Heraklion is the biggest city in Crete (and fifth in Greece), a city with one foot rooted in the past, the other stepping into the future. Currently the population of Heraklion is approximately 150000 people.
The city is also the commercial and scientific centre of the island. It has a strategic geopolitical position in the southeast basin of the Mediterranean Sea connecting three continents and many different cultures.
The Heraklion airport -HER- (5 km) receives approximately 15% of the total tourist traffic of Greece, and is one of the biggest in Greece. It is named after the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis. National and international air carriers operate scheduled and charter flights from Athens, Thessaloniki and European cities to/from Heraklion.
Heraklion also receives a lot of visitors by boat. Two main companies connect Heraklion to mainland Greece, with two night trips daily. During the summer season operate both also a day trip from/to Piraeus (port of Athens) and arrives at Heraklion port in the afternoon.
The cultural heritage is very much alive in Heraklion. The central square is dominated by the fountain of the Lions, built in 1628 by Morozini the Venetian governor.

 The Town Hall is housed in the Venetian Loggia, a building from the same era. At the end of the central market is a coffee house at the "Koubes" a former fountain built by the Turks. All around the old part of the city, a visitor can walk following the old Venetian walls that meet at a bastion, called "Koules» that dominates the old harbor of the city. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion exhibits unique items of the Minoan site of Knossos. Special attention should also be paid to the Historical museum of Heraklion presenting findings from the early Christian era to today and the Natural History Museum of Crete displaying the particularities of environment of Crete and Mediterranean.
Every summer, the city organizes cultural events such as theatrical performances, art exhibitions, musical nights and festivals which attract a lot of people, locals and visitors alike. For those inclined to modern entertainment and clubbing, the city offers ample opportunities for night life.
The dynamic and imaginative combination of natural beauty, climate, strategic position, cultural heritage and scientific background has created an appropriate environment to add value to the broader entrepreneurial activity in the region and stimulate the local economy.