Top Crete Art & Culture - page 6

If you like to explore independently but would prefer not to risk self-driving Cretan roads or doing battle for parking in Chania, this trip with hotel transfers is perfect for you. As you travel from Rethymno to Chania, your tour leader will clue you in on the city’s history and explain everything there is to see. You have half a day to explore independently before returning to your hotel.

Rethymno’s many artisan food producers present the perfect opportunity to explore the fresh and seasonal cuisine of Crete—but knowing where to go can be tricky. Instead, leave all the logistics to your guide, and enjoy an immersive and delicious introduction to Cretan cuisine. Visit a local phyllo pastry maker, taste products such as olive oil and honey, and indulge in a traditional small-plates lunch featuring multiple dishes and flavors.

Celebrate all things olive oil with this Olive Oil Festival experience in Sisi, Crete. Enjoy pickup from many areas of the island and transfer to Sisi Village by air-conditioned vehicle. At the village, enjoy workshops on different topics, such as olive oil production, honey making, raki, and soap making. Sample wine and a variety of dishes based on olive oil and enjoy a live show with music and dancing.

Maximize time in Crete with a full-day combination guided tour. Get picked up at your hotel and set out on a coach sightseeing tour focused on archaeology and culture. See popular landmarks including the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, Dikteon Cave, and the Palace of Knossos. Admire panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau, visit an olive oil factory, and go inside a ceramic workshop to see a potter at work.

Instead of tying yourself to a large group tour with a rigid itinerary, take your time exploring the ancient Minoan capital of Knossos with this private audio tour. Visit the remarkable Palace of Knossos and many other highlights of this archeological site, including South Propylaeum and the West Magazines. Leave the guidebooks behind and learn about the culture and lifestyles of people living in Minoan Crete from your audio guide.

Explore the delights of the Knossos Heraklion Museum and learn where European civilization began during an easy day tour. After hotel pickup in an air-conditioned coach, explore the museum at your own pace, learning about the importance of the Minoan collection and much more. Also take a guided walk of Heraklion, where you can stop for lunch (own expense) or souvenir shopping.

Visit Heraklion and Knossos Palace on this affordable, family-friendly guided day trip. Take a convenient all-day outing from Rethimno to learn about Greece’s fascinating history and view its ruins, murals, fountains, and monuments. Experience the Minoan temple and palace of Knosses, wander the ancient streets of the capital of Crete, stop into a local museum, and enjoy free time for a traditional Cretan lunch at your own expense.

Enjoy an evening of traditional Cretan fun on this evening dinner-show experience, with round-trip transport included. Travel to an outdoor venue and savor a traditional Greek buffet dinner as you enjoy a folklore show. Tap your feet to live music and be swept up by old-time village dances and folk songs, perhaps even taking to the floor yourself. Includes as much food and wine as you wish, plus pick-up and drop-off at selected Crete hotels.

Without a rental car, visiting Crete’s Palace of Knossos and capital of Heraklion in a day from Rethymnon means using cabs or local buses. This tour eliminates the hassles, with air-conditioned transport and an option to include a Knossos guide to ensure you cover the highlights and Minoan Crete’s history and legends. Plus, you get free time in Heraklion to visit its Archaeological Museum or shop and eat at leisure.

Starting early, heading west, we reach the port of Kissamos. Here we take our boat for approximately a 1 hour pleasant sail along the coastline. Arriving in the port of the ex­-pirate island of Gramvousa we hear how, during the Turkish occupation, the residents of the island started looting passing boats thus giving the island its pirate reputation. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Venetian castle on top of a steep rock as this is one of the most impressive castles in Greece. There is plenty of time for swimming or lunch on board. Our boat then departs for the Blue Lagoon of Balos, a shallow and warm water lagoon which brings to mind similar lagoons in the Caribbean. You will be disembarked at a distance of 50 meters from the shore according to the Law , as there will be no approach pier. Balos is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Enjoy a fantastic swim and relax for approximately 3 hours before boarding for the return sail. An experience to remember a lifetime !

Enjoy your evening at a Cretan Village, experience how Cretan people entertain themselves and taste some traditional food and drinks during this lively excursion. Let the well-know Cretan hospitality, serve you, meet some great people, listen to their famous music and walk through the streets of the village to admire its local architecture and vibes.

Many Crete travelers have heard of Matala village with its hand-carved sea caves, but it’s a tricky place to visit without transport. This full-day trip however offers air-conditioned transportation, making Matala reachable even without a rental car. After a hotel pickup, pass through the Messara Plain to enjoy free time in Matala. Relax on the beach, see caves that were used as Roman burial sites, and soak up the bohemian vibe.

Discover Crete’s Lasithi Plateau and its important landmarks on this full-day excursion. Your first stop is the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, a nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the Dikteon Cave, where Zeus was kept from his father in Greek mythology. Take in the views of the plateau from Seli Ambelou and end your day exploring the traditional village of Krasi.

Immerse yourself in the culinary history and flavors of Chania on this half-day walking tour with a small group. Follow your food historian guide as they lead you to local eateries and shops where you’ll sample a wide variety of local dishes.  Learn about the influence that the Arabs, Ottomans, and more had on Greek food on an intimate walking tour. In between bites, you’ll hear about local food culture and politics.

The Palace of Knossos, the capital of ancient Crete, is can't-miss, but it can't be understood on its own. On this easy guided tour, your guide shares history and facts about the ancient site. You'll see fabulous ruins, incredible infrastructure like underground pipes, and even the world's "first" theatre. And with this package, you'll get skip-the-line access, making the most of your valuable time in Crete.

Hit Heraklion’s highlights in just half a day direct from your accommodation (or cruise ship) when you book this private tour, with skip-the-line tickets to the iconic Palace of Knossos. Your licensed guide will showcase details from lighting to drainage that bring this lost civilization to life. Next, discover the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (own expense) and its Minoan collection; finally, explore Heraklion, including the fortress, cathedral, market and Venetian Walls.

Fill half of your day with the sights of Chania, and get more out of your time with a private driver-guide. This personal sightseeing tour showcases the history of Chania old town, where traces of the city's intriguing Minoan past can be found around the monuments and streets. The Christian, Jewish, and Muslim quarters of the city are all on the route.

Getting to know a new city can be difficult if you try to do it all yourself. This Heraklion Small-Group Segway Tour lets you get acquainted with the city’s main highlights and hidden gems in just a few hours. Follow a guide around on a Segway to Liberty Square, the Historical Museum of Crete, Loggia, and more, and learn about the history and culture of the area.

Visit two of Crete’s top historical sights—Knossos Palace (a Bronze Age archeological site) and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum—in one time-saving tour. See ancient ruins and artifacts along the way, all while your guide's expert commentary brings the stories behind the sights to life. Highlights include the original throne of Minos at Knossos Palace and rare examples of Minoan art at Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

Enjoy a visit to Europe’s oldest city with a personal touch on this guided tour through the ruins of Knossos. This tour helps visitors to Knossos get the most out of their time in ‘the Labyrinth’; from skip-the-line access to commentary in English, French or Russian from a licensed guide, this tour brings the ruins of the city alive.

The Greek islands boast a rich history dating back to the days of antiquity, but exploring independently means missing the hidden secrets they hold. On this private tour of Crete, delve into the island’s colorful past with your guide—with round-trip transport from your Crete hotel or the port included. Travel back 4,000 years at the Palace of Knossos, and learn of ancient civilizations at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

Get the most out of an evening in Chania with this combination of a small-group guided tour, a wine tasting session, and a three-course dinner with gourmet specialties. Save time searching online for the most photogenic sunset spots and go to a shortlist of secret places that only locals know about. As you watch the sunset, learn from a sommelier about local wines, and then feast on a 3-course feast of delicious organic dishes.

This tour stands out by visiting up to four traditional villages in Crete and offering lunch—a rare combination. After pickup from Chania, visit the Monastery of Metamorphosis in Varipetro. Explore the villages of Theriso and Zourva, stopping for lunch in a traditional family-run tavern. You can also opt to visit the village of Meskla and the small gorge there.

Get to know Crete’s historic capital without relying on expensive guidebooks or out-of-date blogs. On this compact sightseeing tour, explore the lively Heraklion city center with a guide to lead the way. Walk the city streets and see a range of important sites and inner-city landmarks. Learn about the city’s classical and recent history from your guide, and hear the myths and legends told about Heraklion in ancient times.