What to see in Crete?

Visiting the island of Crete can offer you many surprises. There are many things to see, not only because the island is large but because it is very diverse and was the cradle of a great civilization. In recent years, tourism has increased significantly, and the beaches between Iraklio and Aghios Nikolaos are literally taken by storm. However, Crete offers much more than its sea, and below I list at least the main attractions.

Iraklio
The capital of the island, composed of houses stacked next to each other, where the Turkish domination is visible. Some beautiful spots are Fountain Square, Liberty Square, and the Turkish market district. The city is surrounded by mighty walls and has a Venetian sea fortress.

Archaeological Museum of Iraklio
A beautiful museum of Minoan-Cretan art, the finest in the world of its kind. You can admire many objects from this civilization unearthed during various excavations on the island: vases, animal-headed containers, gold and precious stone jewelry, and beautiful frescoes.

Knossos
Located just outside Iraklio, it is the main archaeological site on the island. Knossos was the capital of the Minoan civilization, and its ruins are among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Among them is the famous and gigantic Labyrinth or Palace of Minos with a thousand rooms arranged around a courtyard. The palace's architecture is characterized by a variety of interconnected rooms: rooms, corridors, stairs, niches, basements, loggias, crypts, and dark corners or skylights.
According to legend, the Labyrinth, built by Daedalus, housed the Minotaur, a monster half-man and half-bull, later killed by Theseus with the help of Ariadne, who provided him with a thread to find his way back inside the palace. Since the secret of the Labyrinth had been violated, Minos punished Daedalus by imprisoning him with his son Icarus. The two managed to escape by flight, building wings of feathers and wax. However, during the flight, Icarus got too close to the sun, causing the wax on his wings to melt, and he fell into the sea, which was then named the Icarian Sea and later the Aegean Sea.

Gortyna
An important archaeological center of the city rivaling Knossos, located in the central-southern part of the island.

Phaistos
Located in the Messara Plain (central-south), it is an archaeological site set in a remarkable landscape. The palace of Phaistos dominated the fertile plain and was second only to that of Minos.

Malia
A Minoan archaeological center located on the coast east of Iraklio. It included a palace identical to that of Minos, but after its destruction, it was never rebuilt.

Lassithi
A spectacular plateau where thousands of windmills turn in the area where the enormous cave of Dikteon is located, where according to mythology, Zeus was raised.

Elounda
A seaside resort with a bay that contains the ruins of the ancient city of Olous underwater. The remains can be seen at the bottom of the sea. Elounda has one of the largest Venetian fortresses on the island. In front of it is the island of Spinalonga, once connected to Crete by an isthmus that later collapsed.

Aghios Nikolaos
Perhaps the most famous tourist center of Crete, picturesque and an excellent starting point for excursions on the island. In addition to the tourist and commercial port, it also has a beautiful inner harbor.

Sitia
A picturesque port dominated by a beautiful Venetian fortress with an interesting archaeological museum.

Zakros
Located at the far eastern part of the island, it was an active commercial center of the Minoan civilization, which was rapidly destroyed during the volcanic eruption of Santorini. On that occasion, the inhabitants did not have time to take their possessions and valuables with them, which remained buried and are now being unearthed during excavations.

Palm Grove of Vai
A very famous and beautiful beach with colorful sea and no less than 5000 palm trees framing it.

Hania
A charming and picturesque city with a beautiful port and a small old town in a somewhat Venetian and somewhat Turkish style, where you can stroll among the artisans' shops and market stalls of the cross-shaped covered market. The Maritime Museum and the church of Aghios Nikolaos, which has both a bell tower and a minaret, are interesting. In the area, you can visit the monastery of Aghia Triada and the complex of Moni Gouverneto, the fortified monastery of Moni Gonias, or the Moni Chrisoskatilisas, perched on the sea towards the famous beach of Elafonissi.

Gorges of Nimbros and Samaria
Spectacular gorges, in some points only three meters wide, in the hinterland of Hania.

Frangokastelo
A small port on the southwest of the island with a large and impressive very well-preserved Venetian fortress.

Rethimno
A beautiful town with white houses and winding streets by the sea with a Venetian fortress, perfect for watching the sunset. The Historical and Folklore Museum is also lovely. Nearby, towards Frangokastelo, you can see the impressive gorges of Kortaliotiko or the most famous fortified monastery in Crete, called Moni Arkadi, which was one of the main centers of Greek resistance against the Turks.

Axos and Anogia
Located southeast of Rethimno, they are two villages renowned for their weaving and embroidery workshops.

Cave of Melidoni
A fascinating cave with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Beach of Matala
A place frequented by the hippie communities in the 60s and still considered a perfect place for this pacifist culture: evocative, remote, wild, and alternative. The hippies, especially in the past, had settled inside a series of natural caves by the sea and lived there in complete freedom. Now it is much rarer to encounter them, and the caves are visitable for a fee but no longer usable as shelters.

Diving
Possibilities for diving in various underwater environments, rich in colorful fish, in very clear waters, perhaps searching for the wreck of a German plane or fascinating caves.

Climbing
Various routes and cliffs for climbing enthusiasts, especially in the southern part of the island.

Smaller islands
Around Crete, there are several interesting islets worth a day boat trip, such as Spinalonga (with its beautiful Venetian fortress), Gramvousa (with its beautiful sandy beaches), Chrissi (with its beautiful sea and splendid sandy beaches), Dia (with its protected flora and fauna), and Koufonissi (with its numerous and beautiful beaches with blue sea).

Folk Festivals
Various folk festivals of the islanders, from carnival to village fairs. In particular, I highlight the "Wine Festival" in July in Iraklio and Rethimno.

Entertainment
The places most frequented by young people, especially for nightlife, are Iraklio, Chersonissos, Malia, Hania, and Platanias.