Browse below Crete attractions. The listings appear in the order of most wanted pages.

LAKE KOURNAS 48 km. east of Chania. A picturesque lake, the only one on the island. The mountains surrounding it are reflected in its calm waters. There are taverns in the area for a bite to eat. ... more info ... Panoramic View >> VIEW

GOURNIA Gournia - the ancient name of which is not known - is the most characteristic of the excavated medium-size settlements, dated to the period of the peak of the Minoan culture (Late Minoan I period: 1550-1450 B.C.). It is called "Pompeii of Minoan Crete" because of the good state of preservation. It o... more info ...

PHAISTOS Phaistos was one of the most important centres of Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city in southern Crete. It was inhabited from the Neolithic period until the foundation and development of the Minoan palaces in the 15th century B.C. The Minoan city covered a considerable are... more info ...

LATO Lato was one of the most important Doric city-states in Crete, although it must have existed before the "Coming of the Dorians". It is built on a saddle between two hills, at a site protected by possible attacks but also with a splendid view over a large area of the Mirambello Bay. It is possibly me... more info ...

GORTYN Gortyn was first inhabited at the end of the Neolithic period (3000 B.C.) and flourished much later, in the Late Minoan period (1600-1100 B.C.), when the villa with the shrine was founded at the site of Kannia, near Metropolis. Remains of the Archaic habitation (7th century B.C.) were located in t... more info ...

THE CAVE OF PSYCHRO The cave of Psychro is one of the most important cult places of Minoan Crete. The use of caves as cult places was one of the basic characteristics of the religious beliefs of the ancient Cretans. Cult practice probably begins in the Early Minoan period (2800-2300 B.C.) - although in the antechamber ... more info ...

LASITHI WINDMILLS It is the most significant group of windmills preserved on Crete. It occupies the northern entrance to the Lasithi plateau and is the landmark of the whole area. Today 24 windmills are preserved (out of the original 26), 7 of which extend to the south of the road that enters the plateau while the re... more info ...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF IERAPETRA The museum was founded at the end of the 19th century, during the Turkish occupation of Crete and was housed in several buildings in the past. Today it is housed in the building of the Commercial Ottoman School, which is protected by a preservation order, and has been ceded to the Ministry of Cultur... more info ...

FRAGOKASTELO About 11 km. east of the Chora Sfakion, is the site of the old Castel Franco (Franchise Castle), built by the Venetians in 1371 as a defense against pirates, turcs and Cretan rebels. On several locations on Creta, strongholds can be found, but this one is rather particular due to its square form wit... more info ...

MINOAN MEGARON AT VATHYPETRO The Minoan villa at Vathypetro was most likely the residence of a local ruler. Its architecture is comparable to that of a "Little Palace": it has a central and west court, a small tripartite shrine, a three-columned portico, storerooms and workshops. It seems that the construction of the building w... more info ...

PHALASARNA Phalasarna (or Falasarna) was an important harbour of the Classical and Hellenistic periods, of which remarkable installations have been preserved. The city was destroyed by the Roman conquerors. Various excavation campaigns have been carried out since 1968; systematic excavation of the harbour st... more info ...

AGIOS MINAS The cathedral of the city with a capacity of about 8000 people. Dominant of Herakleion and really unique interior. It worths a visit just for the wonderful frescos and decorations. During the mass is the best time to see it, everything is in light and accoustics is fantastic. ... more info ...

SPINALONGA It is an islet at the entrance of Elounta bay. In antiquity there was a fortress of the Olounites. In 1579 the Venetians built a mighty fortress there, which remained under their rule even after the Ottoman occupation of Crete in 1669. During the last years of the Ottoman occupation, it was a safe r... more info ...

PALAIKASTRO At the northernmost edge of the eastern coast of Crete lie the ruins of a settlement which flourished during the Late Minoan period (1550-1220 B.C.). At the same site, however, are preserved remains of the Early and Middle Minoan periods (3000-1550 B.C.), mostly cemeteries with well-built ossuaries... more info ...

KAZANTZAKIS MUSEUM The Kazantzakis Museum is situated in Varvaroi, approximately 20 km. to the south of Herakleion. It was founded to preserve the work and to record the life of the Cretan writer. It includes some of the writer's personal belongings and those of his family, documents, letters, the first Greek editions... more info ...

LEBENA The first habitation of the site dates from the Neolithic and Early Minoan period (3rd millenium B.C.). In the late Classical period (beginning of the 4th century B.C.) the Gortynians established the sanctuary of Asklepios at the harbour. During the tremendous earthquake of 46 B.C. the city was dest... more info ...

ZAKROS The palace at Zakros is the fourth in terms of size, among the Minoan palaces. It was located at an advantageous strategic position, at a protected bay, and was the centre of commercial exchange with the countries of the East, as is indicated by the excavation finds (elephants' tusks, faience, coppe... more info ...

CHURCH OF PANAGHIA KERA The original aisleless church with cupola was built in the 13th century and it was dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin. The other aisles were added in the next century and the church was repaired.... more info ...

CAVE OF EILEITHYIA Eileithyia was a goddess that protected childbirth and this cave was the most important place of her worship. According to tradition she was born by Hera inside this cave, which is also mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey (t 188). The finds proove that it was continuously used from Neolithic until lat... more info ...

HISTORICAL AND FOLK MUSEUM OF GAVALOHORI The Museum was founded in 1967 and was inaugurated in September 1993. It is housed in a building which is a characteristic example of local traditional architecture and stands on two levels. There is a ground floor with a verandah, an inside courtyard, an arched house proper, with its utility areas ... more info ...

POLYRHENIA Important Hellenistic city which also flourished in the Roman period. Systematic and salvage excavations have been conducted at the site since 1986. ... more info ...

THE SAMARIA GORGE 43 km from the city of Hania, this is the longest gorge in Europe, measuring some 18 kilometers and renowed for its awesome beauty. At some points the passage is just 3 meters wide and at times the steep sides rise to a height of 600 meters. The gorge is cut by a stream which flows between the h... more info ...

IMVROS GORGE The gorge of Imvros (or Nibros) is located at a distance of about 56 km South East of Chania on the mountain plateau of Sfakia, with narrow doors and a wide variety of plants. It is 6 km in length and takes about 3 hours to cross it. It ends at Komitades. ... more info ...

KNOSSOS Knossos is the site of the most important and better known palace of Minoan civilization. According to tradition, it was the seat of the legendary king Minos. The Palace is also connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Icaro... more info ...

KAZANTZAKIS TOMB Built on the top of a hill overlooking Heraklion, with last Kazantzakis heritage, the famous inscription: I expect nothing I fear nothing I am free... more info ...

AGIOS PAVLOS Agios Pavlos (Saint Paul) is a byzantine church on the way to Faistos. We engoyed the visit!... more info ...

AGIA AIKATERINI OF SINAITES Next to Agios Minas is located the small church of Agia Aikaterini of Sinaites. Here is set the Museum of Byzantine art including the well known icons of Michail Damaskinos.... more info ...

AMNISSOS The first habitation in the area of Palaiochora (Amnissos) dates from the Middle Minoan period (19th century B.C.). The site is mentioned as a-mi-mi-so in the Linear B tablets. The Minoan Villa of the Lilies was destroyed by fire in the 15th century B.C. but complexes C and E continued to be inhabit... more info ...

VASILIKE The settlement of Vasilike is one of the first Minoan settlements with town-planning. It occupies the top and slopes of a low hill near the village Vasilike, in the vicinity of the Minoan settlement of Gournia. The first settlement dates back to the Early Minoan II period (2600-2300 B.C.) and owed i... more info ...

THE MONASTERY OF TOPLOU It is an historical monastery of the 15th century, which collapsed in the earthquake of 1612 and was rebuilt with the financial aid of the Venetians. During the Ottoman conquest of Crete, the monastery was destroyed and devastated by the Turks. In 1704 the monastery was declared stauropegion. During... more info ...

IDEON ANDRON (CAVE) According to one of the legends, the Ideon Cave was the birthplace of Zeus. In the myth, Rhea brought the infant Zeus to the Ideon cave to protect him from his father, Kronos, who would have swallowed him alive, as he had previously done with his brothers and sisters. Here he was nursed by the goat ... more info ...

HISTORICAL AND FOLK MUSEUM OF RETHYMNON The Rethymnon Historical and Folk Art Museum is a private institution founded in 1973 by Mrs. Faly G. Voyatzakis and the late Christophoros I. Stavroulakis. The aims of the Foundation are the research and the collection of historical and folklore material from all over Crete and especially the prefe... more info ...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF HERAKLEION It houses the most important and representative finds of the Minoan civilization. The foundation of the first museum (1904-1912) is owed to the efforts of two Cretan archaeologists, Joseph Chatzidakis and Stephanos Xanthoudides, Ephors of the Archaeological Service. It housed the valuable finds fr... more info ...

AGIOS TITOS One of the oldest and most important monuments of the Christianity on Crete is the Basilika of Agios Titos, situated near a nice small park just a five minutes by feet from Morosini's fountain . From architectonic regard, this church is far more interesting than the main Heraklion archbishop church ... more info ...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SETEIA The Archaeological Museum of Seteia contains the most important finds from eastern Crete. Apart from the exhibition halls, the museum has storerooms and workshops, as well as offices for scholars and the staff. The explanatory labels of the exhibited finds are written in five languages. The museum o... more info ...

ANCIENT ELEUTHERNA Ancient Eleutherna is located at a distance of around 30 km. to the SE of Rethymnon and occupies two long, narrow ridges, called Pyrgi and Nissi. Three streams flow around the foot of the hills and join to the north of them. The urban centre of ancient Eleutherna was always located at Pyrgi. Ruins o... more info ...

TYLISSOS The houses of Tylissos were built during the LM I period (16th-15th century B.C.). Additions were made on House A in the LM II (15th-14th century B.C.) and on House C during the LM III period (14th century B.C.). The site was destroyed by fire in the 14th century B.C. and reinhabited in historic tim... more info ...

FORTEZZA The Fortezza fortress of Rethymnon was built from 1573 till 1580 by the Venetians, for the protection of the inhabitants by the Turkish threat. It is starshaped with three gates and six bastions. In the middle, the church of St Nicolo, was turned into the Mosque of the Sultan Ibrahim Han. There were... more info ... Panoramic View >> RETHYMNO CASTRO FORTEZZA VIEW

MUSEUM OF CRETAN ETHNOLOGY The Museum of Cretan Ethnology is situated 2 km from the Minoan palace of Phaestos, in the traditional settlement of Voroi. The exhibition was inaugurated in 1988 and was awarded a prize in 1992 by the Council of Europe. The exhibition, which is based on the museological model of G. H. Riviere, ... more info ...

Agias Lake The artificial lake of Agia located near the village Agia, 9 km west of Chania. It is a small lake of 450 acres, which communicates with the valley south of the range. This valley is considered as the most liquid of Crete. The lake receives water from underground springs and the river Xekolomeno. more info ...

MALIA PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT Human presence at Malia during the Neolithic period (6000-3000 B.C.) is attested only by potsherds, but habitation was continuous from the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. until the end of Prehistory. Houses of a Prepalatial settlement (2500-2000 B.C.) have been found under the palace, while graves... more info ...

BYZANTINE AND POST-BYZANTINE COLLECTION OF CHANIA The wealth of archaeological material yielded by excavations conducted over many years by the 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities in the county of Chania, and also by retrieval of material and donations, forms a Collection that records, with great clarity, the history of the westernmost county in... more info ...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF CHANIA The museum is housed in the katholikon of the Venetian monastery of St. Francis. During the period of the Turkish occupation it was the Muslim mosque of Yussuf Pasha, while in modern times it was used as a cinema or a storehouse for military equipment. Since 1963 it has been functioning as the Archa... more info ...

MPELENI CASTLE POPULAR MUSEUM Mpeleni castle lies in Rethymnon old town. Today it houses a popular museum.... more info ...

ASITIS Asitis is a small village at a distance of 20 km from Iraklion. We enjoyed a small stop at the hidden spot of Agios Pavlos (Saint Paul). Try also to taste the traditional sweets.... more info ...

NEORIA EXHIBITION CENTER NEORIA public exhibition center is located in the Old Town of Hania. The exhibition space, a converted 15th century vaulted Venetian shipyard, is over 4000 square meters in area have been converted to an exhibition center. ... more info ...

KYDONIA (ANCIENT CHANIA) Chania, identified with the ancient city of Kydonia, was one of the most important cities of the Minoan period. Since 1966, the 25th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities has been conducting salvage and systematic excavations, while an important part of the city is excavated in collabora... more info ...

NAUTICAL MUSEUM OF CRETE The Museum was inaugurated on the 27th May 1973, date of the 32nd anniversaryof the Battle of Crete. It includes models of ships, various nautical instruments and objects such as range finders, barometers, wind-gauges, course and speed abaci, torpedo firing computer, magnetic boat compas... more info ...

AGHIA TRIADA Remains of a settlement and graves proove that the site was inhabited as early as the 3rd millenium B.C. In 2600-1700 B.C., the time of the heyday of the first (old) palace at Phaistos, only small building were erected in the area of the Royal Villa. The villa was built in ca. 1600 B.C. and destroye... more info ...

TOMB IN MATHIOULAKI'S PLOT The tomb belongs to the cemetery of the Hellenistic city of Kydonia and attests the relations of the city with Hellenistic Alexandria. It dates to the end of the 4th and the first half of the 3rd century B.C. Large, rock-cut family tomb. A long dromos with steps leads to the entrance. Nine burial ... more info ...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF RETHYMNON Since 1991, the Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon has been housed in the pentagonal building opposite the main gate of the Fortetsa. The building was constructed by the Turks in an effort to strengthen the city's defence. Due to the different functions that it served over the centuries - until the ... more info ...

HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF CRETE The Museum is housed in a neoclassical building which belongs to the Philanthropic Institutions A. and M. Kalokairinou. It was designed by L. Kantantzoglou and built in 1870, in the place of an older mansion. It was fired by the Turks during the events of August 25, 1898 and was reconstructed in 190... more info ...

COLLECTION OF ST CATHERINE OF SINAI The Agia Aikaterine of Sinai Monastery, which originally was a dependency of the Monastery of the same name on Mount Sinai and today belongs to the metropolitan church of Agios Menas, was an important cultural and artistic centre of Crete under Venetian occupation, until the capture of Chandax (Hera... more info ...

APTERA Aptera was founded in the Geometric period, although the city is mentioned in the Linear B tablets found at Knossos (A-pa-ta-wa). It reached a peak in the Hellenistic period, with intense commercial and political activity. In the Roman period, the town had a more rural character. It was destroyed by... more info ...