Best 12 Churches and cathedrals tours and activities on Crete Island

Discover the beauty surrounding Rethymno as you head uphill through picturesque olive groves and make the first stop at Halevi Monastery. See the church of Panagia with its flame-shaped windows and the ruin of the monastery building, which was recently renovated.

Continue to the village of Chromonastiri and visit Villa Clodio where the Military Museum is housed. As you reach the Myli Gorge, a small oasis close to the city, set out on a short hike through a gorge with diverse flora and fauna and visit the abandoned village of Myli. 

Stop and relax in the Cretan village of Roussospiti and be spoiled with a selection of traditional dishes from a family run taverna. Due to the elevated location you will have a breathtaking panoramic view over Rethymno and the Mediterranean coast. After lunch, ride to the monastery of Aghia Irini to talk to the nuns there and learn more about the history of this place before slowly starting your way back.

Your day will start with a visit to Knossos, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and home of the powerful and mythical King Minos. Wondering around its labyrinthine passages, you will time travel to an era 4,000 years ago and feel what life in the city was like in those days. Admire the monumental architecture, wall paintings, storage rooms, and workshops at the birthplace of European civilization.

Next, walk on the Fortifications of Heraklion, the best-preserved city walls in the Mediterranean, in order to have a panoramic view of the Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek. Visit the Cathedral of St. Minas, the imposing church adorned with Byzantine wall paintings and the essence of incense.

Reaching the Old Town, meander its alleys and pedestrianized city center allowing you to stroll around undisturbed and explore the blending of traditional and modern lifestyles. In the heart of the Old Town, see the Morosini Lions Fountain, constructed during the Venetian era and the typical meeting point for locals. Surrounded by various shops ready to serve coffee, ice cream, and local delicacies, this is a place awake around the clock.

Right across is St. Mark’s Basilica, host to the Municipal Art Gallery open to the public almost all day every day. On your way to the Old Venetian Harbour, you will see the Venetian Loggia, the city’s town hall and a masterpiece of architecture. The best-known feature of Heraklion not to missed is the famous Koules Fortress which defended the city from its enemies in the 16th century.

Immerse yourself in the traditional customs of Crete on a private tour from Rethimno. Meet the only living nun at Vossakos monastery and be introduced to Mr. Andreas and Mrs. Eleni at a local pasture. Learn about goat-herding and beekeeping from the experts and indulge in delicious Cretan cuisine.
Get picked up from your accommodations in Crete and leave the city center behind for the picturesque countryside. Arrive at the historical Vossakos monastery, settled in a landscape of beautiful flowers, lush trees, and aromatic herbs.
Walk towards the monastery and be welcomed within by the one remaining nun who lives here. Be treated to her smile and a taste of the sweet loukoumi, learning about the stories surrounding these holy walls.
Depart from the monastery to visit a local pasture. Pass through the entrance of three huge trees and meet Mr. Andreas, the resident shepherd. Listen to him detail his daily routine, including taking care of the goats and the process of producing milk.
Indulge in the delicious flavors of traditional Cretan appetizers, such as cheese, olives, and a glass of raki. With a happy stomach, follow the shepherd out to his flock and watch as 100 goats rush out of their pen into the high hills.
Say goodbye to Mr. Andreas and be introduced to his wife, Mrs. Eleni. Slide into your beekeeping uniform as she leads you to the hives, demonstrating her mastery over the honey-loving insects.
Observe the procedure for honey extraction that Mrs. Eleni undertakes with her bare hands! Learn the family secrets behind why she has no need for her own beekeeper’s uniform.
Bee welcomed into the home of Mr. Andreas and Mrs. Eleni, situated high up in the mountains with breathtaking views over the village. Take a walk through the peaceful environment, relaxing into this fairytale-like world.
Open a bottle of wine and enjoy a glass while a traditional lunch is prepared for you. Tuck into a range of local organic products and finish off your meal with a delicious dessert, such as pitakia with honey on top.
After lunch, be guided to the heart of Apladiana, one of the most ancient villages on the island which still adheres to Cretan customs. Cross through a field full of orange trees, reveling in the citrusy breeze, and finish your tour in the village square.

Enjoy some time away from the beaches and noisy resorts and explore a different side of Crete on a guided excursion. Step into the mythical Psychro Cave, visit the Vidiani monastery, see the freshwater springs in the small town of Krasi and feel the Cretan culture in the Olive Mill farm.
Get picked up from your accommodation in the morning and take a drive to the Psychro Cave. Uncover the secrets of the mythical birthplace of Zeus, decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
Up next, stop at the Greek Orthodox monastery of Vidiani dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The third stop will be at the traditional village of Krasi. Gaze at the beautiful freshwater springs and the oldest tree on Crete as you take in the countryside scenery.
Lastly, see the production of olive soap, olive oil and honey and enjoy an unforgetable meal made from local products, at your own expense at the Olive Mill Farm, with unique aromas from the surrounding wild mountain and view to the Aegean sea

The bus departs around 09:00 from Rethymno for the drive to Crete’s capital city of Chania, the most beautiful town on the island. Settled more than 4,000 years ago, Chania is one of the oldest cities in Europe.

On this full-day excursion you’ll have 5 hours to explore Chania, with plenty of free time for a romantic walk through the idyllic old town.

Visit historic neighborhoods, churches and museums and take a walk to the beautiful Venetian Port for shopping, a cup Greek coffee and lunch (not included in the tour price).

At around 16:00 the bus will depart for the return trip to Rethymno.

Discover Lasithi Plateau and its important landmarks on a guided day trip from Heraklion, with hotel transfers included. Visit the Psychro Cave, the Vidiani Monastery, and Krasi village. Take a taste of the cretan culture in the Olive Mill farm and end your day exploring the traditional village of Knossos Palace.

After a hotel pickup, head to the Psychro Cave, the mythical birth place of Zeus. Admire the ancient Minoan sacred cave and its stalactites and stalagmites.

Next, explore the Eastern Orthodox Vidiani Monastery, dedicated to Virgin Mary.

Continue to the traditional mountain village of Krasi known for its quaint central square with stone fountains and an enormous plane tree thought to be 2,400 years old. See intimate tavernas and cafes scattered among the streets, small stone churches, and freshwater springs.

Following, be guided in an Olive Mill Farm and see teh production of olive soap, olive oil and honey and enjoy an unforgetable meal made from local products, at your own expense at the Olive Mill Farm, with unique aromas from the surrounding wild mountain and view to the Aegean sea.

Leaving the beautiful region of Lasithi behind, end the tour at the Historical Site of Knossos, Europe’s oldest city. Join a 1-hour guided tour and take photos of this Bronze Age archaeological site. Then, hop back on the bus to return to your hotel.

Visit an Orthodox nunnery, the village of Psychro and the Dictaean Cave. Explore the Lasithi Plateau, and make a stop for lunch while learning about the Plateau’s history. Visit a small traditional village on the slope of Selena Mountain, and enjoy beautiful views of Crete on this interesting and unique day tour.
Visit the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, an Orthodox nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, situated near the village of Kera at an altitude of 650m. See the nunnery, famous for the icon of Mary believed to be miraculous, the nunnery’s fortified walls, and its 14th and 15th-century murals.

Stop next at the village of Psychro, and walk to reach the Dictaean Cave, just above the village of Psychro. See the cave, considered a sacred place of cult worship, and according to Greek mythology, it is believed to be the place where Zeus, the father of Greek gods, was kept and fed from Amalthia.
See the most impressive sight is the lake at the lowest point, surrounded by massive stalactites and stalagmites, before moving on to the village of Psychro
Reach the northern entrance of the Lasithi Plateau, and stop at Seli Ambelou for a lunch break. Take in a panoramic view of the plateau, where in the 1950s and 1960s, was one of Europe’s first wind farms.
Stop in Krasi, a small traditional village set on the slope of Selena Mountain, and see its huge ancient plane tree, where the leaves and the branches of the tree provide shade all over the square in a unique and unspoiled environment.
Finish the tour at Krasi, and return to your hotel.

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Rethymno, and then journey by bus to the stone church in Kotsifu Gorge. Marvel at the steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations of the canyon, and then make your way to the historic plateau of Askifou.

Stop to take souvenir photos of beautiful Plakias Bay, and then drive up into the mountains to visit the traditional village of Kallikrati. Swim in the deep blue waters of the Libyan sea. Stop for a coffee in the village of Argyroupolis near the Roman site of Lappa and marvel at the waterfalls.

Next, go to beautiful Lake Kournas and enjoy a well-deserved traditional lunch in a typical village tavern at your own expense. Get a magnificent view of the lake and mountains before you drive back to Rethymno and get dropped off at your hotel.