1. Minoan’s World the 9D experience

- Chania city -

Experience The History Of Crete Like Never Before! Europe’s oldest civilization meets Europe’s first 3D Museum and 9D Cinema! We are a unique combination of a 3D Museum (non archaeological) with life-like statues made out of silicon and mesmerizing 3D art that comes to life through your phone's camera, and a 9D cinema which will take you back in time with fully immersive special effects such as air blasts, rain, snow, bubbles and smoke. Our epic movie has both a historical and mythological perspective. Multilingual movie system in 12 languages!

Learn more on https://minoansworld.com/home

3. Old market of Chania

- Chania city -

The Municipal Market of Chania is commonly known as the "Agora". It was built between 1909 and 1913 and modelled on the covered market of Marseilles.
It is still an active market and houses shops selling vegetables, fish, meat, herbs and spices, Cretan products such as cheeses, olives, raki and more. In the summer months many shops also sell tourist souvenirs. There are also a few good workmen's cafés offering local food.

5. Samaria Gorge

- Chania prefecture -

The Samaria Gorge is the most famous trekking gorge in Greece and a part of the European E4 hiking trail. Thousands of tourists flock here daily in the summer season to walk from the top to the bottom. For many visitors, it is the sole purpose of their visit to Crete.
The length of the gorge reaches 14.5km and takes almost 5-7 hours to hike. The gorge is located at the south of Chania Prefecture in the larger uninhabited area of Europe, where no roads even exist. It was created by the river flowing between the main massif of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori)

7. Venizelos Graves

- Chania city -

Venizelos Graves, located in a small park on a hill. There you can enjoy the beautiful sunset with the view of the majestic city of Chania.

The spot on the hill of Prophitis Ilias (after the name of the 15th century church located there) is the resting place of one of the most illustrious Greek (and Cretan!) stateman, Eleftherios Venizelos and of his son Sophoklis.

The statue of Spyros Kagiales in the same park refers to a legendary feat of bravery that occured in 1897. Venizelos and a group of rebels had raised a Greek flag at that spot. The Ottoman forces had requested help from the foreign admirals and attacked the rebels, with the ships of the Great Powers fleet bombarding the rebel positions. A shell broke the flagpole and threw down the flag, which was raised up again immediately by Kagiales.

Just below the small park there are two cafés (Nymphes and Koukouvaia) where you can enjoy the superb views of the bay of Chania and the White Mountains.

9. Knossos Palace

- Heraklion prefecture -

Welcome to Crete! Home to the first civilization in Europe, the Minoan.
Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. It was built around 2.000 BC and it is a multiple-level building with 1.500 rooms and more than 20.000 sq.m.

Learn more on https://minoansworld.com/the-history-of-crete

11. Omalos Plateau

- Chania Prefecture -

Omalos is located 38km south of Chania at an altitude of around 1,250 meters, surrounded by the high peaks of the White Mountains. The plateau is particularly beautiful in the winter, when it is frequently covered by snow.

At older times, the plateau of Omalos was the shelter of the locals and the base of rebels during the Turkish occupation & World War 2. Today, Omalos is the starting point for the thousands of visitors of the famous 18km long Samaria Gorge.

13. Lake Kournas

- Chania & Rethymno Prefecture -

Lake Kournas is the largest natural lake in Crete and is located in an enchanting landscape, between the west slopes of the White Mountains and the fertile plane of Georgioupolis and near the village Kournas.

Lake Kournas and its surroundings constitute a very important ecosystem for Greece, as the wider area of Apokoronas is one of the very few areas of Crete where plenty of fresh water is stored throughout the year. Moreover, visitors could either pedal or kayak in the lake. The name Kournas is believed to come from the Arabic word kurna for "lake" or "bath".

15. Chora Sfakion

- Chania Prefecture -

Chora Sfakíon or simply Sfakia is a town on the south coast of Chania in West Crete. It is the capital of the remote and mountainous region of Sfakia, and is a small town of almost 300 inhabitants. It has two small harbours, where ferries travel to the nearby coastal town of Loutro, the island of Gavdos and Samaria Gorge end-trail.

Chora Sfakíon is famous as one of the centers of resistance against the occupying forces of both the Venetians and the Turks. The impenetrable White Mountains to the north combined with the rocky beaches on the south helped the locals fight off all invaders. Anopolis, a village near Hóra Sfakíon, is the birthplace of one of the most celebrated Cretan revolutionaries, Daskalogiannis.

17. Marathi

- Chania Prefecture -

Marathi is located on the southeastern coast of Akrotiri. It is a popular resort of Chania area, which attracts many visitors every summer, mainly families and elderly people. Marathi hosts two beautiful beaches with fine sand and shallow calm water, ideal for children.

They face to the south and have nice view to Drapanos Cape and the White Mountains. The beaches are separated by a small pier, which also serves as a harbor for fishing boats and small ferries. Moreover, if you follow the road leading to the north, you will meet (on the beach road) the ruins of the Roman town called Minoa.

19. Agia Lake

- Chania Prefecture -

The artificial lake of Agia (Ayia) is located near the village of Agia. It is a small lake of 450 acres, that was a swamp before the Power Public Corp turned it to artificial, for producing hydroelectric power. Today, the power station is abandoned, but visitors still can see the old mechanisms and a relevant museum.

This small lake hosts the largest variety of aquatic plants in Crete, but also hosts very important species of fauna, such as rare species of ferns and frogs. Moreover, the lake is a shelter for many migratory and non-migratory birds. The ecological significance of Ayia is reflected in the fact that it is protected by international laws.

We recommend this destination for families, especialy during the winter.

21. Thodorou Island

- Chania Prefecture -

The island of Agioi Theodoroi or Thodorou is located just opposite the beach of Agia Marina in Chania, just 1km to the north. The history of the island and its ecological importance in preserving the protected species of the Cretan Kri-Kri goat.

Since the Minoan era, the island was used as a sacred place. Much later, in 1574, the Venetians built a fortress to protect the whole coastline of Platanias from any hostile invasion. The best way to explore it's surroundings is with a boat or private cruise ships, since it's now protected and non accessible.

23. Chania Old Harbour

- Chania Prefecture -

The Venetian Harbour is the city’s main sea promenade. Walking past old buildings that have countless stories to recount, and through the colorful cafes, shops and restaurants, it feels like you have entered a film set of an all-time classic period piece movie.

The exquisite monuments, along with the restored centuries-old buildings, create a one-of-a-kind setting that clearly belongs to everyone’s bucket list. The iconic landmark of Chania, the Venetian Harbor clearly shows the grave importance of the city during the Venetian era of Crete (1204 – 1669). In fact, during that time, when Chania city (La Canea) was the capital of the island, the harbor of Chania was ranking second following the one in Venice. It had a capacity of more than 40 galleys, which controlled the naval trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Venetian architectural legacy is so fine and well-built that it exudes charm and unique character, adding value to the harbor, to this day.

25. Preveli Palm-Beach

- Rethymno Prefecture -

Discover Preveli Palm Beach: A Slice of Paradise! Tucked away on the southern coast of Crete, Preveli Palm Beach is a breathtaking paradise where golden sands meet Europe’s only native palm forest. Just a short distance away is the stunning Kourtaliotiko Gorge, known for its dramatic cliffs and beautiful landscapes, making the area perfect for hiking and exploration.

You can reach this picturesque beach by hiking down scenic trails or taking a boat ride, all while surrounded by the breathtaking views of the cliffs and lush scenery. With its unique combination of natural beauty and historical significance—having played a vital role during WWII—Preveli offers an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of Crete.