Sightseeing in Crete

If you are going on a Crete holiday, it would be practically criminal to skip seeing some of the cities on the island. There are several cities on Crete worth seeing, and are the best places to get an understanding of Cretan culture. Here are some of the places you should visit on a Crete holiday.

Of course, you'll want to visit the largest city of Crete, Heraklion. This is home to around 140,000 people, as well as the site of the ruins of Knossos. Dating to the Bronze Age, this is a well preserved site which is a must see for history buffs. Also not to be missed is Venizelous Square, which is very scenic as is Morosini Fountain. For the sports fan, Crete has two soccer teams, Ergotelis FC and OFI Crete. Both teams have their home matches at Pankritiko Stadium.

There are many other Minoan ruin sites around Crete and there are also several museums that contain many artifacts, art collections and information about this ancient civilization. Among these are the Historical Museum of Crete and the Archaeological Museum. The Historical Museum of Crete covers the more recent history of the island and includes many art displays, while the Archaeological Museum, as you can imagine, includes many artifacts of the ancient Minoans. The Archaeological Museum is located in Heraklion, very close to the Palace of Knossos.

One interesting activity is visiting and hiking the Samaria Gorge National Park. The Samaria Gorge National Park will provide absolutely stunning views and an amazing, pristine feel. However, be prepared that the hike is long and the sun can be very intense. Be prepared to spend an entire afternoon hiking the Samaria Gorge and be sure to bring shoes that will support the rocky paths and long trail.

Don't miss Lake Voulismeni. Located near Agios Nikolaos, you can get a real feel for the culture of Crete here, as well as seeing Bronze Age ruins.

Last, and smallest, but certainly not least is the town of Sitia. The eastern part of town, along the waterfront is the Kazarma, a fortress once occupied by the Venetians. The E75 runs by Sitia, making it an easy destination to get to.

Families, kids, young adults, singles and couples alike can all enjoy the beauty of this amazing island. Once you visit Crete for the first time, you may just find yourself under the majestic spell of the island, going back again and again.