★ Top sights 20
The fourth great Minoan palace in Crete, found intact in the 60s of the 20th century. Exceptional finds of gold artifacts.
Extensive ruins of a Cretan-Greek and late Byzantine city above the Gulf of Soud. Underground cistern and views.
A sacred cave on the Nida plateau (1498 m) where Zeus was said to have been raised by the Kuretes. Minoan votive objects.
Monastery from the 16th century on the Akrotiri peninsula with the cave of St. John the Hermit. Trek to the gorge with the abandoned Katholiko monastery.
A picturesque monastery on a rock above the sea near Elafonisi, nicknamed the 'Golden Stairs'. View at sunset.
An authentic seaside town with a Venetian fortress and a lively marketplace. Fewer tourists, excellent local tavern.
Museum and birthplace of Nikos Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek, The Last Temptation of Christ) in a small village near Heraklion.
A proud mountain village with a strong tradition of resistance. Starting point for boats to Agia Roumeli and Loutro. Excellent bougatsa.
A mountain village with the famous Venetian fountain of 19 lion heads and excellent local cuisine. Great rest.
A defiant mountain village at the foot of the Ida, burned twice by the Nazis. Center of Cretan music and exceptional gastronomy.
A small island once connected to the mainland with Minoan ruins and a quiet fishing village.
The best preserved Minoan village in Crete with streets, houses and a small palace complex.
An impressive Venetian monastery from the 17th century. on the Akrotiri peninsula with olive groves and the production of elite oil.
A quiet blue flag bay on the east coast of Crete, ideal for families. Clear water and fine sand.
Secluded beach with pebbles and clear sea in the south, starting point for trekking Agia Roumeli. Hippie atmosphere.
Closed roundabout on Akriotiri, where Zorba the Greek (1964) was filmed. Dramatic isolated formation.
A series of isolated bays with clear water on the south-east coast of Crete. No crowds, beautiful scenery.
A small seaside resort with coves and clear water, an ideal alternative to busier tourist centers.
A sheltered bay near the town of Palekastro with fine sand and clear water. View of Grandes Island.
Secluded beach in the south with sand dunes and clear water. Starting point for kayak trips along the cliffs to Triopetra.
Activities & local 12
Ascent to the highest mountain of Crete (2456 m) from the Nida plateau. View of the whole of Crete and the Aegean Sea.
Biolea is an artisan organic olive oil estate in Astrikas, a village in the Kolympari area of Chania in western Crete. The estate uses traditional granite millstones combined with cold pressing to produce single-estate oil from organically certified Koroneiki olives. Granite milling extracts oil at lower pressure than modern steel presses, which producers argue reduces oxidation and preserves delicate aromatic compounds. The single-estate model means every olive processed comes from Biolea's own certified organic groves. The Kolympari area of western Crete, with its mild maritime climate and rocky limestone terrain, provides conditions historically associated with high-quality Cretan olive oil.
Dourakis Winery was founded in 1988 in the village of Alikampos in the Apokoronas area of Chania, in the foothills of the mountains of western Crete. The estate farms organically, cultivating both indigenous Cretan varieties — Vidiano, Kotsifali, Romeiko, and Mandilari — alongside international grapes including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Muscat. The Apokoronas foothills provide a combination of altitude, gentle slopes, and Mediterranean climate that favours slow grape ripening. The proximity to the White Mountains to the south gives the area a distinctive diurnal temperature range that helps preserve acidity in the wines.
Horseback riding through olive groves and the coast near Rethymno. Offers for beginners and advanced.
Excellent conditions for kitesurfing and windsurfing thanks to the Maestrale wind at Falasarna beach. Schools and rental companies.
The best kitesurfing beach of Crete in the East with all-day Meltemi wind. Learning center, equipment rental.
Lyrarakis Winery is a Cretan producer based in the Heraklion regional unit, recognised for its work in reviving two rare indigenous Cretan grape varieties: Dafni and Plyto. Both varieties are grown on calcareous soils within the Peza PDO zone, one of Crete's principal wine appellations covering the hills south of Heraklion. The winery's focus on these nearly extinct local varieties has drawn international attention to the depth of Crete's viticultural heritage, with Dafni in particular producing aromatic whites with herbaceous and laurel notes distinct from any other Mediterranean white wine.
Meligyris produces Cretan honey in Arkalohori in the Heraklion regional unit, collecting from hives placed at altitudes between 1500 and 2000 metres across the mountain ranges of Crete. The range includes mountain varieties from white thyme, wild thyme, and malotira — a medicinal herb endemic to Cretan highlands — as well as forest honeys derived from pine, oak, chestnut, and heather. The high-altitude collection sites, well above typical beekeeping elevations, expose the hives to a concentrated and diverse mountain flora. The operation holds organic certification, reflecting the remote and unpolluted character of the highland sites where the bees forage.
Cretan wine production in the Archanes area near Heraklion with the possibility of tasting Vidiano and Liatiko wines at the farms.
Regular ferry along the southern coast of Crete connecting Sfakiá, Loutro and Agia Roumeli. Views of wild cliffs.
Terra Creta is an olive oil producer based in Kolymvari on the Chania peninsula of western Crete, working exclusively with Koroneiki olives, the dominant variety of the region. The estate mills its olives within 12 hours of harvest, combining ancient pressing traditions with modern technology to preserve the oil's polyphenols and fresh flavour. Kolymvari is also home to the ancient Vouves olive tree, one of the oldest living olive trees in the world at over 3000 years of age, a landmark that speaks to the deep-rooted olive culture of this part of Crete. The area's mild maritime climate and limestone soils are well suited to Koroneiki production.
Windsurfing center in the south of Crete with excellent wind of the Libyan Sea and training for beginners.
Beaches & coast 22
A seaside resort in the south of Crete with an extensive beach, fishing boats and excursions to nearby coves.
A popular tourist resort with a bay, clear water and good snorkeling just outside Heraklion.
A small village at the end of the Samara Gorge accessible only by boat or on foot. Pebble beach and well-deserved lemonade.
A quiet bay with clear water, ideal for snorkeling near the rocks at the edge of the beach. Great taverns.
A picturesque fishing town with clear bays, ideal for snorkeling. Rich underwater life without the need for a boat.
The most photographed place in Crete – a lagoon with shallow turquoise water and white sand at Cape Gramvousa. Access by boat or on foot from the summit.
A series of three small bays at Plakias with light pebbly sand and clear water. A peaceful southern Cretan paradise.
A nature reserve with endemic species and exceptionally clear water, ideal for snorkelling and card watching.
A beach with fine pink sand (crushed coral) and a shallow lagoon accessible by wading. In the southwest of Crete.
A calm bay with clear water, a view of Spinalonga and luxury hotels. An ideal quiet resort.
An expansive beach with golden sand and sunset views in northwest Crete. Ancient Phoenician port within easy reach.
A flat sandy beach by the Venetian castle overlooking the Libyan Sea. Calm water, ideal for families.
The southernmost island of the EU with wild nature, nudist beaches and absolute peace. Ferry from Palaiochora (2 h).
A 9 km long beach at the mouth of the Almyros River with a eucalyptus grove in the center of the village. Great for families.
A small fishing village with a tavern and a clear bay at the bottom of the gorge of the Dead. End of the world Crete.
A cute white village accessible only by boat or on foot, with turquoise bays and absolute tranquility.
A famous beach with prehistoric caves in the cliffs where hippies lived in the 70s. A unique atmosphere.
A popular diving spot in the south of Crete with underwater caves, fish and clear water. Training center.
Iconic beach with palm forest, river and salt lagoon in the south of Crete. Access by boat or stair descent.
A dramatic bay hidden in a gorge with turquoise water, nicknamed the 'Devil's Ports'. Steep descent 15 min.
A beautiful beach with a trio of impressive granite rock formations entering the sea. Great for snorkeling.
The largest natural palm forest in Europe right next to the beach in the far east of Crete. Palms are endemic Cretan date trees.
Culture & history 23
The national symbol of the Cretan resistance - in 1866, the Cretans preferred to blow up the powder room before surrendering to the Ottoman siege.
Historic market hall from 1913 in the shape of a cross with local products: olive oil, cheeses, honey and herbs.
The most beautiful port of Crete with Venetian arsenals, mosaic tiles and an Egyptian lighthouse. The view at night is unforgettable.
The authentic Ottoman quarter of Chania with its narrow cobbled streets, minaret and excellent local restaurants.
The ancient port of Chersonissos with its fish tank, mosaics and Byzantine ruins. Today a tourist center.
The second largest Minoan palace with a panoramic view of the Messara plain and the Ida mountains. Less tourists than Knossos.
A monumental square Venetian fortress right on the sandy beach. Legend has it that the ghosts of the 'Drosoulites' appear here every year.
Crete's largest ancient site with extensive Roman and Byzantine ruins, including the Gortyn Codex inscription.
A Venetian fortress on a dramatic islet off Cape Gramvousa. Accessible by boat from Kissamos, overlooking Balos.
Kales sea fortress guarding the entrance to Heraklion port since the 13th century. Views of the harbor and old town.
The southernmost city of the EU with a Venetian fortress, a mosque and a Turkish fountain. The warmest and sunniest place in Crete.
Venetian lion fountain from the 17th century. in the main Lions Square - the heart of old Heraklion.
UNESCO. The largest Minoan palace in Europe (3000 BC) with a labyrinth of rooms, frescoes and the myth of the Minotaur.
The most beautiful Byzantine frescoes of Crete from the 13th-15th desk in the three-aisled basilica above the village of Kritsa. UNESCO.
The largest mountain village of Crete with a tradition of handicrafts and rich local cuisine. Tissue and lace shops.
The third largest Minoan palace from around 2000 BC with a giant dining hall and a round altar area.
One of the most important Greek museums with unique Minoan frescoes, the Phaistos disk and gold jewelry.
A peninsular seaside town with the remains of a Venetian castle, two beaches and a hippie atmosphere. An exceptional sunset.
A monastery on a coastal cliff with a museum and a view of the Libyan Sea. He played a key role in the Allied evacuation (1941).
A magnificent Venetian fortress from the 16th century. on top of a hill overlooking the old town and the harbor.
One of the most beautiful old towns in Greece with Venetian and Ottoman elements, minarets and arcades.
Island-fortress with Venetian walls, served as a leprosarium until 1957. Ferry from Elounda, dramatic atmosphere.
Fortress monastery from the 15th century. in East Crete with the unique icon 'Megas ei Kyrie' with 61 scenes.
Getting there 5
Car rental and flights · Compare prices from verified rental companies · Find the cheapest flights to Crete
Car rental and flights · Compare prices from verified rental companies · Find the cheapest flights to Crete
Ferry Port · Connection to Piraeus
Ferry Port · Connections to Piraeus, Santorini, other Cyclades
Ferry port · Seasonal connections
Nature 15
Hermit gorge with chapels of St. Antonína leading to the deserted beach. Popular with climbers.
A circular lake connected to the sea by a canal in the center of a popular seaside town. Taverns around, magical sunset.
A wild gorge opening into the sea near Loutro. Difficult trek with rope and climbing passages, absolute wilderness.
Medieval village above ancient Lappa with stone taverns by natural springs and waterfalls. Great for lunch.
A forest village in a chestnut forest in southwest Crete. A great trip in October during the chestnut festival. Old churches.
Psiloritis (2456 m) – the highest mountain of Crete and, according to myth, the birthplace of Zeus. Ascent from the Nida plateau (4–5 h).
A shorter alternative to Samaria (8 km, 3 h), still a dramatic limestone gorge with narrow 'gates'. Fewer tourists.
The dramatic gorge of the Kourtaliotiko River leading to Preveli Beach. Harriers, buzzards and golden eagles nest on the cliffs.
Crete's only natural freshwater lake surrounded by hills and olive trees. Pedal boats, turtles and endemic fish.
A highland plateau with villages, orchards and hundreds of traditional windmills. Beautiful view from the pass.
A 15 m waterfall in a green gorge in the northeast of Crete with a natural pool. A comfortable 1-hour route through the forest.
UNESCO. Europe's longest gorge (18 km), home of the Cretan ibex (kri-kri). The trek from Omalos to the south takes 4-6 hours.
The largest natural cave of Crete (160 m deep) with impressive stalagmites and Minoan cult finds. Free entry.
A mountain village in a green gorge full of chestnuts and plane trees, the site of the revolution of 1905. Excellent local taverns.
The gorge nicknamed 'Dead' for the Minoan coffins in the caves. A leisurely 8 km trek to the palace city of Zakros.