Lassithi Plateau

The basics

While most visitors to Crete will stay on the beaches, those who head for the hills are in for quite the treat. One of Greece’s most fertile regions, the Lassithi Plateau is awash in windmills, fruit orchards, and about 20 villages—each classically Cretan—reaping the plateau’s bounty.

Most tours that travel through the plateau stop at Zeus’s Cave, an archaeological site visitors descend into via a short hike and a series of stairs. Other common stops include monasteries, tiny villages, and the Palace of Knossos (not technically on the plateau, but who’s counting?).

Things to know before you go

• Bring sturdy shoes to reach Zeus’s Cave, which requires a moderate 15-minute hike on uneven terrain.

• Taverns, shops (typically crafts and fabrics), and an olive-pressing museum are common stops on the plateau.

• It’s often chillier on the plateau than on the coast, so wear layers.

How to get there

The Lassithi Plateau is driveable—it’s about 7 miles wide by 4 miles across (11 kilometers by 6 kilometers)—though you’ll want a 4WD vehicle. It’s about an hour’s drive from Heraklion. However, most visitors either take a tour or hire a driver to make navigating the plateau and its sometimes unmaintained roads a non-issue.

When to get there

The Lassithi Plateau has mild temperatures year-round, though winter can get snowy, windy, and wild in the highest elevations. Most visitors will explore the plateau from spring through fall; summer can be an excellent time to visit, as most tourists are busy combing Crete’s beaches, and the days are sunny and dry.

How to find Zeus

Zeus’s Cave, aka Psychro Cave, has been considered sacred for thousands of years. It’s deep and narrow, with impressive stalactites and stalagmites that form winding passages (and good hiding places, which is what the story says baby Zeus was up to). Today, visitors travel in a 1-way loop through the cave via countless stairs. To avoid walking in a line, visit as early in the day as possible.