Palaces

Knossos Palace is located at 5 km east of Heraklion, the capital of the island. The first palace of Knossos was built around 1900 BC, but 200 years later it was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt after that. Knossos Palace was the capital of the Minoan Kingdom and the administrative, economic and religious centre of the region.       
The ruins tourists can visit here include the Palace of Minos, the homes of the officials and priests who surrounded him (Little Palace, Caravanserai, House of the Frescoes etc), the homes of ordinary people ... more

Museums and Archaeological Sites

• The Archaeological Museum housed in the Venetian church of San Fransesco. The museum’s exhibits from Western Crete and other areas date from the Neolithic to the Roman era and include idols, statues, inscriptions, weapons, pottery, coins and jewelry.
• The Historical Archives of Crete exhibit a rich collection of materials related to the history of the island. The Historical Archives of Crete are among the largest ... more

Churches and Monasteries

• The chapel of Agii Anargiri with Byzantine frescoes;
• The Russo-Byzantine church of Agia Magdalini;
• The Monastery of Agia Triada (Tzangarol), at Akrotiri, built in 1632;
• The Monastery of the Angels of Gouvernetou, near Agia Triada, founded in 1548, in the Renaissance style;
• The Gonia Monastery (24 km west of Chania) ... more

Traditional cuisine

When visiting Crete tourists have to try some of the island’s traditional dishes. Crete is well known for its Mediterranean cuisine, dominated by the local products (fish, olive oil, honey and cheese). Restaurants on the island offer all sorts of Greek and Cretan traditional dishes:
Starters
• Tzatziki (probably the most famous dish in Greece, made with yoghurt, garlic and cucumber);
• Tyropithakia (a sort of pie filled with the traditional Feta cheese);
• Numbulo (a particular ham that you can find only in Kerkyra island ... more