From the palace of Minoas to the cool gorge
Many people know its existence, its history and have visited it. It is Knossos, the house of Minoas. It is known to everyone living in Crete or visiting it....
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Cave of Agia Sophia
Location: 50 km from Chania in the village of Topolia Chapel of Agia Sophia Inside the cave is a charming chapel dedicated to Saint Sophia Natural Decor: The…
Chania Caves
Lake of Agia
Location Lake Agia is located 9 km west of Chania Size It covers an area of 450 acres Origin The lake is artificial and named after the nearby village…
Chania Lakes
Agia Roumeli
Location 58 km south of Chania Natural Environment Exit of the Samaria Gorge Access By hiking or sea transport Beaches Main beach split…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
10. Omalos - Agia Roumeli
The tenth route of the E4 European long distance Path is about 18 kilometers and lasts 6 hours and 30 minutes. The time it has to be followed is from May to October(due…
Chania E4
9. Sougia - Agia Eirini - Omalos
The ninth route of E4 European Long Distance Path is 13,5 kilometers and takes 7 hours and 30 minutes to follow it. The best season of the time to follow it is…
Chania E4
6. Agia Roumeli - Loutro
The sixth route of the E4 European long distance path is about 13 kilometers and lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes. The best time to take it is the whole year and, especially…
Chania E4
5. Sougia - Agia Roumeli
The fifth route of the E4 European Long Distance Path in Crete is 20 kilometers long and lasts 8 to 9 hours. You should follow it from April to September and the…
Chania E4
Agia Galini
Agia Galini is a very picturesque coastal settlement, 60 kilometers from Rethimno and about 70 kilometers from Heraclion. It “hangs” over the beautiful small port…
Rethimno Beaches Towns and villages
Cave Chapel of Panagia at Vithano
Location 75 km from Heraklion, 13 km from Lentas Access Dirt road from Krotos village, 4 km to the hill, 10-minute walk to the church Tradition Miraculous…
Heraklion Beaches Canyons
Agia Marina of Voni monastery
The female monastery of Agia Marina is 500 meters from the Voni village, in a large valley of many vineyards. A large number of people visits the monastery every…
Heraklion Monasteries
Agia Pelagia
Location 20 km west of Heraklion Nature and landscape Lush vegetation, beaches with crystal-clear waters Beaches Main beach, Filakes, Kladissos,…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Agia Eirini
Just a few kilometers north of Heraklion, only 8 km from the city center, lies the picturesque area of Agia Irini, a green haven of peace, perfect for a quick escape…
Heraklion Forest Monasteries Towns and villages
Panagia
Location 60 km south of Heraklion, near Zaros Altitude 380 meters Attractions Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary History Recorded since…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Faragiani kefala
A small but very beautiful forest is on the hill called Faragiani Kefala, in the Faragiana village, very close to the Sokaras settlement of the municipality of…
Heraklion Forest
Monastery of Panagia Kardiotissa
The old monastery of Panagia Kardiotissa is in a magnificent and verdant area. Some kilometers before the village of Agios Thomas (coming from Heraclion), in the…
Heraklion Monasteries
Agia Varvara
Agia Varvara, of the Gortyna municipality, is the longest village in Crete. The village is built along the road of Heraclion to western Mesara. The distance between…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agia Fotia
Location 12 km from Ierapetra, 45 km from Agios Nikolaos Beach Fine pebbles, crystal-clear waters, Blue Flag awarded Natural Beauty Surrounded by…
Lasithi Beaches Towns and villages
Troumpa in Heraclion
Prostitutes, rebetes and mages were the residents of the Lakkos neighbourhood. In Lakos, there were weird feasts, hashish making and other illegal acts that could…
Crete Cretography
Kallergi Refuge
Location Southeast of the Omalos Plateau, at an altitude of 1,680 meters View Panoramic views of the Cretan and Libyan Seas, the Samaria Gorge, and Gavdos…
Chania Shelters
Aradena gorge
Location Aradena Gorge is located in Sfakia, Crete, and extends from the abandoned village of Aradena to the sea Length The gorge stretches over approximately…
Chania Canyons
Chrisoskalitissa monastery
Location 72 km southwest of Chania, overlooking the Libyan Sea Architecture A dazzling white monastery with fortress-like architecture perched on a 35-meter…
Chania Monasteries
Palaiochora
Location 70 km southwest of Chania, built on a peninsula between two bays Sights the Venetian fortress of Selino, the Museum of the Akrites of Europe…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
Loutro
Location 71 km south of Chania Access By foot or boat from Sfakia, Agia Roumeli, Sougia, Paleochora, Gavdos. History Connected to the ancient city…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
Samaria Gorge
Location 42 km south of Chania city Length 18 kilometers, with a hiking duration of 4-8 hours National Park Declared in 1962, part of the UNESCO…
Chania Canyons
Sfakia
Location 75 km southeast of Chania History Unsubdued by conquerors from the Arab period through the Turkish occupation Activities Hiking on the E4…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
8. Sougia - Koustogerako - Omalos
The eighth route of the E4 European Long Distance Path is about 24,5 kilometers and lasts 8 hours. It is better to follow it in spring or autumn, it is not a difficult…
Chania E4
2. Sfinari - Elafonisi
The second route of the E4 European long distance path of Crete is 32 kilometers and lasts about 8 hours. The ideal time to visit it is spring and autumn. There…
Chania E4
Martha
Location 54 km from Heraklion Population Approximately 180 residents Settlements Pera Martha (Evangelismos) and Pode Martha (Saint John the Theologian)…
Chania Towns and villages
Platis river
The Platis or Amarianos River is supplied from the Amari valley and ends to the eastern side of the coastal settlement of Agia Galini. Platis was thought as the…
Rethimno Rivers
Argyroupoli
Argyroupoli is one of the most beautiful villages of the Rethimno prefecture, on the hill between the springs of the Petre and Mousela Rivers after which the names…
Rethimno Towns and villages
Panormo
Panormo is a traditional, coastal settlement of the Milopotamos municipality and the Rethimno prefecture. The picturesque village is about 22 kilometers from Rethimno…
Rethimno Beaches Towns and villages
Mpali
Mpali in the Rethimno prefecture is one of the most beautiful tourist places of the northern beaches of Crete. The coastal settlement is 32 kilometers from Rethimno…
Rethimno Beaches Towns and villages
Apostoloi
The mountain and picturesque village of Apostoloi is about 30 kilometers from Rethimno. It falls under the Amari municipality of the Rethimno prefecture and the…
Rethimno Towns and villages
Episkopi
Location 18 km from Heraklion Museums Argyraion War Ethnological Museum Sights G. Panagiotakis Municipal Park Venetian Monuments The Tower and…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Achlada
Location 23 km northwest of Heraklion Residents Around 120 people History Mentioned in Venetian censuses as the fief of the Modinos brothers…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Charakas
Location 50 km south of Heraklion, at the foot of the Asterousia Mountains Population 1,000 residents (2011 census) Landmark The "Charaki" rock with…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Knosano gorge
Location Starts from Ano Archanes and ends near Knossos, Crete Length Approximately 6 km Main Points Sylamiano Gorge (accessible by car), Kato Mylos,…
Heraklion Canyons
Voni
Location Located in the Minoa Pediada municipality, 30 km from Heraklion Altitude 330 meters Population Around 600 Religious tourism Known for…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Thrapsano
Location 30 km southeast of Heraklion Altitude 340 meters Population Around 1500 Τourism metropolitan center of pottery in Crete History …
Heraklion Towns and villages
Avli
Location 35 km from Heraklion, in the municipality of Minoa Pediada Elevation Built on a hill near the Avliotiko River Inhabitants Approximately…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Ano Viannos
Location 38 km from Ierapetra Altitude 560 m Attractions Agia Moni Monastery, churches of Agia Pelagia, Agios Georgios Population 900…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Kato Archanes
Location 15 km from Heraklion Altitude 360 m. Activities Hiking on the E4 trail, visit to the Museum of Cretan History Sights Archaeological site in Fourni, amazing…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Archanes
Location 16 km from Heraklion Αltitude 380 meters Awards "Integrated Sustainable Settlement Development" Award (2000), Gold Environmental Award…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Lygaria
Location 20 km west of Heraklion, 2 km from Agia Pelagia Beach Turquoise waters, coarse sand, sheltered from winds Facilities Sunbeds, umbrellas,…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Psaromoura
Location 22km northwest of Heraklion, near Agia Pelagia Beach Type Pebbly beach, crystal-clear waters, sheltered from winds Facilities Sunbeds, umbrellas,…
Heraklion Beaches
Tower of Kallergides
Location Rodia, Municipality of Malevizi Era First half of the 15th century Architecture A three-story Venetian structure with storage and luxury…
Heraklion Historical Sites
Pantanassa
Location 14th km of the Heraklion – Rethymno National Road Small Port Picturesque harbor with traditional taverns offering fresh seafood Beach A…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Heraklion
Every part of the capital of Crete, Heraclion, shows a different culture, every culture that flourished in there during the centuries. Every area travels you to…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Kaliviani monastery
Location 60 km on the Heraklion-Tympaki road Altitude 80 m. Central Church A three-aisled church dedicated to the Nativity, Annunciation, and Dormition…
Heraklion Monasteries
Treis Ekklisies
The Treis Ekklisies (i.e. three churches) coastal settlement is behind the imposing Asterousia Mountains in the end of the Ampas gorge. It is an area that makes…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Spiliotissa monastery
The picturesque Panagia Spiliotissa monastery is between Agios Vasileios and Choudetsi and 22 kilometers from Heraclion. In order to reach the monastery, you have…
Heraklion Monasteries
Agioi Deka
Agioi Deka is one of the most important villages in Mesara archaeologically and the ruins of the ancient city of Gortyna are there. The settlement is built on the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Siva
Siva is a village of the Heraclion municipality, 280 meters above the sea level. 260 people live in the settlement and their main occupations are olive crop and…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Paliani Monastery
The Paliani Monastery is near and under Venerato of the Heraclion municipality and is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. The female monastery is from the First…
Heraklion Monasteries
Pirgou
The beautiful and traditional buildings and the two flour-mills in Kazola are worth visiting in Pirgou. Pirgou is 20 kilometers from Heraclion where, administratively,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Petrokefalo
“… on the lap of the mountain and hidden from the sun is the large village of Petrokefalo” wrote N. Kazantzakis, in his book, “Kapetan Michalis”. Petrokefalo is…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Pentamodi
Pentamodi is a quiet and picturesque village in the valley of the Gazanos River, 17 kilometers from Heraclion. Administratively, the village is under the extended…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Kato Asites
Kato Asites is a beautiful, mountain village on the foot of the Psiloreitis Mountain, 450 meters above the sea level. The distance of the village to Heraclion is…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Agios Georgios Gorgoleimon
The Monastery of Agios Georgios Gorgoleimon is on the foot of the Koudouni Mountain, 500 meters above the sea level, near the Kato Asites settlement. The monastery…
Heraklion Monasteries
Moni
The small, picturesque settlement of Moni is about 17 kilometers from Heraclion, on the 1st kilometer of the Tilisos-Anogeia road. Moni is a village of the Malevizi…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Skourvoula
Skourvoula of the Festos municipality is built on the southern foot of Sanidas Mountain, 350 meters above the sea level, with a panoramic view of the fertile Mesara…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Sivas
Sivas is one of the most beautiful villages in the Festos municipality, in the south-west side of Mesara plain. The settlement is built 110 meters above the sea…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Platia Peramata
Platia Peramata is a small settlement in the middle of the dirt road that connects Kaloi Limenes with Lentas. The settlement is 70 kilometers from Heraklion. A…
Heraklion Towns and villages Beaches
Petrokefali
Petrokefali of the Festos municipality is a beautiful village with recently renovated rock houses and 59 kilometers from Heraclion. There are many coffee houses…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Moires
Moires is the seat of the Festos municipality. It is a large town of the former Kainourio district, 53 kilometers from Heraklion and built in the Mesara plain,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Matala
The village of hippies, Matala, is approximately 70 kilometers in the south of Heraclion and is one of the most famous coastal settlements of the southern Crete.…
Heraklion Towns and villages Beaches
Magarikari
The small village of Magarikari is on the western foot of Psiloreitis. Magarikari is built 450 meters above the sea level and, from there, you can admire the Kato…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Towers of Kourmoulides
The two Towers of Kourmoulides are in Kouses of Festos municipality. The Towers belonged to the Kourmoulis family who were Crypto- Christians and helped Christians…
Heraklion Historical Sites
Kouses
Kouses is a historical village of the former Kainourio district and of the Festos municipality. The village is on the northern foot of the Pirgos hummock of the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Kastelli
Kastelli, in the former district of Kainourrgio, in the Festos municipality, is in the southern foot of Psiloreitis, very close to the fortress of Castel Nuovo.…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Varsamoneri
The monastery of Varsamoneri is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, as it is from the first years of the Venetian occupation. The temple (with 3 aisles) dedicated…
Heraklion Monasteries
Water mill in Zaros
The restored water mill of Mix. Fragiadakis is in Zaros on the road that starts from the Votomos man-made lake. It has declared a preserved historical monument…
Heraklion Culture Museums
Zaros
The beautiful and interesting town of Zaros is built 45 kilometers from Heraclion and is included in the Festos municipality. It is in the southern foot of the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Voroi
A very traditional and of high cultural importance village, Voroi, is 2-3 kilometers from Festos in the fertile plain of Mesara. Administratively Voroi falls under…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Sternes
Sternes is a village of the Gortyna municipality, 55 kilometers from Heraclion. The settlement is built on the northern foot of the Asterousia Mountain, 310 meters…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Vakiotes
A rock appears between olive trees in the Sokara area and some wine presses and rooms are carved on it. They were used as safe-keeping places and this is the archaeological…
Heraklion Archaeological Areas
Sokaras
The picturesque village of Sokaras is 50 kilometers from Heraclion between olive trees and fertile vineyards and garden produce of the plain of Mesara. Places of…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Prinias
Prinias is a village of a high archaeological importance in Crete and one of the most beautiful settlements of the prefecture of Heraclion. It is 25 kilometers…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Panasos
Panasos is a small, picturesque village of Gortyna municipality. It is 35 kilometers from Heraclion and 450 meters above the sea level. The beautiful settlement…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Nivritos
“I don’t believe that there is any village like Nivritos in a place full of flowers and near mountains”. The picturesque village is on the foot of the Ampelakia…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Megali Vrisi
Megali Vrisi is about 30 kilometers from Heraclion, in the north side of the basin of the Monafatsi district. The settlement is built amphitheatrically, 620 meters…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Loures
Loures, the village of the Gortyna municipality, is in the northern edge of the Mesara plain, 54 kilometers from Heraclion. Loures are 270 meters above the sea…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Kapetaniana
“In Kapetaniana, whoever believes in God, he talks to Him”, Thanos Mikroutsikos. A heaven on Earth is in the holly hill of Kofina and stares the Libyan sea. Kapetaniana…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Koudoumas
The monastery of Koudoumas is very well protected by the imposing Asterousia Mountains, in the south of the cape of Martelos, and by the Libyan sea in the south.…
Heraklion Monasteries
Dionisi
Dionisi is a small, picturesque village of the Gortyna municipality and 57 kilometers from Heraclion. The settlement is built on the northern foot of Asterousia…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Gergeri
Gergeri is a large village in the southern foot of Psiloreitis and is built between impressive and steep cliffs. The wonderful forest of Rouvas is above the village.…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Vagionia
On the foot of the Asterousia mountains, from where the Xilvestra torrent of the Geropotamos tributary is, the village of the Gortyna municipality, Vagionia…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Asimi
Asimi is in the Gortyna municipality and a modern town that serves the commercial, banking and other needs of the residents of the area. It is on the watershed…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Ano Akria
Ano Akria is a village of the Gortyna municipality. The settlement is 40 kilometers from Heraclion and built on the semi- mountainous area of the hummock of the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agios Thomas
Agios Thomas is a place with an imposing landscape, dense vegetation and a magnificent view. The carved winepresses, the Roman tombs, the Melissa fortress, the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Tefeli
Tefeli is about 12 kilometers from Pirgos and, administratively, it comes under the Archanes- Asterousia municipality. Aposelemi and Pirathi fall under the local…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Peza
Peza of the Archanes- Asterousia municipality is famous for their agricultural tradition. Peza is built between many vineyards and olive trees, is 17 kilometers…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Mirtia
“ The family of my father comes from a village two hours from Megalo Kastro and is called Varvari “ Nikos Kazantzakis wrote in his book “Anafora ston Greko” and…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Metaxochori
The picturesque village of Metaxochori is built in the foot of a hill, 420 meters above the sea and 34 metres from Heraclion. The village belongs to the Archanes-Asterousia…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Mesochorio
The large village of Mesochorio is in the foot of the Asphentilias hummock in the Asterousia mountains. The settlement is about 55 kilometers from Heraclion. The…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Fortress Castello di Beto
The fortress Castello di Beto stands as a guard on the top of the Kastellos hillock, east of the Melesses settlement. The ruins of the medieval fortress are preserved…
Heraklion Historical Sites
The beautiful village of Melesses in the Archanes-Asterousia municipality gives a colorful touch from the mediaeval pattern. Nature has given the most beautiful…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Maridaki
The coastal settlement of Maridaki is about 65 kilometers from Heraclion, behind the Asterousia Mountains. The small village is built at the end of the imposing…
Heraklion Towns and villages Beaches
Ligortinos
Ligortinos is a traditional village which is built 380 meters above the sea level. The beautiful view with the tiled alleys and the magnificent monuments, like…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Agios Georgios Epanosifis
The male monastery of Agios Georgios Epanosifis is one of the most important monasteries in Crete for its spiritual and social offer. The monastery is 30 kilometers…
Heraklion Monasteries
Ethia
One of the most beautiful and traditional Cretan villages of Crete is Ethia in the Archanes-Asterousia Municipality. The village is about 55 kilometers from Heraclion,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Astritsi
In Kato Vrisi, in Astritsi, someone can find a forgotten part of the paradise. Administratively, Astritsi belongs to the Archanes- Asterousia Municipality,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Astraki
Astraki is famous for its beautiful gorge that goes by the same name and it starts from there and also for the old Turkish quarter. The village is from the 12th…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Alagni
Alagni is a village in the Archanes- Asterousia Municipality and is closely connected to mythology, history and tradition. Alagni is 25 kilometers from Heraclion,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agies Paraskies
Agies Paraskies is built on a 360-meter hummock with a magnificent view. It is 20 kilometers in the south east of Heraclion and, administratively belongs to the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Ziros
Location Situated at the eastern edge of the Ziros Plateau, 31 km from Sitia Settlements Includes Agia Irini, Agrilia, Kalo Chorio, Lamnoni, Xerokampos,…
Lasithi Towns and villages
Humeriako
Location 12 km from Agios Nikolaos, 3 km from Neapolis Population 174 residents (2011) History Inhabited since the Late Minoan era, an important…
Lasithi Towns and villages
Toplou monastery
The Toplou Monastery, one of the largest and most important monasteries in Crete, is in the Kavo Sidero Cape, 10 kilometers in the east of Sitia and 6 kilometers…
Lasithi Monasteries
Makris Gialos
Makris Gialos is a small coastal settlement 24 kilometers in the east of Ierapetra, 35 kilometers in the west of Siteia and 60 kilometers from Agios Nikolaos. Makris…
Lasithi Archaeological Areas Beaches Towns and villages
Ierapetra
The awarded city for its wonderful beaches, Ierapetra, is the unique city in the southern Crete and the last city in the southern end of Europe. Ierapetra is about…
