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The largest city of the amazing island of Crete attracts thousands of tourists every year, due to its natural beauty and cultural heritage. The visitor of Heraklion will wander around the archaeological site of Knossos, historical and cultural museums, the legendary fortress of the city and, of course, the wonderful nearby beaches. In order to cope with all that, in terms of physical stamina, you need to start your day with a rich breakfast!

Old harbor of Heraklion, Crete

Baguette

A baguette kind of breakfast Baguette is a fast-food place on Ethnikis Antistaseos highway. Don’t hesitate to visit it, because of the previously mentioned ‘fast-food’ description. Fast isn’t always the opposite of quality, and this applies to our case. Baguette will make your day with freshly made baguettes(what else!), toasts, sandwiches, fruit salads, croissants, waffles and pies! It doesn’t matter if you’re on a diet, if you’re a vegetarian or if you prefer something sweet or salty. Baguette has it all, quick and with quality local ingredients!Price: BudgetOpening times: Μοnday-Friday 7 am – 9 pm, Saturday: 7 am – 7 pm, Closed SundaysWatch out for: the baguettes and the fruit saladsBaguette, 49 Ethnikis Antistaseos highway, Heraklion, Greece,+30 2810327010 Οmelette with wild organic artichokes | Courtesy of Peskesi

Svelto

‘Quick’ breakfast by the cathedral Sveltois located close to the famous Saint Minas cathedral, in the city of Heraklion. Its name, meaning ‘quick’ in Greek, and its sign, a green vespa, represent the unique character of this place that is based on speed, flexibility and adaptability to the circumstances. Open from very early in the morning, Svelto will serve you coffee or juice, accompanied with pies, fresh sandwiches, salads or traditional pies (try the famous mizithropita, cheese pie with local mizithra cheese, or chortopita, mixed greens pie with local greens – ‘chorta in Greek – ).Price: BudgetOpening times: Monday-Friday: 7 am – 9 pm, Saturday: 8 am – 3 pm, Closed SundaysWatch out for: the authentic mizithropita and chortopitaSvelto, Katehaki & Amaltheias street, Heraklion, Greece, +30 281 024 4548 Fresh Cretan dakos with local cripsy cracker, olives and tomatoes | Courtesy of Peskesi

Casa Streat

Cafe, Restaurant

Cozy setting, homemade delicacies Casa Streat is an all day cafe and restaurant, located on Steliou Kazantzidi street. Its interior design is warm and modern. The comfortable spaces of the restaurant constitute a pleasant setting to start your day while enjoying a warm or cold coffee, a fresh orange juice, a homemade croissant, a donut, a pie or a muffin.Price: BudgetWatch out for: the homemade croissants and the muffinsCasa Streat, Stelios Kazantzidis street, Heraklion, Greece , +30 2810333555

Lambros Cafe Restaurant

Cafe, Restaurant, Greek

Elegant atmosphere at Peskesi
Courtesy of Peskesi
A dose of Cretan hospitality Lambros is a friendly family cafe-restaurant that instantly surrounds you with warm Cretan hospitality right from the minute you enter it, located next to the sea in the area Tertsa. Highly recommended place to start your day while in Heraklion, with a view of the beach and delicious homemade delicacies, like yogurt with fresh fruits and the traditional dakos.Price: Mid-rangeOpening times: 8 am – 12 pmWatch out for: the traditional Cretan dakos dishLambros Cafe Restaurant, Tertsa, Heraklion, Greece,

Peskesi

Restaurant, Greek

Griechenland, Kreta, Heraklion, Restaurant Peskesi
© Hackenberg-Photo-Cologne / Alamy Stock Photo
Authentic Cretan cuisine Peskesi is located on Kapetan Haralampi street, in the city of Heraklion. Its name is of Turkish origin and is commonly used in the folk Greek language and Cretan dialect, with the meaning of an unexpected gift as sign of friendship and/or hospitality. Peskesi is a friendly restaurant indeed, with always smiling and helpful staff and a nice atmosphere! It serves dishes based on the philosophy of the Cretan cuisine, prepared and cooked using fresh biologically produced local ingredients. If you come by for breakfast, you will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh Cretan pies, freshly cut salads or sweets. Of course, it is highly recommended to visit it also for lunch or dinner, as well as in order to try a fresh cocktail created with local ingredients!Price: Mid-rangeOpening times: 10 am – 2 am Watch out for: the Cretan pies and the saladsPeskesi, 6-8 Kapetan Haralambi street, Heraklion, Greece,

About the author

Vagelis Tsirmpas is a 23-year-old Athens-born travel enthusiast who holds a BA in interpreting and a MA in translation. He studied in Corfu, the island of his heart, and uses foreign languages as a passport to different cultures. After traveling to various European countries, his next goal is a trip to Africa. Paraphrasing Marx, Vagelis does not only want to travel around the world, but also change it. Therefore, he has actively participated in student unions and self-organized solidarity groups.

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