Things to do · Crete · Greece
19 best things to do in Crete
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The essential sights in Crete are Knossos, Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour. Of the 19 picks below, 4 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 7 suit children. Allow about 10 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Knossos
- Free sights
- 4
- Good on a rainy day
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum
- Time to see the highlights
- 10 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knossos | Heraklion | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Heraklion Archaeological Museum | Heraklion | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour | Chania Old Town | Half a day | Free |
| Samaria Gorge | White Mountains | Full day | Low cost |
| Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa | Kissamos | Full day | Mid-priced |
| Elafonisi | Southwest Crete | Half a day | Free |
| Spinalonga | Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza | Rethymno | Half a day | Low cost |
| Phaistos and Gortyn | Messara plain | Half a day | Low cost |
| Arkadi Monastery | Rethymno | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave | Lasithi Plateau | Half a day | Low cost |
| Preveli Beach and palm forest | Plakias | Half a day | Free |
| Matala | Messara plain | Half a day | Low cost |
| Cretaquarium | Hersonissos and Malia | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Loutro | Sfakia | Full day or overnight | Low cost |
| Agios Nikolaos and Lake Voulismeni | Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | 2 hours | Free |
| Imbros Gorge | Sfakia | Half a day | Low cost |
| Koules Fortress and Heraklion's Venetian walls | Heraklion | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Vai Palm Beach | Sitia | Half a day | Low cost |
The 19 best things to do
Historic site · Heraklion
1.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. 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.
Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid the heat and tour groups, and see the museum in Heraklion the same day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Buy e-tickets online in advance in summer, when ticket queues build by mid-morning.
- 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.
Visit after Knossos so the frescoes and objects connect to what you have just seen.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Waterfront · Chania Old Town
3.Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour
A crescent of Venetian and Ottoman buildings lines Chania's harbour, from the domed Küçük Hasan mosque to the stone lighthouse at the end of the breakwater. Behind it, lanes of the Topanas and Splantzia quarters hold Venetian arsenals, churches and small squares.
Walk the breakwater to the lighthouse at sunset for the view back over the harbour and the White Mountains.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Nature · White Mountains
4.Samaria Gorge
One of Europe's best-known gorge hikes runs about 16 km from the Omalos plateau down to the sea at Agia Roumeli, through pine forest and the Iron Gates, where the walls close to a few metres apart. The trail is downhill all the way, and boats take hikers from Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion or Sougia.
Start early, wear proper hiking shoes and carry water and snacks; the descent is hard on knees and takes most people 5–7 hours.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Beach · Kissamos
5.Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa
A shallow turquoise lagoon of white sand on the Gramvousa peninsula in the far northwest. Boats from Kissamos port stop at the Venetian fortress on Imeri Gramvousa island before Balos; by car, a rough dirt road ends with a 20–30 minute walk down to the beach.
Take the first boat or go by car early to see the lagoon from the viewpoint path before the crowds arrive.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Southwest Crete
6.Elafonisi
A protected island and lagoon in the southwest where crushed shells tint the sand pink in places. You can wade across the shallow water to the islet, and the calm, warm lagoon makes it one of the island's best beaches for young children.
Visit early or late in the day; avoid taking sand or shells, as the area is a protected nature reserve.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Island · Agios Nikolaos and Elounda
7.Spinalonga
A small island in the Gulf of Elounda fortified by the Venetians in the 16th century and used as a leper colony until 1957. 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.
Take the short boat from Plaka, and allow time for a swim and lunch in Plaka afterwards.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
Castle · Rethymno
8.Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza
The Venetians built the Fortezza on a headland above Rethymno in the 16th century after pirate raids; inside are a domed mosque and wide views. Below it, the old town's lanes lead past the Rimondi fountain, the Neratze mosque minaret and wooden Ottoman balconies.
Visit the Fortezza late in the afternoon for the sunset view over the sea.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Historic site · Messara plain
1.Phaistos and Gortyn
The Minoan palace of Phaistos sits on a ridge with views over the Messara plain to Mount Psiloritis; it was here that the Phaistos Disc was found. Nearby Gortyn, later the Roman capital of Crete, has the Gortyn Code, a long law inscription carved in stone.
Combine both sites in a morning and finish with a swim and lunch at Matala.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Rethymno
2.Arkadi Monastery
A fortified monastery with a Venetian Baroque church facade, about 23 km from Rethymno. 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.
Combine it with lunch in a nearby mountain village, then return to Rethymno for sunset at the Fortezza.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Nature · Lasithi Plateau
3.Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave
A fertile upland plain ringed by mountains, once dotted with thousands of white-sailed windmills used for irrigation, a few of which survive. Above the village of Psychro, the Dikteon Cave is linked in myth to the birth of Zeus, with stalactites lit along a steep path.
Wear shoes with grip for the cave path and bring a layer; the plateau is cooler than the coast.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- History
Beach · Plakias
4.Preveli Beach and palm forest
On the south coast, the Kourtaliotis river emerges from a gorge lined with palm trees and runs into the sea at a sandy beach. You can walk up the river through the palms, and the Preveli monastery stands on the cliffs nearby.
The path down from the car park is steep and takes about 15 minutes; boats from Plakias or Agia Galini are an alternative in summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Free
Beach · Messara plain
5.Matala
A small south-coast bay where Roman-era tombs carved into the soft cliffs were later home to a 1960s and 70s hippie community. Today it has a sandy beach, tavernas and a colourful village, with sunsets over the Libyan Sea.
Visit the cliff caves in the morning, then swim and stay for sunset at a taverna by the beach.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Views
Aquarium · Hersonissos and Malia
6.Cretaquarium
A large aquarium at Gournes, about 15 km east of Heraklion, with tanks of Mediterranean marine life including sharks, jellyfish and seahorses. It is a reliable rainy-day or heat-of-the-day outing for families.
Combine it with a beach afternoon nearby, or go when the midday sun is too strong for the beach.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Sfakia
7.Loutro
A car-free village of white and blue houses on a small bay on the south coast, reached only by boat from Chora Sfakion or Agia Roumeli or on coastal footpaths. It is a place to swim, eat and walk to nearby coves such as Sweetwater and Marmara.
Stay a night or two to enjoy the silence after the day-trippers leave.
- Time needed
- Full day or overnight
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Nature
Waterfront · Agios Nikolaos and Elounda
8.Agios Nikolaos and Lake Voulismeni
A small, deep lake joined to the harbour by a channel forms the heart of this attractive eastern town, ringed by cafés and restaurants. The town has small beaches and boats to Spinalonga, and it faces the wide Mirabello Bay.
Climb the steps above the lake for a view over the water and the harbour.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Views
- Couples
Nature · Sfakia
9.Imbros Gorge
A shorter alternative to Samaria, the Imbros Gorge runs about 8 km from the village of Imbros down to Komitades near Chora Sfakion, through narrow passages and a natural rock arch. Most people walk it in two to three hours.
Arrange a taxi back up to Imbros from Komitades, or walk it as part of a day trip to Chora Sfakion.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Castle · Heraklion
10.Koules Fortress and Heraklion's Venetian walls
The 16th-century Venetian sea fortress guards Heraklion's old harbour, with views from its roof terrace. The city's massive Venetian walls still ring the centre, and on the Martinengo bastion is the grave of writer Nikos Kazantzakis.
Walk out along the harbour breakwater after visiting Koules, then head to Lions Square for bougatsa.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Beach · Sitia
11.Vai Palm Beach
In the far east of the island, a grove of native Cretan date palms runs down to a sandy beach with clear water. The palm forest is protected, and the area feels remote compared with the busy north coast.
Combine it with Toplou Monastery and the Minoan site at Zakros on a day in the east.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Heraklion Archaeological Museum |
| History | Knossos, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Spinalonga and Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza |
| Views | Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, Spinalonga, Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza and Phaistos and Gortyn |
| Outdoors and nature | Samaria Gorge, Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, Elafonisi and Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave |
| Food and markets | Agios Nikolaos and Lake Voulismeni |
| After dark | Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour |
| With children | Knossos, Elafonisi, Spinalonga and Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza |
| On a rainy day | Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Cretaquarium |
What to book ahead
- Knossos: Buy e-tickets online in advance in summer, when ticket queues build by mid-morning.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do 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.
+What can you do for free in Crete?
Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour, Elafonisi, Preveli Beach and palm forest and Agios Nikolaos and Lake Voulismeni. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Crete when it rains?
Head indoors to Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Cretaquarium.
+What is there to do in Crete at night?
Chania Old Town and Venetian Harbour are best after dark.