Crete

Crete island is the biggest island of Greece and the southernmost part of Europe! This is where the west culture was born, in the Bronze Age Palaces of Crete, the so-called Minoan palaces. On the island there is a variety of different landscapes such as high imposing mountains, 200 gorges, 3.000 caves, palm forests and exotic beaches. Crete is the birthplace of Zeus, the father of the 12 Olympian Gods! Beyond that, the island is connected with many key-figures of ancient Greek mythology like Minotaur, Ariadne, Daedalus, Ikarus, Talos and many more. Crete is synonymous to the first Maze, the first Labyrinth was built.

“The Grand Labyrinth” – Minotaur tour – Knossos Palace

Duration appr.1,5 hour tour

Crete is the birthplace of the west culture. In the Bronze Age people of Crete established palaces around the island. This is the first civilisation of Greece, Europe and the west culture! Their civilisation is called Minoan civilisation and the people Minoans. Knossos palace is the centre of the Minoan Civilisation!

Knossos is the Grand Maze, the Labyrinth of the Greek Mythology, where Minotaur lived! The palace is situated in the middle of Crete, in the capital of Heraklion. Discover with your expert licensed tour guide the No2 most visited archaeological site of Greece! Unveil the secrets of the original Grand Labyrinth! Discover everything about the amazing Minoan civilisation in our tour! Learn about their ideas, religion, art, jewelry, frescos. Who were the best friends of Minoans? Who inspired the people of Crete to create their own unique civilisation?

“The best of Heraklion” Knossos – Archaeological Museum of Heraklion – Heraklion Old City walking tour 

Duration appr.3.5 hours, van included

Knossos is the place where all Europeans descent from! Our great grandfather king Minos lived here! But also… Minotaur! Learn everything about the first matriarchal society of the world and the era of pax minoica. Be inspired by the values of Minoans about peace, Mother-Earth and respect of nature. Which tree was the holiest? What were the Minoans drinking? Discover the amazing Daedalic architecture of the Grand Labyrinth and all the authentic artefacts in the Museum! In this tour we will re-visit our common roots! At the end relax with a lovely stroll in the old city seeing the narrow paved alleys and the venetian and ottoman monuments of Heraklion.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion - Heraklion Old City walking tour – Ancient Greek Technology Museum

Duration appr. 3.5 hours, walking tour

The archaeological Museum of Heraklion is the treasure box of the Minoan Civilisation! A unique collection of more than 70.000 original artefacts from the Bronze Age are exhibited here, as well as the frescoes. After visiting this unique collection, we walk inside the Old City to visit the monuments of different eras, the venetian, the ottoman, the orthodox christian.

At the end of our walking city tour, we visit the Ancient Greek Technology Museum offers an insight of the inventions of ancient Greeks. Among others we will see a copy of the first robot of the world, a crane and a water-clock. Highlight of the Museum is considered the Antikythera mechanism copy, the first computer, the way they could predict solar and moon eclipses, thus adapt navigation and agriculture plans.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion - Heraklion Old City walking tour – Venetian fortress and venetian shipyards

Duration appr. 3.5 hours, walking tour

In this tour you will explore Crete in depth! Discover the first civilisation of Europe, the Minoan civilisation, the palace of Knossos, which is the original first Labyrinth of the world. After visiting the Palace enjoy the artefacts of the Minoans in the Museum such as the Linear A tablets with their writing system! Enjoy a relaxing stroll in the narrow paved alleys of the old city, descending in the venetian and the ottoman period of the island. After our long archaeo-tour we will enjoy a typical Cretan meal in one of the best tavernas of the island. Cretan cuisine is the most healthy and most highly respected in Greece.

“Cretan Riviera” Spinalonga- Elounda- Agios Nikolaos -Olive oil tasting

appr.4 hours, van and boat included

Explore the Cretan Riviera! Let’s drive around the mirabilis Gulf of Mirabello, see islets and the lake of the area. Enjoy a boat trip to Spinalonga which is a beautiful little island in the heart of Mirabello Gulf in East Crete. The best-seller “The island” by V. Hislop was written about this picturesque amazing little place of Greece. In Spinalonga, “the long thorn” we are about to unveil the different layers of history, the venetian, ottoman and by far the most interesting the one of the Leper Colony! This is the last lepper colony of Europe. At the end of the day we will taste and learn secrets about olive oil in one of the most pretty villages of Mirabello.

“The best of Crete” Knossos Palace – Spinalonga island -lunch

Duration full day tour, van and boat included

In this excursion we will visit 2 of the 4 prefectures of Crete. We are about to drive along the north coast of Crete. We visit the two most significant and most visited monuments of the island. The No1 most visited is Knossos and No2 Spinalonga island. Descend in history by entering Knossos Palace, the original Labyrinth! Learn about the first pacifists of the world, the Minoans. Visit a majestic, beautiful island related to touching stories of the last lepers of Europe. At the end of the day explore a hidden gem, the Cretan cuisine, in a great taverna in an authentic village.

Grand Labyrinth and Wine-tour

Duration appr. 4.5 hours, van included

This is an archae-fun tour! First comes the Grand Labyrinth of Minotaur and the Minoans, the first civilisation of Europe. Explore the deadalic architecture, see the throne of king Minos and the room of queen Pasiphae. After our archaeological tour of Knossos we will have the chance to come even closer to the island and its people by tasing their wines. Crete island has its own varieties: white Vidiano, Vilana, Dafni, Plyto, Thrapsathiri, Muscat of Spina and Malvazia di Candia and the red Kotsifali, Mandilari, Liatiko and Romeiko. Enjoy the different wines of Crete and a tour by the experts in the field in the finest wineries of the island.  

“Birthplace of Zeus” Dikteon Andron 

Duration appr. 4.5 hours

Dikteon Andron is a cave up on the high Mountains of East Crete, called Lasithi Plateau. Learn the Greek mythology from its very beginning. How was our world created according to ancient Greeks? Discover all about how the Gods and the Goddesses where born. Why baby Zeus was hidden at the end on Crete? Discovering one of the caves of Crete is an unforgettable experience by itself. Much more overwhelming to enter the cave where the father of the 12 Olympian Gods was born.

Food tour

walking tour

Let’s walk, taste and talk! Through the Agora, we will be able to see all the local products of Crete. We will talk about recipes, we will taste typical tasty desserts and different “mezedakia”. The tour can take place all around Crete (Heraklion, Saint Nicolas, Rethymno, Chania).

Cooking class

The culinary tour is not to be missed on the island of Crete. Crete is the most renown place in Greece for the unique recipes and the high-quality ingredients. Certain products of protected designation of origin come from the island. All ingredients you taste here have a different aroma and flavour. The tour can take place all around Crete (Heraklion, Saint Nicolas, Rethymno, Chania).

“Children-friendly Crete”

Duration appr.4.5 hours

Children are stimulated and absorb knowledge through fun! So this is the way that we will narrate stories of ancient Greek mythology on the sites of the Labyrinth which was the house of Minotaur himself or on Spinalonga island. Combining an archaeo-site with a farm of animals is by far the best excursion on Crete for children. We may either visit a farm with little goats, horses, chickens or a park with exotic animals like monkeys, lemurs and various birds.

“Alternative East” Horse riding in east Crete – Olive oil tasting -Lake of Saint Nicolas

Duration appr. 4.5 hours

A unique experience in the beautiful landscape of eastern Crete! Our experience sets off in a graphic village of Lasithi heading to the countryside. From there, we will ride a horse on our own, accompanied by the 2 professional escorts that own the farm. Through old agricultural paths we are reaching old monasteries exploring an impressive plateau while the scents of Cretan herbs delighting our senses! Learn everything about Hippotherapie, the benefits of interacting with horses, by your tour guide. Continue your beautiful relaxing excursion with olive oil tasing and at the end have a lovely city tour in the town of Saint Nicolas to enjoy the lake. 

Sarakina Gorge

Duration appr. 4 hours

Since 2019, the company New Energy Production Innovations MEPE with visionary Antonio Panteloukos managed to completely reconstruct and operate the hotel with full respect for the archaeological landscape and the unique history of the historical island of Psara. The name was given after the discovery of a marble inscription with the year of construction during the process of its reconstruction.

Richtis gorge

How we got our name

Crete is famous for its numerous gorges and their variety. Richtis is one of the most beautiful, easy and small gorges of eastern Crete! The path through the canyon that ends in the isolated Richtis beach is about 5 kms long and full of amazing flora, by a small river. There is water all year round and a lovely waterfull of 20 meters with a pond. Around the pond it’s an ideal spot for swimming and pic nic!

Please do not hesitate, if you wish to have a more custom-made excursion or if you wish to merge and combine different tours! We are here for you and our strongest asset is that we love to meet people from all over the world and address different needs and wishes! 

acropolis

Sofia Makri Acropolis Guide
Unlock the Secrets of Ancient Athens
 Inclusive, Accessible and Expertly Guided Tours for Everyone!

Contact

info@acropolisguide.gr

+30 694 828 8176

Links

© Copyright 2025 Websitegreece.com - All Rights Reserved