Things to Do in Crete

Once the glorious capital of Minoan Crete and one of the most powerful cities in the eastern Mediterranean, ancient Knossos is a place steeped in legend. Today, it’s Crete’s largest and most important archaeological site, crowned by the hilltop Palace of Knossos—built around 2000 BC—and revealing a fascinating history that stretches all the way back to the earliest European civilizations.

The Basics
The Palace of Knossos is one of the most popular attractions in Crete, but its immense size, little signage, and complex history means it’s worth visiting with a local guide. The best way to explore is on a guided walking tour, taking in highlights of the Minoan palace such as the Central Court, the Throne Room, the Tripartite Shrine, the Grand Staircase, and the Queen’s Hall.

• Choose between a standard entrance ticket or a combined ticket that includes access to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
• Plan to spend around two hours at the archaeological site, excluding wait times.
• Ticket lines can be long in peak season—arrive early or book a skip-the-line tour to maximize your time.
• Knossos Palace provides little shade, so you should bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water if visiting in the summer months.
• Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven ground.
• Many parts of the archaeological site are wheelchair accessible; entrance is free for visitors with disabilities.

How to Get to the Palace of Knossos
Knossos is located 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Heraklion in the north of Crete and is reachable by public transport and taxi from the city. Most visitors opt for a tour from either Heraklion or Rethimno (just over an hour’s drive away).

When to Get There
Knossos is open all year round, but the most popular months to visit are July and August. The site can get extremely busy, so arrive before opening at 8am or after 3pm if you want to avoid the crowds. Expect temperatures of up to 85°F (30°C) in midsummer.

Greek Mythology at Knossos Palace
Historic facts and Greek mythology intertwine at Knossos. While King Minos was believed to have been a real figure, the notorious Minotaur—the half-man, half-bull imprisoned in the palace’s labyrinth—and his creators, Daidalos and Ikaros, are characters of Greek legend.

It might not be as famous as the Palace of Knossos, but in its day Malia was a thriving Minoan city with an impressive palace complex.

These days, however, Malia is perhaps better known for the resorts and Ibiza-style nightlife of the site’s neighboring Malia town.

The seafront palace and town were destroyed by the earthquake that also toppled Knossos, and the ruins you can see on a tour of the site today were built following the disaster.

Walking around the compact site you’ll see the central courtyard of the palace, its ceremonial steps, storage rooms and workshops. One of the excavations reveals an impressive residence with a luxurious bath.

Some of the ancient sculptures and relics unearthed from Malia have been relocated to Heraklion’s archaeological museum. Perhaps the most beautiful and best known is the lovely pendant of golden bees holding drops of honey.

The Historical Museum of Crete collects and preserves valuable archaeological, ethnographic and historical material from Crete's more recent past.

The A.G. Kalokerinos Room features a 4 x 4 meter model of the city of Chandax (Heraklion) in the mid-17th century, at the peak of its power in Venetian times. The Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Collection offers a fascinating display of art via frescoes, costumes, liturgical vessels, and jewelry. Don't miss the two only El Greco paintings in Crete - View of Mt Sinai and the Monastery of St Catherine (1570) and the newer addition, Baptism of Christ.

Modern and contemporary Cretan history is divided into four chronological phases and permanent exhibitions, including Turkish Rule, the Union of Crete with Greece, Interwar Years, and World War II. There are a variety of materials on display such as flags, banners, weapons, furniture, uniforms, and paintings. You can also interact with some of the exhibits through audiovisual means. Other rooms contain fragments of 13th and 14th-century frescoes, coins, jewelry, liturgical ornaments and vestments, and medieval pottery.

The recreated study of author Nikos Kazantzakis, which overviews his life, is a highlight. The main library collects rare editions, periodicals, historical archives and photographic material. For insight into Cretan life, the Ethnographic Collection is a must-see

Situated at the end of the Heraklion’s inner harbor near the Old Harbor jetty is the Koules Fortress. Koules is the Turkish name for the fortress but the Venetians dubbed it the Rocco al Mare and the Castello del Molo in the 16th Century. It was a defensive mechanism, which stopped the Turks for 22 years and then became a Turkish prison for Cretan rebels. The harbor is now a drop off point for commercial and passenger ferries; the inner harbor is a concrete maze of apartments that now forms modern Heraklion.

The exterior is impressive, decorated with three stone lions of St. Mark (a symbol of Venetian imperialism), as well as embankments and cannonballs that will transport you to another century. Inside, you can find art exhibitions. Music and theatrical events are held on the upper level. Make sure to make your way to top for impressive views of the harbor. A thorough visit should take about an hour.

Lion Square is a central hub for both tourists and locals. It is a great place to people-watch, have a pastry at one of the many cafes or check out the historic Morosini Fountain. During the period of Arab rule (9th-10th century AD), the square was the largest slave market in the Eastern Mediterranean. In Venetian times (13th-17th century), Lion Square was the site of the Palace of the Venetian Duke of Crete and is also known as the Ducal Palace, where the Duke and his two councilors decided the fate of Heraklion and its people. The Ducal Palace was a two-story building with verandas and vaulted areas on the ground floor which were rented out as shops on the north side of the square. Now, it is home to many souvlaki shops where late night revelers convene.

Morosini Fountain, built in 1628, was commissioned by Francesco Morosini while he was governor of Crete. It is one of the most famous surviving monuments given from the Venetians. In practical terms, the fountain --which spurts water from four lions into eight marble troughs--offered a solution to supplying Heraklion with water at the time, providing 1,000 barrels of water a day. The lion is not connected to water but used a symbol of Venetian power.

The lobes of the fountain are decorated with scenes from Greek mythology carved in relief, mainly mythical water beings such as Tritons (son of mythical God Poseidon), dolphins and nymphs. At the center of each lobe were the coats of arms of the Doge, the Duke, the Councilors and Morosini himself.

Second in size and importance to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum houses the most magnificent collection of Minoan art and culture in the world. The museum's exhibition contains more than 15,000 artifacts from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,000 years, from the Neolithic era to Roman times.

As the Museum is still under renovation, its temporary exhibition is a curation of the most famous and representative items of the collection. Notable items include: the Prince of the Lilies' fresco, the Phaistos Disc, the snake goddesses from Knossos, the black stone bull’s head, the "Bull Leaping" and "La Parisienne" frescoes.

The various artifacts form a valuable record of the artistic, social and economic life of the island during the ancient period. You’ll find examples of pottery, jewelry, goldwork and metalwork (household utensils and weapons), and seal engraving - a miniature art where the Minoans excelled.