Knossos is considered Europe's oldest city. It was built by the Minoans and is associated with King Minos. The myth of The Labyrinth comes from this palace. You can buy joint tickets to see the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

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Here you can see many of the artifacts recovered from Knossos. You can buy joint tickets to see the site of Knossos.

Psychro Cave is associated as the place where Rhea fled to escape Kronos and gave birth to Zeus. Here Zeus was nourished by the goat Amalthea. The cave is a 1 km hike straight up the mountain; or you can use a paved path with the donkeys.

On the way to Psychro Cave, take a pit stop at the Windmills of Lasithi Plateau. There are some great views.

Take some time to learn about traditional olive oil production. You'll get to taste some too! Don't forget to say hi to the goats too.

No, it doesn't hurt. It tickles and feels weird at first but give it a try. It is a fun experience.

You can take a tour to visit the island of Spinalonga which is best known for its time as a leper colony from 1903 to 1957. The area has a rich ancient history as well as it was occupied by the Venetians and later the Ottomans so the island itself is a fortress.

If ancient history is for you, this is the third-largest Minoan palace on Crete. According to legend, it was home to Minos’ brother Sarpedon.

Zakros Gorge, know as the Gorge of the Dead is so named because the Minoans would bury their dead in the caves there. I would recommend using the second entrance which is 4 kilometres from Ano Zakros. From there it’s about two hours’ walk down to the exit, shortly before the Minoan Palace of Zakros and the beach at Kato Zakros.

Gortyn was one of the oldest and strongest cities in Crete and is today the largest archaeological site on Crete in terms of land area. Today you can visit and see the Roman Odeum and the Great Inscription with the Law Code of Gortyn, the early Byzantine church of Saint Titus, and the Antiquarium. It is said that Gortyn is where Zeus took Europa after he abducted her disguised as a bull.

For those that read The Odyssey, this cave claims to be where the cyclops Polyphemus lived.

This is the longest gorge in Europe (16 km (~10 miles)). It is a long trek and boasts beautiful scenery. It is not for the casual hiker. There are buses you can take to the entrance and then hike down to the coast.

If you want an easier hike, we suggest the 3.3 km hike from Sougia to the active archaeological site Lissos. The views and secluded beach are worth it. And don't worry about hiking back, you can call the ferry to come pick you up for €5. This was our favorite place on the island.

As a bonus for the brave, there is a natural spring at Lissos where you can get a refreshing drink.

The trail is part of a longer 14 km hike from Sougia to Paleochora. Aside from Lissos, you can find your way to Gialiskari Beach where you can enjoy some nude swimming.

On the southwestern coast of Crete you can find Elafonisi which boasts pink sand beaches. The water here is shallow and warm. However, the beach is not as vibrantly pink as it once was.

Balos is a popular beach on Crete. It has shallow, turquoise waters. It will require a small trek to get down to the beach so wear suitable shoes!

This huge fortress, with its turbulent history, was built between 1540 and 1570 by the Venetian maritime power as a bulwark against Turkish pirates.