What to see in Crete on your own? Top attractions

What to see in Crete on your own or with excursions? Consider all the best attractions that you should definitely see both by car and with the help of group trips with Russian-speaking guides, find out the nuances of ticket prices, draw up a map of the location of tourist sites, select the most exciting tours around the island based on our experience.

What to see in Crete from the sights?

The magnificent island is rich in historical monuments, museums and temples, so there are plenty of sights to visit in Crete. Remnants of ancient civilizations are kept in museums and the ruins of the island. Here you can also visit the famous labyrinth of the Minotaur and get imbued with a bloody story with a happy ending. Crete is the largest Greek island, and at the same time the most developed in the tourism sector. What to see in Crete from the sights everyone will choose for himself, but the most significant of them are listed below.

Santorini island

A must-see place on vacation in Greece is a must! But, there are a couple of points that we recommend sticking to:

Visit the island only in the low season, in the summer there are so many tourists that you will not be able to walk along narrow streets and take good photos, as queues for 10-20 minutes of waiting are formed in more beautiful places and observation decks.

Take only individual tours and for a few days. It will be more expensive, but for this money you will not waste your nerves and will be able to get positive emotions from what you see, especially at the sunset of the day and get to the non-tourist part of the island, where you can really get great photos.

Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos

The Archaeological Museum boasts remarkable exhibits, including finds from excavations from the Neolithic and Minoan periods, collections of coins from various times, artifacts from the Greco - Roman era. The museum will acquaint visitors with the ancient history of the island, dwelling in detail on each stage of development or change of civilizations. The doors are open to visitors from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm every day, except Mondays along Constantinou Paleologou street.

The sunken city of Olus

The list of must-see places of interest in Crete includes the sunken city of Olous. In the eastern part of Elounda, near the isthmus, you can see through the veil of crystal water the remains of the ancient city of the Minoan era of Olus. If what you see does not impress active tourists, you can arrange scuba diving or use a mask and snorkel to observe the underwater ruins dating back to the 3rd century. BC.

Knossos palace

The most worthy monument of Minoan architecture, which now adorns tourist booklets with its photographs, the Palace of Knossos surprises tourists with the scale and scale of the building. The palace was the centerpiece of the city of Knossos, the residence of its kings and the economic center. Antique columns and more than a thousand rooms of the building, which can no longer reveal their purpose, carry visitors back millennia into the past. The ruins can be visited daily from 8.00 to 19.00 in summer, and until 15.00 in winter for only 15 € per person.

Minotaur Labyrinth

Among the interesting places in Crete, it is impossible not to mention the mysterious labyrinth of the Minotaur. The famous half-human monster - half-bull was imprisoned in these tangled rooms, where he accepted his death according to ancient Greek myths. It is worth looking for the labyrinth among the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, in a variety of strangely interconnected rooms. This attraction is located at Knossos Palace, Minoiton, Heraklion 71409.

Dikteyskaya or Zeus' cave

A beautiful cave (1028 meters above sea level) with huge stalactites keeps the legend of the birth of Zeus. The spectacular spectacle beckons crowds of tourists. There is a lake in the cave, at the bottom of which archaeologists have found ancient artifacts (pottery, figurines of gods) and weapons. Today there is a belief that the one who threw a coin into the lake will definitely return here again, so that the bottom of the lake sparkles with tourist gifts. This attraction is located near the village of Psychro, the entrance costs 6 €. All artifacts found can be seen in the Heraklion Architectural Museum.

Samaria gorge

The 18-kilometer-long Samaria Gorge is a magnificent wildlife monument in all its glory. A riot of colors of plants, framed by majestic mountains, everything here seems to have fallen out of time and lives in its own era. The beauty of the gorge can be fully appreciated by walking through it. This route is not easy and takes more than 6 hours. This natural miracle is located not far from the village of the same name Samaria.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is one of the largest and richest museums in the country. Wondering where to visit and where to go in Crete, do not overlook this repository of ancient treasures. Some of the exhibits in the museum are over 5,000 years old. It is located at Heraklion, Xanthoudidou Str., 1, entrance fee is 10 €.

Wai

Vai is a paradise beach with white sand, clear water and dense date palm grove. A favorite place for connoisseurs of pure virgin nature in tandem with a refined beach area. Cafes and restaurants, an observation deck, exotic landscapes and comfortable sun loungers - everything here is created for a relaxing stay.

Elafonisi beach

A beach for paradise lovers near the resort of Chania. We advise you to come here in the morning and stay until late at night, the sunsets are painfully beautiful here. The coast is a spit with fine pink sand, this combination is obtained from small particles of coral and small shells. From the equipment there are sun loungers and umbrellas, which should be borrowed in the morning. There are most active sports: wakeboard (rent 55 € for 20 minutes of riding), kitesurf (50 € per hour) and other accessories.

The ancient city of Gortyna

The times of Roman and Byzantine rule in Crete are clearly visible in the ruins of the ancient city of Gortyna. Since 1984, excavations are still underway on the territory of the city, revealing new objects to visitors. It is on the columns of the old Gortyn that some of the oldest legislative acts were found, which is more than 2500 years old.

Historical Museum of Crete

In order to get a complete picture of the historical fate of the island of Crete, you should definitely visit the Historical Museum. The expositions presented here tell visitors how the rule of the island has changed many times, because due to its favorable geographical location, Crete has always remained desirable for invaders. The museum is open from 9.00 to 17.00, closed on Sunday. The entrance costs 5 €.

Kules fortress

One of the main symbols of Heraklion is the Kules fortress. Its outer walls are 9 meters wide, and the inner walls are 6 meters wide. The building rises above the sea and strikes with its inaccessibility and massiveness. There is a museum on the territory of the fortress, where many types of weapons and ammunition, anchors and other paraphernalia that were used to protect the fortress are presented. The fortress receives visitors daily from 8.00 to 15.00, entrance costs 2 €.

Fortress Fortezza

The Venetian defensive structure, Fortress Fortezza, is considered one of the largest surviving structures of that era. The fortress was built on the site of the ancient temple of Apollo and Artemis.Today, cultural events are held on the territory of the fortress, as well as exhibitions and vernissages. When visiting, you can see mosques, Orthodox churches, some of which were built in former water tanks. Leof fortress address. Emmanouil Kefalogianni 27, Rethymno 741 00. Open from 8.00 to 20.00. The visit will cost 4 €.

Preveli monastery

From most of the monasteries of Crete, we advise you to go here. The building was erected in the 16th century on a slope with a picturesque view of the sea. Until now, the monastery was subjected to the defeat of wars and looters, but was restored 5 years ago with money from the state and cultural organizations. The attraction is visited by few tourists, which is why we invite you to see everything with your own eyes at sunset and take great photos.

Lake Woolismeni

The lake is located in a resort town called Agios Nikolaos and is one of the freshwater ones. In ancient times, Aphrodite herself loved to take baths here. Especially worth emphasizing when viewed from above - the lake has an almost perfect circle. Its depth is 67 meters. In one of the French expeditions, the remains of German equipment were found at depth.

Lake Kurna

Another of the freshwater lakes of Crete, located away from the hiking trail, so few people come here. But, if you are tired of the crowds of tourists and want to relax in silence next to wild nature, then feel free to come. The eastern part is the only place for swimming with a sandy beach, in other places there are rocky cliffs.

How to get there? On the E75 road, we reach the town of Georgioupoli, look for signs at the crossroads and follow a country road. Things to do? You can enjoy nature and sailing on catamarans.

Prices for excursions in Crete in Russian

To look at Crete through the eyes of locals and touch its mysterious history, under the comments of a Russian-speaking guide with extensive historical experience, you can simply order an excursion online using the already proven services of our travel team, for example, Tripster. We'll talk about the best deals that we recommend to book first.

Prices for excursions in Crete from Heraklion, Rethymno or Hersonissos are indicated for the tour as a whole, not for 1 person. And if you want to see Crete by car, then choose car excursions.

• And if you decide to go to tourist sites on your own, then we advise you to rent a car through EconomyBookings, here are the most profitable rental options, proven by our own experience.

"Little Sicily in Crete"

This excursion will immerse guests in the spirit of a picturesque settlement. After visiting the cave with rooms of massive columns, you can go to the tavern, which combines a place to enjoy local cuisine and a museum with many ancient exhibits. The guide will tell exciting stories spiced with local legends. The cost of the excursion is 345 €.

"Meeting with real Crete"

It costs 365

"Olive gifts of Crete"

Visit family oil mills and modern olive oil factories, visit natural gorges, get acquainted with the range of natural cosmetics and enjoy the view of ancient frescoes in the church - all this pleasure as part of a car tour costs 345 €.

• On the Tripster.ru website, you can choose the excursion you like and discuss all the conditions directly with the guide, view the calendar and sign up for a visit that is favorable for you.

Where to go with children?

Thanks to the comfortable climate and developed infrastructure, the Greek island is a great place for families with children. Let's compile a short list of places where you can go in Crete with children:

Crete Aquarium

The modern aquarium with its marine inhabitants will appeal to both children and adults. This center for the study of underwater life has more than 60 aquariums. Marine life, from sharks to seahorses, will leave a positive visit. All detailed information on the official website https://cretaquarium.gr/

Anopolis water park Water city

The largest water park on the island and the largest number of attractions - this is what Watercity is famous for. This modern entertainment complex welcomes visitors in the open air, located on a mountain. Anopolis water park was appreciated not only by tourists and our team, but also by local residents. All the necessary information can be found on the website https://www.watercity.gr/ru/, here we also recommend seeing the panorama of the object.

Crete Maritime Museum

A must see in Crete with a child is the Maritime Museum. Children will be delighted to plunge into the world of ancient and modern shipbuilding. Models of warships are exhibited down to the smallest detail. The museum has exhibits that tell about the period of the Second World War. The institution is open from 10 am to 5 pm, we advise you to take a full ticket, the cost is 4 €, admission for children under 6 is free.

The natural and cultural attractions of the island are full of unusual secrets, which are very interesting and informative to explore with a family.

Where to go in Crete by car yourself?

For maximum coverage of attractions and a clear plan, you need to clearly plan and decide what to see in Crete on your own and in what time frame. An example route might look like this:

• in first day you can go by car to Heraklion or Hersonissos, see the fortresses and ruins of ancient cities, museums and city attractions, try local cuisine in a metropolitan restaurant away from the sea, so you can save a lot.
• second day worth dedicating to natural attractions, canyons, caves and nature reserves.
• in the third day prioritize exploring beaches, scenic bays and boat trips with or without diving.

No matter how the guests of the island spend their leisure time, Crete will surely remain in memory as an ancient and natural wonder.

Crete sights map in Russian

Life hack for a profitable vacation:

These tips will help you plan your independent travel cheaper:

• We advise you to search for the best prices for hotels using the application from RoomGuru, so you can find any living space even upon arrival at the beach resort, very convenient on a business trip or an unplanned vacation.
• The Sravni service will help you profitably insure your health and life while traveling, the search engine shows results from all major insurance companies, you just have to choose the most profitable option, but it is better not to save on health.