Heraklion Port TO Gournes

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Heraklion Port

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Heraklion Port as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Heraklion port is situated at the center of Heraklion Prefecture’s northern coast and adjacent to island’s capital.

The modern Heraklion port was firstly established in the 20th century and expanded eastwards of its older predecessor, the 700-year-old Venetian port that now serves as an attraction and a place of pleasure. Heraklion port is the second largest and busiest harbour in Greece after Piraeus.

The port is conveniently located along the middle part of the Cretan highway that serves the northern part of the island. The highway offers an easy getaway to the towns of Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Kissamos, Rethymnon, Chania and Heraklion. It is busy all-year-round with an approximate number of 2 million visitors annually. The port services very popular routes such as Piraeus-Athens, Thessaloniki and a number of Aegean islands. Itineraries are regular and for other major ports, ships depart daily.

The Harbour hosts visitors for both touristic purposes and commercial activities. It possesses an array of facilities for the convenience of all travellers. In close proximity to the port, one can find in abundance shops, cafes and restaurants within a short walking distance.

The port is an 'umbrella' term covering both the new Heraklion Ferry Port and the old Venetian Harbour. The 'Castello a Mare' more widely known as Koules is a significant walled structure marking the entrance to the old Venetian port. The fortress dates back to the 16th century and is presumed that Cretan rebels were tortured in its underground chambers by mercenaries of the Ottoman Empire during the times of Crete's occupation. The Heraklion old town is located nearby, thus after a visit to the Fortress travellers can enjoy a walk through the vibrant streets of the city or taste some delicacies prepared by the friendly and hospitable locals.

Book your Heraklion Port transfer now. Enjoy a high-quality service at the lowest prices. Best price guaranteed. That’s why we are Crete’s favourite airport transfer company.

Gournes

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Gournes as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Gournes is a village located between Kokkini Hani and Gouves, 16km east of Heraklion Town. Gournes nowadays is part of the united beachfront which starts from Vathianos Kampos and ends in Malia, but it used to be a separate village.

The name Gournes means basins in Greek and it is believed that the name owes its origins to the many water places in the area in the past. There is still evidence of these basins as a river is running through the centre of the town till the sea. During summertime is quite dry, but in winter due to the rains and the surrounding mountains, the water rushes through this river.

Like most beaches of the north coast of Crete, the beaches of Gournes are vulnerable to north winds, that’s why it gets wavy. The beachfront of the area is full of small artificial small docks, used for absorbing the wave force and keeping sand in place. Thus, several sandy coves have been formed between these piers. On the west part of Gournes, you will find the long beach of the area, which is well organized with umbrellas. If you walk to the east, the coast gets rockier. Gournes has no big hotels, but you can find several small hotels, apartments and rooms to let. Here you will find all the basic amenities for tourists.

Gournes was a small village until the late fifties, when the big American Air Force communications base opened, occupying a large share of the town property. While the base population eventually grew to about 3,500 military staff and their families, the surrounding area kept pace. Many of the first hotels and apartments were built in Gournes to accommodate the families of the servicemen and visitors to the base and its civilian workforce. When the Gournes base closed in 1993, the area was a bit shocked, as about 1,000 locals became unemployed and hundreds of apartments and rooms were emptied.

If you come in Gournes it is worth visiting the picturesque church of Agios Ioannis Pezetis with the old paintings, which is built in the valley that comes through the village. Moreover, in the old village of Gournes, you’ll see the old church of the Annunciation. Nearby, a Minoan settlement and cemetery have been excavated, where many vases, small figures and seals were revealed. However, the most popular attraction in recent years is Cretaquarium, which was the largest aquarium in southern Europe when first built. The aquarium, which is located inside the former U.S. base, attracts thousands of visitors daily and worth’s a visit.

Gournes is ideal for families and it can easily be used as a base to explore Crete as it is located near Heraklion Town and the national road.

Book your taxi Crete transfers now. Enjoy a high-quality service at the lowest prices. Best price guaranteed. That’s why we are Crete’s favourite airport transfer company.