History · Crete · Greece
8 historic sites to see in Crete
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Z thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Knossos, Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Spinalonga. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 19–24 hours across 5 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 19–24 hours
- Areas
- Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and Elounda and Rethymno
Historic sites in Crete
Historic site · Heraklion
1.Knossos
Arthur Evans excavated and partly rebuilt it in concrete in the early 20th century, with painted replicas of frescoes, so the throne room, grand staircase and storerooms are easy to picture.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Museum · Heraklion
2.Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The principal collection of Minoan art, including the original frescoes from Knossos such as the bull-leaping scene, the faience snake goddesses, the bull's-head rhyton and the mysterious Phaistos Disc with its stamped spiral of symbols.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Island · Agios Nikolaos and Elounda
3.Spinalonga
Short boat rides from Plaka, Elounda or Agios Nikolaos lead to its walls, restored streets and the colony's houses, made famous by the novel The Island.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
Castle · Rethymno
4.Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza
Below it, the old town's lanes lead past the Rimondi fountain, the Neratze mosque minaret and wooden Ottoman balconies.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Historic site · Messara plain
5.Phaistos and Gortyn
Nearby Gortyn, later the Roman capital of Crete, has the Gortyn Code, a long law inscription carved in stone.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Rethymno
6.Arkadi Monastery
In 1866, during a revolt against Ottoman rule, defenders blew up the gunpowder store rather than surrender, and Arkadi became a national symbol of Cretan resistance.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Nature · Lasithi Plateau
7.Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave
Above the village of Psychro, the Dikteon Cave is linked in myth to the birth of Zeus, with stalactites lit along a steep path.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- History
Beach · Messara plain
8.Matala
Today it has a sandy beach, tavernas and a colourful village, with sunsets over the Libyan Sea.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Views
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Heraklion | Knossos and Heraklion Archaeological Museum | 2 hours + 2 hours |
| Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | Spinalonga | 2–3 hours |
| Rethymno | Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza and Arkadi Monastery | Half a day + 1 hour |
| Messara plain | Phaistos and Gortyn and Matala | Half a day + Half a day |
| Lasithi Plateau | Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 low cost, 3 mid-priced. Book ahead for Knossos. The longest visit is Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Knossos: Buy e-tickets online in advance in summer, when ticket queues build by mid-morning.
How to fit them into 6 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Heraklion): Knossos → Heraklion Archaeological Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Agios Nikolaos and Elounda): Spinalonga, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Rethymno): Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza → Arkadi Monastery, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Messara plain): Phaistos and Gortyn, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Messara plain): Matala, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Lasithi Plateau): Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- November: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 6 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Mild, with the olive harvest under way; many resort hotels close, but towns stay open.
- March: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 7 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Wildflowers cover the hills; good walking weather, though the sea is cold and many resorts are still shut.
- February: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 9 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Green hills and almond blossom; carnival season brings parades to Rethymno.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Rethymno — Venetian-Ottoman old town and fortress beside a long sandy beach
- Heraklion — Crete's capital and transport hub, with the Minoan museum and Knossos nearby
- Agios Nikolaos and Elounda — Harbour town on a lake and the luxury resorts of Mirabello Bay
More of Crete
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Crete?
Knossos. The largest Minoan palace, about 5 km south of Heraklion, was the centre of a Bronze Age civilisation more than 3,500 years ago.