Just 15 min away from Heraklion you will find the charming village of Archanes. 

You can stop here after a long visit to Knossos, as it is only a few kms away.

It was an important hub in the Minoan times, as archaeology discovers recently revealed. It has an Archaeological Museum and also a Minoan Palace, called Tourkoyeitonia – It is not open to the public, but you can take nice pictures through the gate.

I got here by bus, there is a dedicated line that connects it to Heraklion Central Bus Station and it runs several times a day. And I have managed to see the village, the Minoan site and have a coffee in 50 minutes 😊.

Things you can do here:

· Get lost on the pretty streets

· Visit the Church and it’s Tower, which is also a landmark of Archanes

· Visit the Archaeological Museum (I was there on a Tuesday and it was closed, so pay attention to opening hours)

· Have a cup of coffee at a kafeneio or lunch at a taverna

· Enjoy the silence (I was in late October, around noon, and there was no one on the streets 😊)

· Attend a traditional cooking workshop at the designated places. You will also have to buy the ingredients yourself, so it will be a fun adventure 😊. You can book the sessions directly from the restaurants websites or from GetYourGuide. They are pretty expensive (I think it was around 150E/person), but everything is included

· Enjoy the siga-siga way of life 

P.S. if you are looking for short term accommodation (1-2 months), you will find here some options, waaaaay cheaper than in Heraklion or its nearby surroundings.