Iraklio Province
The Central Court is the main court, measuring an impressive 48m long and 22m wide. On its western side archaeologists discovered one of the Kernos Stones…
Must-see attractions in Crete
Museum of the Acritans of Europe
Hania Province
This little museum is dedicated to the border fighters and heroes of Europe’s medieval and Byzantine times. It has a well-displayed historical exhibition,…
Agios Nikolaos
This modest museum near the lake houses a well-curated collection of traditional handicrafts (especially textiles, costumes and embroidery), alongside…
Eleftherios Venizelos Residence & Museum
Hania
Some 2km east of the old town, in the Halepa neighbourhood, the Eleftherios Venizelos Residence & Museum preserves the great statesman’s home in splendid…
Hania
This 17th-century Venetian church was probably built following an outbreak of plague and was turned into a military guardhouse under the Turks. Restored…
Iraklio Province
The hall was a large room with six pillars, presumably supporting a second floor and/or roof. Many decorated ceramics were found here, leading…
Hania
Located 2.5km west of Hania, Hrysi Akti (which translates aptly as Golden Sands) is a lovely 500m arc of sandy beach; the shallow waters are suitable for…
Iraklio
Iraklio's only remaining Turkish-era pump house once supplied drinking water to the local population.
Lasithi Province
A short distance past the village square en route to Kato Zakros, this little museum shines a spotlight on local flora and fauna through modest displays…
Iraklio Province
Watch giant clay pots being churned out at the traditional Nikos Doxastakis workshop. From the centre of Thrapsano, head up to the village’s municipal…
Rethymno
Punctuating the old pier in the Venetian Harbour, the 9m-high lighthouse was built in the 1830s, when Egypt ruled Crete. (Britain forced Egypt to give…
Iraklio Province
Strangely situated and at odds with the rest of the design of the palace, this building has been dated to the 13th century BC, and was probably used by…
Hania
Two small beaches make up the Agioi Apostoli (The Holy Apostles) area, around 3.5km west of Hania. These sheltered coves are perfect for families. A bus…
Hania
The small, sandy beach of Kalamaki is 5km west of Hania and has calm, shallow waters, making it a good choice for families with young children. A bus runs…
Iraklio Province
The west magazines were the palace's storerooms for agricultural products. It was believed that if there was a bad harvest, these reserves were…
Hania Province
Halikia Beach is Paleohora's pebble beach, on the eastern side of Paleohora's peninsula. It can occasionally be better protected from the wind than sandy…
Hania Province
Good hiking, beach access and decent accommodation can be found at Kambos, a tiny village at the edge of a gorge along the Innahorian region’s winding…
Iraklio Province
Called the lustral basin partly because of historical translations into English, this was where 'symbolic cleansing' took place as part of religious…
Hania
Soaring above the rooftops of the charismatic Splantzia quarter, the Ahmet Aga Minaret is one of Hania’s two remaining minarets from the Ottoman era.
Iraklio Province
Located behind a stone-paved vestibule within the west wing of the palace, the pillar crypt is believed to have harboured the most important rooms.
Iraklio Province
About 1km west of town, over the headland, there’s a nice long stretch of sand called Diskos (or Dytikos), a naturists' favourite.
Knossos
From the Piano Nobile you can get a view of the clay storage vessels in the west magazines.
Iraklio Province
This was the main staircase that led to the 'piano nobile', where important rooms such as reception areas were located.
Iraklio Province
The east magazines (storerooms) once contained stacks of giant pithoi (pots) containing liquids and staples.
Rethymno Province
Ecclesiastic-art fans should stop in town at Panormo’s parish church, which has some stunning modern frescoes.
Knossos
Storerooms, and site of the giant pithoi (clay jars) that once held oil, wine and other staples.
Iraklio Province
Believed to be an altar where animals were sacrificed (many bone remains were found here).
Iraklio Province
These apartments are referred to as the king's and queen's megarons, or royal halls.
Iraklio Province
The area known as the North Court was once lined with workshops and storage rooms.
Iraklio Province
These four surviving steps of a large staircase may have been used as a theatre.
Knossos
The West Court may have been a marketplace or the site of public gatherings.
Iraklio Province
En route to/from the village of Krasí you will pass the controversial Aposelemis Dam, the construction of which was completed in 2012. Formerly wedged…
Hania
The discovery of clay tablets with Linear B script during ongoing excavations on Kastelli Hill to the east of the Venetian Harbour has led archaeologists…
Lasithi Province
Just below Agia Ekaterini, the main church, look for a Venetian building that was once the administrative base of a French garrison based in Sitia during…
Ierapetra
This is where Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have stayed incognito with a local family when his ship anchored in Crete for one night in 1798 en route to…
