Best 31 Castle & palace activities on Crete Island

Hop in a Land Rover 4×4 vehicle for a full-day safari adventure and learn about Cretan traditions while indulging in delicious food. Tour the paradisical countryside and swim in the clear water of the South Cretan Sea. Climb to an altitude of 1,100 meters and experience the quietness of the White Mountains and Cretan dances in a fascinating landscape. Keep an eye out for vultures that will take your breath away with their imposing appearance. Visit an old village with a Byzantine Church and a café stocked with Cretan products, including herbs, raki, and honey. See a castle and swim in the pristine waters of the South Cretan Sea before heading to a tavern to try traditional dishes. Discover the secrets of Creten olive oil at an old factory and learn how to identify various grades of olive oil.

Set out on a self-driving quad safari and explore the Cretan countryside with a guided tour with hotel transfers from Malia, Heraklion, Sisi, and surrounding spots. Drive to Milatos, featuring rock-hewn caves and a little beach. Visit an olive oil factory, and discover the Palace of Malia. Before starting your quad tour experience, get acquainted with your ATV vehicle, including lessons for beginners, by an instructor. Begin by going uphill on off-road terrain to reach your first stop, the Chapel of the Prophet Elias, where you will be greeted by panoramic views of the surroundings. Descending through this lush place, hit an off-road route between the vineyards and olive groves to explore Cretan nature in all its glory. Stop at an olive oil factory to see how locals extract olive oil, followed by a brief tasting. Continue on the dirt roads to Milatos to explore a series of caves hewn into rocks, surrounded by mountains, rich flora, and fauna. This is your chance to collect some local herbs and be one with nature. After the hike on the path to Milatos Cave, head to Milatos Beach for a swim. Next, it’s time for a seaside safari tour through the narrow streets of the quaint fishing villages of Milatos and Sissi. Then, we’ll drive through impressive off road around the picturesque countryside, where the Malia Palace Archaeological Site once stood. Finally, unwind over lunch after a full day of adventure in Crete.

Explore the Labyrinth and Palace of Knossos. Skip the long ticket line upon arrival and you meet your own exclusive guide. This site is home to: the Minotaur, the oldest throne in Europe, elegant wall paintings that inspired art Nuevo works centuries later, huge clay earns, advanced draining systems, and quarters sunk into the earth. Together you will see the oldest civilization unfold before your eyes and you will be able to get the best out of your visit to this magnificent structure. Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, was an astonishing palace, built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, you will have the chance to see the original throne of Minos, the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, that were, once upon a time, bursting with Crete’s treasures. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city. The first palace of Knossos was erected soon after 2000 BC. In 1700 BC, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the Palace. A new palace was then immediately built and for more than 300 years it represented the pre-eminent center of power in Bronze Age Crete. The new palace was an imposing complex with important architectural innovations, splendid frescoes adorning the walls, hundreds of rooms distributed across four storeys, impressive storage areas, specialized workshops, and spacious courts hosting ceremonies and feasts.

Explore the oldest civilization in Europe on a full-day tour from Chania. Enjoy a guided tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, and wander through Heraklion Town. Begin your tour from your accommodation in Chania, and as your drive, learn about the myths of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur or the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. In Heraklion, head to the Palace of Knossos and explore the ruins. Next, visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and admire over 15,000 ancient Greek artifacts. Afterward, enjoy a walking tour of the town of Heraklion. Discover a Venetian fortress at the entrance of the harbor, gorgeous Neoclassical buildings and Byzantine churches.

Begin your journey of Knossos by meeting your guide at your hotel in Heraklion, where you will be greeted by your guide who will take care of you throughout the day.  Head straight to Knossos, where you will visit the ancient Minoan Palace, an important city in antiquity that supported continuous life from the Neolithic era to the 5th century. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the wise king Minos. Learn about the archeological site’s fascinating myths, including the famous labyrinth and the minotaur legend, and that of Daedalus and Icarus. Next, head into the Heraklion mainland, which is known for its vilana, kostifali, and vidiano indigenous Cretan grapes. Crete’s winemaking tradition dates all the way back to antiquity, and Cretan winemakers have consistently produced outstanding, award-winning wines. Taste some of these flavorful wines at a family-owned organic winery, where you’ll enjoy six different wines along with local nibbles. Next, tuck into a delicious local lunch in a cozy, traditional, family-owned tavern that serves home-grown and freshly made delicacies from farm to table. This is your chance to sample truly authentic Cretan cuisine. Then, explore a typical village in Archanes as you wander its narrow lanes, and discover a world concealed from time. Here, savor the local liqueur called raki before heading back to your accommodation in Heraklion.

Embark on a private day trip and leave Heraklion to explore the archeological site of the Palace of Knossos. Learn more about Cretan history at the site, take in the art and architecture, and relax while absorbing the local atmosphere and admiring the local villages. Journey through East Crete and admire the sights of the Lassithi Plateau and its forests and fertile land. Discover quaint villages, learn more about the local lifestyle, and see Cretan art and the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. Tuck in to delicious local food at an eatery recommended by your guide, and enjoy authentic Cretan food while on the tour. Amble in the footsteps of gods to the Cave of Zeus. Plunge into the mythical birthplace of the god Zeus sense the sanctity of this ancient site. Luxuriate in the eternal magnificence of the Minoan ruins and frescoes while in Knossos Palace. Succumb to the personalized service of a top history-archaeology guide and be stimulated by eclectic information and a stress-free pace in all archaeological areas.

We have designed this unforgettable trip to submerge you into an authentic way of life in one of the island’s most beautiful regions while gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between history, stunning escapes, gastronomy, and the authentic Cretan local lifestyle. You will also visit the world-famous Palace of Knossos, where your expert guide will ensure skip-the-line access to all archaeological areas, key pieces of information, and extra-personalized attention. Then, from the history and cultural experience, you will be immersed in another time wandering the unspoiled Cretan landscape along with authentic layers of flavors, wines, and village life of the island of Crete. Enjoy personal pick-up and drop-off with a premium vehicle at your full-day disposal, like a true VIP

You will begin your day by visiting the most important archaeological site on Crete and the second most visited archaeological site of the country, the Minoan palace of Knossos and the mythical Labyrinth of Homer. You will be visiting an amazing area which consists of 22,000 square meters. A prehistoric “city”, this is the place where the oldest European civilization started and flourished some 5,000 years ago. Following this, in the center of Heraklion Town, you will visit the biggest Archaeological collection of artifacts on Crete. You will explore these pre-hellenic artifacts, focusing on the Minoan period and going deeper into its significance and development throughout time.

Semi-private, shared tour. With this tour option, we provide shuttle from Heraklion city center (in front of Astoria Capsis hotel) or Heraklion port (from the passenger station). Use the same ticket to enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion later. Join a guided tour of Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, once an astonishing palace built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city. As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, get the chance to see the original throne of ‘’Minos”, the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, Crete’s treasures pantries, and the water-management systems. The first palace of Knossos was erected soon after 2000 BC. In 1700 BC, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the Palace. A new palace was built immediately, the most monumental of all, and for over 300 years it represented the pre-eminent center of power in Bronze Age Crete. The new palace was an imposing complex with important architectural innovations, splendid frescoes adorning the walls, hundreds of rooms distributed in four storeys, impressive storage areas, specialized workshops, and spacious courts hosting ceremonies and feasts. Learn how during the last decades of the 14th century BC, a series of earthquakes led to the final destruction of the palace.

Start your day visiting the most important archaeological site on Crete and the second-most visited archaeological site in Greece, the Minoan palace of Knossos. Explore the sprawling 5-acre site as you traipse through the mythical Labyrinth of Homer. Take in priceless historical insight from your personal tour guide into the prehistoric settlement, where the oldest European civilization started and flourished some 5000 years ago. Afterwards, you’ll set off on a sightseeing tour of Herklion, Crete’s capital. Wander through the port town, focusing on the unique Venetian monuments such as the Venetian fountain of Morosini, The Basilica of St. Marc, The Venetian Loggia, St. Titos church, the Venetian Port, and more. Marvel at the ancient city walls and the towering Koules Fortress. Cap things off with a walk inside the town’s open-air market for a true multi-sensory experience. Take in the vibrant smells, tastes, and sights, as your guide tips you off to the best stands to sample local Greek street food and produce. Sated in mind and body, your tour will end at the Morosini Lions Fountain.