If you decided to spend your vacations in Heraklion, you'd definitely need a hire car. And if you arrive at the island by air, we recommend renting a car at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" without spending your money for a local taxi.
The capital city of Crete is famous for its archaeological museum, and its neighbourhoods are home to two-thirds of all places of interest on the island. You can see here three out of four famous Minoan Palaces: Palace of Knossos, Palace of Malia, Palace of Phaistos, Palace of Hagia Triada, Roman settlement Gortyn, and ancient Greek settlement Amnisos. Apart from the beaches. It is not very convenient to explore all those places by bus, while a rental car will make your journey unique.