Natural History Museum of Heraklion

The Natural History Museum of Crete functions as part of the School of Sciences of the University of Crete and is located in the centre of the Heraklion. Despite what the title suggests, it does not only present the natural wealth of the island but also of the rest of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has been awarded for its “diverse educational, research, writing and publishing work, its exemplary organization and its promotion of scientific research and training” with the Benaki award.

The 800 square metre space of the museum, guides visitors through a journey of discovery, to learn more about the geological evolution of Crete. Visitors will learn about physical features like caves, to the species that once lived on the island but are now extinct. Some of these are the Monk seal and the Bearded vulture, that are currently under threat. The exhibitions also highlight plants and organisms of all kinds that thrive on the island. The animals are displayed using accurate representations, in their real dimensions (dioramas). The museum also has an outdoor botanical garden.

Younger visitors are often particularly interested in the “Dinosaurs extreme” exhibit where the fastest, biggest, and smallest dinosaurs are highlighted. Another section of the museum that is particularly enjoyable is the Enceladus – an earthquake simulation where you can experience earthquakes that have occurred in the past. You will also find an area with kid-friendly activities.

Since its establishment in 1980, great efforts have been made to enrich the collections and contribute to the environmental education with training and research programs and specifically designed workshops. More than 2 million samples are exhibited in the museum, a lot of which have been donated from the personal collections of the researchers and scientists.

 

You may also be interested in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

 

Address:

Sophocles Venizelos Avenue, Heraklion

 

Visiting hours/info

Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 15:00

Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00

Tel.: +30 2810 393630, 282740

 

Website: www.nhmc.uoc.gr

 

Price Ticket(€): 6 €/people

Price Ticket for Children(€): 4 €/people

Price Ticket for Teachers: free

 

*Opening hours and information are subject to change