If you are going to do some exploring while you are in Crete, it pays to go to places other than the local bars and beaches – even though they may well be worth a visit.

You should definitely make time to see Knossos, because this is one of the key sights in Crete that takes you back in time to another place altogether. Knossos also takes the name of Labyrinth, which should give you an idea of what to expect once you get there. The location itself is considerable in size and dates back as far as the Bronze Age. The mixture of rooms, pathways and other structures here is quite something and well worth taking the time off from the beach to see it.

It has been over a century since the ruins were first discovered. Since then Knossos has become something of a symbol of Crete, showing the immense history the island. There is also a Minoan palace here, which is thought by many to be where the legend of the Minotaur comes from. Do you remember the story of the Minotaur and the maze? Once you have visited the ruins of Knossos and its palace, perhaps you will see where the legend came to life.

There is no doubt that just walking around the area will give you goosebumps. Just think of all the people who walked through these same areas hundreds of years ago before you. If you are staying in or near Heraklion you won’t have any trouble finding Knossos, since it is very close by.

While the palace and ruins of Knossos may be famous for the Minotaur legend, they are also famous as being the seat of civilisation in the whole of Europe. The Minoans lived and worked here long before any other people made their mark anywhere else, and this makes it a hugely important site. We should thank the person who eventually uncovered it all those years ago, so we can see what our ancestors would have done on a daily basis a long time before that. Make sure you don’t miss it for anything.