Activities |
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Crete |
The famed Minoan archaeological sites, particularly the palace of Knossos and Phaistos, are vast and can take a great deal of time and effort to fully explore and appreciate. There are numerous other sites of interest as well, and not all related to the Minoan era. Crete has experienced thousands of years of habitation and has a complicated and diverse heritage, including years of Roman, Venetian and Turkish rule, that have all left their mark.
As one experienced traveller reportedly said: 'there is lots to see on Crete, and a lot not to see.' The best of Crete for those who do not want an in-and-out package style visit can be found on the east and west tips of the island, areas that have retained most of the island's traditions and natural beauty, as opposed to the northern coast that has been harshly overdeveloped. Gateway to the island is the large, modern city of Heraklion, which is anything but an island idyll, but a vital commercial centre.
Resorts
See our separate guides to the following Crete holiday resorts: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Malia, Rethymnon and Hania
Attractions
Crete Aquarium
Featuring a wonderful array of marine life, the Crete Aquarium features a fantastic variety of reptiles too, such as Loggerhead turtles, Balkan Green Lizards, Skinks, gheckos and snakes, guaranteed to keep the little ones captivated. Interesting fish such as scorpion fish, groupers eels, octopus and stingrays can be viewed too. A trip to the Crete Aquarium is a must for all families, especially those with young children.Address: Filikis Etirias 7, Limani Hersonissou; E-mail: jbmclaren@hotmail.com; Website: www.aquaworld-crete.com; Telephone: +30 28970 29125; Opening time: Open 1 April to 31 October daily 10am6pm. Last entry 5:15pm.; Admission: 6 (adults); 4 (children)
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
A visit to the Minoan palace at Knossos should be complemented with a visit to the wonderful Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. Thousands of artefacts depicting the intriguing Minoan culture are on display, from magnificent bull-headed drinking vessels to the mysterious Phaistos disk inscribed with undeciphered symbols.Address: Xanthoudidou Street, just off Plateia Eleftherias; E-mail: amh@culture.gr; Telephone: (2810) 279 086; Opening time: Daily 8:30am-8pm in summer; 8:30am-3pm in winter.; Admission: 4 (Concessions 2), free for under 19s.
Historical Museum of Crete
This museum deals with Crete's more modern history and highlights the islanders' long battle for independence from the early Christian times to the present day. Exhibits include some Cretan folk art, and the Medieval and Renaissance collection contains the only painting on Crete by the island's famous painter El Greco, The Landscape of God-trodden Mount Sinai. Another world-renowned Cretan, Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek, is also remembered in the museum, which houses a recreation of his study.Address: 7 Lysimahou Kalokerinou; E-mail: info@historical-museum.gr; Website: www.historical-museum.gr; Telephone: (2810) 283 219; Opening time: April to October, Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm; November to March, Monday to Saturday 9am-3:30pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays.; Admission: 5 (adults), 3 (concessions)
Lido Water Park
A must for all families on vacation in Kos, especially with young children, Lido Waterpark gives provides wonderful games, activities, sun, fun and more. Featuring water rides, slides such as the Gigantic wave pool, the Kamikaze, Multi lane and the Black Hole. There is a bar and restaurant for food and drinks and snacks.Address: Mastichari; E-mail: atlankos@otenet.gr; Website: www.lidowaterpark.com; Telephone: +30 22420 59241
Limnoupolis Water Park
A fantastic place to take the kids during the heat of summer while on holiday in Crete, the Limnoupolis Water Park offers a fantastic rides, slides, wave pools and more for children of all ages to enjoy. Those wanting a more relaxing experience can lay back and enjoy the Lazy River or Jacuzzi.Address: Chania; E-mail: Info@limnoupolis.gr; Website: www.limnoupolis.gr; Telephone: +30 28210 33246; Opening time: Open daily 10am6pm.; Admission: 13. Children under 5 free.
The Palace of Knossos
The Minoan palace at Knossos, covering an area of 215,278 square feet (20,000 sq metres), is one of the world's greatest sightseeing experiences. It consists of four wings, arranged around a rectangular central court. The palace originally had many storeys, was built of ashlar blocks and had walls decorated with splendid frescoes. British archaeologist, Arthur Evans, who excavated most of the labyrinthine Knossos site, has painstakingly restored some sections of the palace. The remains now visible are actually not those of the original palace, which was built around 2,000 BC and destroyed by an earthquake about 1,700 BC. A subsequent more complex palace was then constructed. The palace was first unearthed in 1878 by a Cretan merchant and antiquarian, but was not systematically excavated until 1900. The Knossos site is about three miles (5km) south of Heraklion.Address: Knosos, Iraklio; E-mail: protocol@kgepka.culture.gr; Telephone: +30 2810 231940; Opening time: Daily 8:30am-8pm (April to October); weekdays 8:30am-5pm, weekends 8:30am-3pm (October to March).; Admission: 6 (Concessions 3), free for under 19s.
Excursions
Gortyna
The remains of Gortyna to the south of Heraklion tell a later tale than that of the other archaeological sites in Crete, particularly the important inscribed stones, known as the Gortyn Law Code, dating back to the 5th century BC: a complete code of law based on Minoan tradition. The Code stones are still preserved and exhibited in the north round wall of the Roman Odeon at the Gortyna site (although of course the theatre was built much later in the 1st century). Other highlights at Gortyna (which was capital of Roman Crete and Cyrene) include the Church of St Titus, where Christianity was first introduced to the island and the Temple of Apollo Pythios, dating from 700 BC.Address: Aghioi Deka; Telephone: 289 203 1144; Opening time: Daily 8pm-7:30pm; Admission: 4, under 19s free.
Monastery of Arkαdhi
Situated about 14 miles (23km) south of Rethymnon, the Monastery of Arkádhi is something of a national Cretan shrine. During the 1866 rebellion against the Turks the monastery became a refuge for Cretan insurgents and their families. They were surrounded by the Turks and after two days of fighting, ignited the gunpowder storeroom, which killed hundreds of both Turks and Cretans. The tragedy brought international recognition to the cause for Cretan independence. An ossuary displays the skulls of many of the victims and it is possible to see the roofless room where the explosion took place, as well as the surviving 16th-century church that is one of the loveliest Venetian buildings on the island. There is also a small museum.Address: 14 miles (23km) south of Rethymnon; Transport: The monastery is easy to reach by public bus.; Opening time: Daily 8am-1:30pm and 3:30pm-8pm.; Admission: 1.45 (museum)
Phaistos
South of Heraklion lies Crete's second most important Minoan archaeological site, the Palace complex of Phaistos, considered by many to be a finer example of Minoan architecture than Knossos. The west propylon, the monumental entranceway to the palace, is particularly impressive, and the ceremonial staircase and great court are breathtaking. Like Knossos the site has actually been built on twice, with the original palace, built about 2,000 BC, having been destroyed by fire and replaced with a new palace around 300 years later.Address: 38 miles (61km) south of Heraklion; Opening time: November to March 8:30am-3pm; April to October, Monday 1pm-7pm, Tuesday to Friday 8am-7:30pm.
The Samaria Gorge
It is an arduous trip but well worth it to see one of the great natural wonders of Europe, the Samaria Gorge in the White Mountains in western Crete. From the top of the gorge it is a 10-mile (16km) hike through the dramatic geological formations and wildflower-strewn cliffsides of the National Park. From the village of Agia Roumeli at the end of the gorge hikers board boats to sail to Khora Sfakion or Paleohora where there are buses back to Haniá, Rethymnon or Heraklion.Transport: There are public buses to Omalos near the top of the gorge. Organised tours are also available; Opening time: The gorge is open 6am-3pm, generally from May to October (depending on weather conditions).; Admission: 5 to enter the park; free for children under 15; 2.50 for students.