Top Things to Do in the Crete | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Crete

Places To Visit In Crete

Koules Fortress

Koules Fortress is the entrance to the harbour of Heraklion. Also known as the "Sea fortress", it is one of the most beloved monuments of the city. In the early 16th century, the old fort was brought down and the new one is what it remains in its place. The fort is in the shape of a square. The northeastern, western and southern side walls were decorated with marble relief pictures of winged lion of Venice which survives until today.

Lychnostatis Open Air Museum is a private museum in Heraklion based on private collection owned by Yiorgos Markakis, an ophthalmologist. It was established in 1992. The museum contains a variety of artifacts and structures related to Cretan folk tradition, economic activity, culture and the environment. Notable assets to look out for include traditional farmer and merchant houses, wine and olive presses, a distillery, workshops, a herbarium, an art gallery, a library, and a mineral and stone exhibition. Several performances are put on in the auditorium, which is in the museum itself, including the "Traditional September" annual event, as well as Greek dancing performances, and grape and wine tasting events. Read More

The nautical museum was constructed in 1973 and stands next to the Firkas fortress. Itæ includes models of ships, nautical instruments, paintings, historical photographs and war relics. The material in the Museum comprises from the Bronze age up toæour times. It includes models of ancient ships a fortified town and port under Venetian rule. A section of the museum is dedicated to the German invasion of Crete. Another section of the museum houses the replica of a Minoan ship. Read More

The Arkadi Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox Monastery situated in Rethymnon. It dates back to the 16th century, marked by the presence of the Renaissance. Within the monastery is a museum where the sacred banner of the Arkadi tragedy is housed, weapons from the revolutionary era and items belonging to the legendary Father Gabriel. The Monastery became a national symbol of Cretan resistance after 943 women and children blew themselves up. It is situated at a plateau at an altitude of 500 m. A memorial is housed in the building in front of the gate. The anniversary of the Arkadi tragedy is celebrated as a public holiday in Crete. Read More

Samaria gorge is a national park in Crete which is a major tourist attraction, especially for hikers. It is situated in the regional unit of Chania. The walk through National Park is 16 km long. The most famous part of the gorge is the stretch known as Iron Gates, where the width is only 4m and the height of almost 300 m. The visitors walk down the gorge from Omalus plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, at which point tourists take ferries to the nearby village of Sougia or Hora Sfakion, where they could spend a night there. Alternatively, they take a coach back to Chania. The walk takes five to seven hours and can be strenuous, especially at the peak of summer. Read More

Spinalonga is a Greek island located in Crete, near the town of Plaka. In addition to the abandoned leper colony and ruins of the Spinalonga Fortress, tourists visit the island to relax by its shallow beaches and tranquillity. Since Spinalonga does not offer accommodation, it is only popular for a day trip. Boats from Plaka, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos are available to Spinalonga daily. Also known as Kalydon, this island was once a leper colony and has been the backdrop for several novels, television series and motion pictures. Read More

The Vai Beach located at the easten end of Crete is a stunning, uninhabited beach with fine sand and boulders. Via beach enjoys the exclusivity of hosting distinctive lush palm forests in its vicinity. It's a beautiful beach with crystal-clear water, great for snorkeling. Although there are no accommodations at this beach, there are plenty of services, including food, beach supplies, cameras, and drinks, in the driveway all through summer. In addition, rentable seaside chairs and umbrellas are available, and a nearby monastery runs a beachfront eatery serving scrumptious Greek cuisine. Read More

One of the biggest waterparks in Crete, Acqua Plus is situated close to Hersonissos and boasts of over 50 fun attractions for both children and adults. It has a number of water slides at different heights, with the highest one being Tsunami which is about 47 feet high. Some others include the zigzag Crazy River, Kamikaze which is the park’s fastest and longest at 125m, Spacebowl and more. There are some less exhilarating attractions, some of which are better suited for children, such as the Lazy River, Mini Hydrotube which is for kids up to the age of 7, and Hydromassage which is a jacuzzi, etc. Acqua Plus also has an Active Playground, table tennis, an inflatable castle and a pool table. The garden section at the waterpark, a great place to relax, features beautiful flowers like French marigold, bougainvillaeas, palm trees, etc. For food and beverages, there is a kiosk selling snacks, a restaurant, a cafe and a lazy booze bar. Locker, shower and changing room facilities (including ones for babies) are available here. There is also a shop that sells swimwear, floats, sunscreen, pool toys etc. Read More

The Agia Marina Beach is located about 10km from Chania, Crete, and is a popular beach resort with good infrastructure and facilities. It offers splendid views of the clear blue waters and sandy shores. Agia Marina Beach is also known for its various water sporting activities like jet-skiing, kayaking, paddling, surfing, and more. There are several facilities, such as umbrellas, beach bars, pool bars, sun loungers, and more at the beach. Food and drinks can be ordered easily and the many taverns provide the perfect shade, beverages, and snacks to relax. One can also try beach volleyball, beach tennis, go-carting, and mini-golf. Though there are a few rocky outcrops, some parts of the beach are also shallow enough for swimming. Lifeguards are around for safety and both adults and children can enjoy a dip. A few streets from the beach toward inland you can find several restaurants serving Creten’s traditional foods. Read More

The Agiofarago Beach is an utterly stunning and serene rocky beach that boasts of clear waters and is surrounded by imposing cliffs. It is situated south of Heraklion city in Crete at the exit of the Gorge Agiofarago. It is excellent for sunbathing, watching the sunset and taking photographs. Those looking for a little adventure can also try climbing the cliffs, especially since the view from the top is spectacular. The best place to swim here is on the west side of the beach where the rocks form an arch above the water. The beach is also a popular camping spot, although it takes a little effort to carry one’s belongings. Across from the beach is a tiny islet called Papadoplaka which is known for its small ponds and clear sea salt that is often collected by tourists as a souvenir. Just a little away from the beach is Vourvoulitis, a hidden sea lake that, despite being open for swimming, is considered dangerous. The beach can be reached by hiking across the gorge or taking a boat from nearby Agia Galini, Matala, Kokkinos Pirgos or Kali Limenes. Read More