Knossos near Heraklion is the largest Bronze Age site on Crete and was the centre of the Minoan civilisation. The palace was built from around 1900 BC. It is linked with the myth of King Minos and the Minotaur's labyrinth. Arthur Evans excavated and partly rebuilt it in the early 20th century, including red columns and frescoes.

Spinalonga is a small island off the coast of eastern Crete. The Venetians built a fortress here in the 16th century. From 1903 to 1957 it was a colony for people with leprosy. The ruins of its houses, streets and walls can be visited by boat from Plaka or Elounda. It became famous through the novel The Island.

The Old Harbour of Chania in western Crete was built by the Venetians in the 14th century. Its waterfront is lined with colourful houses, cafes and restaurants. An Egyptian-style lighthouse stands at the end of the breakwater. The Mosque of the Janissaries, from the Ottoman period, stands on the quay.

Balos Lagoon is on the Gramvousa peninsula in northwest Crete. Shallow turquoise water and white and pink sand form a lagoon between the mainland and the cape. It can be reached by a rough road and a walk down, or by boat from Kissamos. The nearby island of Gramvousa has a Venetian fortress.

The Samaria Gorge in western Crete is one of the longest gorges in Europe, about 16 kilometres long. The walk starts high in the White Mountains and goes down to the Libyan Sea at Agia Roumeli. At the Gates, the walls narrow to about four metres. It is a national park and home to the Cretan wild goat, the kri-kri.

Elafonisi is a beach and small island in southwest Crete. The shallow lagoon between them can be waded across. Its sand has a pink tint from crushed shells. The area is a protected nature reserve with dunes and rare plants. It is one of the most famous beaches in Greece.