sea views. Some popular areas to get a sea view near Heraklion are Paleokastro, Xeropotamos, Karteros, and Gouves.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Direct Flights
From the Netherlands, you can fly directly to Heraklion from Amsterdam in about 3.5 hours. Currently, Transavia offers direct flights. There are several direct flights per week between Amsterdam to Heraklion.
Consider that it might take a lot longer to get to other Greek islands like those in the Cyclades. For example, to get to Paros or Naxos, you would also need to take a ferry. The total travel distance would be more like 6 hours.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Property Prices
Prices in Heraklion highly depend on the area where you buy a home. According to national averages from Spitogatos, average prices are 1500 Euros per square meter.
Compared to other popular islands in Greece, like Mykonos and Santorini, prices in Heraklion are lower. For example, average prices in the Cycladic Islands are 3500 Euros per square meter, according to Spitogatos.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Internet Speed
Internet Speeds are available in Heraklion via Speedtest by Ookla. The average speed is 40-50 MBPS. Compared to other areas of Greece, this is average.
Rating: 8 out of 10
English Speakers and Expatriate Community
This area of Greece is growing a lot in popularity, so you can expect to see many visitors, many who are English speaking or even Dutch speaking, if you’re lucky.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Heraklion Overall Rating for the Dutch: 9.5/10
