Knossos

Knossos is a bronze age site that was the major centre of the Minoan civilization and is known for its association with the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. It is located just outside of Heraklion.​

The monumental Palace of Minos was a building that served as a combination of religious and administrative centres rather than as a royal residence.​

The site was first excavated by Minos Kalokairinos in 1877 and is still being excavated today.​

It costs around €20 entrance fee into Knossos. Most excursions do not include the entry fee. Some Excursions are fairly rushed and take around an hour.​

It is also worth visiting the Archaeological Museum, you can get a combined ticket from Knossos or pay when you get there which is around €6+.

Depending on which resort you stay at and at what part of the season you visit most hotels will offer a range of excursions.​

Some of the main excursions are Knossos Palace, Lake Kournas, Therisos Gorge, and Lappa.​

We found that near our hotel in Koupva there was a company offering land train tours, one of the tours was to Lappa.​

• Lappa is an idyllic mountain village of Argyrouplis and is situated at the north-eastern foot of the white mountains.

• The village now has only 400 inhabitants and offers a range of shopping and Cretan dining.

• Situated at the village center is a village church built in 1895 and features a filigree bell tower.

• There is an arched gateway which is the main entrance to the historic village.

We found that both Knossos and the Archaeological Museum were worth visiting as it's not a place you will go to regularly and it gives you a good insight into what Crete history includes.​

There are a range of unique villages around the island to visit.​

Car hire on the island is reasonably priced from around €45 + per day for a small size car.

If you don't fancy driving you can find a local taxi driver to take you around the island to visit the best hidden gems. Prices tend to be around €40+ per hour, but worth shopping around.​

It is most definitely worth taking a tour of Plaka, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos areas, there are some amazing beaches, bars, and views.​

Most of the Hotels offer a good selection of food but are quite limited on gluten-free options.