crete famous tourist places

The best places to visit on Crete for shopping, nightlife, museums, and cultural attractions are all found along the north coast. On the remote south coast, looking towards Africa across the Libyan Sea, are quaint seaside villages where you can escape from the main tourist scene. This is the best place for travelers looking for a quiet escape ...

1. Visit the famous historical Palace of Knossos. At the Palace of Knossos, you can feel the playful passion of the artists who painted its many frescoes 4000 years ago, such as the one in the queen's megaron (bedroom) showing dolphins frolicking. Check out the charging bulls on the famous work near the North Entrance.

Whatever your mood, Crete has the perfect place for you - here are eight of our favorites. 1. Hania. Best city for dining and walking. Crete's second-largest city has many excellent places to eat, lining the labyrinth of ancient stone lanes that make up its 17th-century Venetian quarter. Some of the finest food in all of Greece can be found ...

Highlights include statues of the Snake Goddess, the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco and the enigmatic Phaistos Disk. In addition, the artifacts found in this museum were all discovered in Crete. 4. Balos Lagoon [SEE MAP] One of Crete's most beautiful beaches, Balos Lagoon is located near the town of Kissamos.

Let's explore the best things to do in Crete: 1. Knossos. Source: Timofeev Vladimir / shutterstock. Knossos, Crete. A few kilometres south of Crete's modern capital, Heraklion was the capital of Minoan Crete. Knossos is the name of a palace and its encompassing city, which had a population of up to 100,000 in the 18th century BC.

11. Lake Kournas. 2,810. Bodies of Water. This peaceful and serene freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, is popular for activities like swimming and picnicking. Rent a pedal boat or kayak, and bring snorkel masks to …. See ways to experience (45) 2024. 12.

Here are the top places in Crete you shouldn't miss: 1. Agios Nikolaos. Agios Nikolaos, with its azure waters and picturesque streets, is one of the most beautiful places in Crete. This coastal town, known for its vibrant marina and the mystical Lake Voulismeni, offers a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.

Keep 1 morning to visit Chania. Visiting Chania - Best Things to do in Crete. 2. Balos beach. If there is one place you should not miss when in Crete, it is the famous Balos Beach, also called Balos Lagoon. Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, it is located about 90 minute West of Chania.

Expect nudist beaches, yoga gatherings and plenty of poi, plus a true sense of being cut off from the rest of the world. Be careful, though - strong winds mean boats often get cancelled to and ...

Table of Contents [hide] 1 Discover the Wonders of Crete: Top Tourist Attractions That Will Leave You Speechless. 1.1 The Palace of Knossos. 1.2 The Samaria Gorge. 1.3 The Venetian Harbor in Chania. 1.4 Balos Lagoon. 1.5 The Palace of Phaistos. 1.6 The Beaches of Elafonisi. 1.7 Spinalonga Island.

Top 5 Things to Do in Crete. Hike the Gorge Sarakina in Meskla. Pay A Visit to Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Marvel at Balos Lagoon. Chow Down at Prima Plora Restaurant. Undertake the Samaria Gorge Trek (If Your Stamina Can Handle It) Brilliant Things to See & Do in Crete. Head to Chania's Venetian Harbour.

12. Lychnostatis Open Air Museum. The Cretan open- air Museum "LYCHNOSTATIS" is located at Hersonissos, by the sea- side. It consists of four main collections: Nature & Flora Collection, with gardens of fruit- trees, aromatic herbs, cactus, shrubs and plants, stones and minerals of Crete.

Travel back in time at Arkadi. ... Best places to visit in Crete - 3 Archaeological sites. It might be surprising to some that I have not included one of the archaeological sites in my top 10 of places to visit in Crete. That's because the Minoan site are a lot more difficult to grasp that the Greek one (like around Athens).

Balos Lagoon. Located between Kissamos and Chania, Balos Lagoon is a gorgeous spot with claims to be the most photographed beach in Crete. Balos is so famous that Princess Diana and Prince Charles once visited on their yacht. The typical way to visit Balos is to come on a tour from Kissamos, though there are also tours that leave from Chania ...

There's a sprinkling of taverns lining the waterfront. Contact: 00 30 28430 26897. Opening times: Daily, 8am-7.45pm in summer (varies in winter) Price: £. The Kato Zakros site was the final ...

11. Lake Kournas. 2,810. Bodies of Water. This peaceful and serene freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, is popular for activities like swimming and picnicking. Rent a pedal boat or kayak, and bring snorkel masks to …. See ways to experience (45) 2024. 12.

6. Samaria Gorge. One of the most popular places for adventure in Crete is the gorge of Samaria. Located in a national park and a Global Biosphere Reserve, this 13 km hike is among the best things to do in Crete. The trail is open from May to October and can take from 4 to 7 hours to complete.

The Minoan Palace of Zakros in Crete; 3. Locate the best tourist attractions in Crete. Crete is full of gorgeous beaches, grandiose mountains and unparalleled culture which makes so difficult to prioritize what do in Crete first. Everyone knows that Crete has countless attractions and can take a lifetime for someone to see them all. Well, we ...

O Tempelis, in the center of town, is a traditional place with very convenient prices. Here locals gather to share meze, small dishes with Cretan delicacies, such as dolmades, stuffed champignons, baked potatoes, tzatziki sauce, and more. Peskesi is probably Crete's most famous restaurant (yes, on the entire island).

Why it's awesome: Crete's capital, Heraklion is a bustling city with a long past. There are many historical and cultural attractions, and the city boasts a number of the most famous places that you have to see when travelling in Crete.Despite being a modern city today, the area was once the home of the ancient Minoan civilisation; the Palace of Knossos is a Crete must-see.

The Loggia is closed to visitors, but you can look around the arcade on the ground floor. 9. St Catherine of Sinai. Source: volkova natalia / shutterstock. St Catherine of Sinai, Heraklion. Next to the cathedral on St Catherine Square is a former monastery church founded in the 10th century.

Crete's biggest and best-preserved Minoan site lies just five kilometers southeast of Heraklion. It is one of the most important tourist attractions on Crete. A vast monumental palace, with four wings built around a spacious central courtyard, Knossos is believed to have been the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos. Remarkably sophisticated, it ...

Erin Evans January 4, 2024. Ranking of the top 9 things to do in Crete. Travelers favorites include #1 Rethymno Old Town, #2 Elafonisi and more.