Heraklion: How to Have the Best Shopping Experience in the Island’s Capital

The city of Heraklion is the perfect place to shop until you drop! With its wide variety of boutiques and souvenir shops, as well as endless local market stalls, you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more! Here’s a short guide to getting the most out of your time in Heraklion

Getting around

Don’t want to walk around with your hands full trying to haul your purchases back to the hotel? Then it’s best to rent a carinHeraklionso you can shop all you want, store your shopping bags in the car, and then shop again. When you rent a carin Heraklion from a trusted company, you can get access to a wide range of vehicles and find something that suits your budget.

Where to park

If you want to go into the city and browse for gifts and clothes, or just have lunch with friends, head to the centre of town. More and more of the city centre has been pedestrianised, so you need to know where to park. You can leave your car at Ikarou Street as you approach Freedom Square or enter the marina at the old port by taking the 1st exit right off of Nearchou Street. You can also look to park around Georgiadis Park along Trikoupi Street, where there is street parking and paid car parks.

Where to go

After you arrive, walk to Dikeosinis Street and head towards Freedom Square/the Astoria Hotel. The street is for pedestrians only and has stores such as Zara, Marks & Spencer, Jack & Jones, etc. Once you finish exploring the main shopping streets, turn left on 1866 Street through the bazaar with its gift shops, jewellery stores, and hat stands.

For lunch, walk to Lion’s Square and continue straight past it. Then turn left at Theotokopoulos Park. There are numerous cafes with tables and shading near the park perimeter that serve coffee, drinks, and lunch.

After you grab a bite and take in the scene, head back to Lions Square. Then, turn left down Dedalou Street—a pedestrian-only zone lined with clothing stores, bookstores, gift shops, and jewellers. Or if you’re up for some exploring (and more people-watching), veer off into one of the side streets for even more places to sit and relax with a drink or snack.

Shopping is probably one of the best ways to spend your time in Heraklion. With rent-a-car Heraklion services, you can make the most out of your retail therapy experience and explore the city with ease.