Which are the most famous places to visit on Crete?

The island of Crete is fascinating destination with all its natural and historical attractions and the contrast between sea and high mountains . Crete offers a varied landscape, fantastic beaches and crystal-clear sea, pleasantly mild and healthy climate, picturesque villages and pretty seaside towns. The historical monuments and the internationally-acclaimed antiquities from Minoan palaces to Byzantine monasteries and Venetian castles, all go to make up a rich and impressive environment offering a wide range of choices to the visitor.

Top Attractions: Crete is the home to spectacular mountain ranges, haunting historic villages, and pristine beaches. Some of the must see attractions include:
Rethymnon town : The beautiful city of Rethymno is combining an old- time aristocratic appearance with a modern aspect, a blend which is creating a unique atmosphere. Rethymno is the third biggest town in Crete ( about 40.000 inhabitants). It lies along the north coast and iit is an administrative and commercial centre of the are.It is the base of the University of Crete.
Chania town : The beautiful town of Chania has managed to keep its local and authentic colours, despite the growing tourism. Chania is the main town in the west of Crete, with the second largest population after Heraklion.
Agios Nikolaos town: Agios Nikolaos town or "Agios" is 65 kilometres east of Heraklion in the beautiful Merabello bay.Agios Nikolaos was the first town in Crete with remarkable tourist-development.
Samaria gorge: The Samaria Gorge has long been one of the leading natural attractions on Crete and despite its huge popularity and subsequent crowds, a leisurely trek through this beautiful gorge will likely be a true holiday highlight.
Preveli palm beach: This is one of the most famous sights in Crete and an area of outstanding natural beauty. The date palms stand along the bank of the river which flows down through the Kourtaliotis gorge (you have to drive up the gorge to get to Plakias), creating an exotic scene.
Heraklion archaeological museum : It has the best collection of Minoan art in the world. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion is practically worth the trip to Crete alone. Almost without peer in Greece, the facility’s Minoan collection is internationally famous. All in all, exhibitions cover the island’s history from the Neolithic Age to the Greco-Roman era.
Knossos palace: Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. Don't miss the fact that you are in the cradle of Europe. Knossos is not necessarily the best Minoan palace but certainly the most crowded The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square. Detailed images of Cretan life in the late Bronze Age are provided by images on the walls of this palace. Today is the most famous tourist attraction on Crete.
Festos-Gortys and Agia Triada archaeological sites : Phaistos was one of the most important centres of Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city in southern Crete.The Phaistos Disk, the most famous example of Minoan pictographic script, unique in its kind, was discovered inside a small room of the Phaistos palace.Agia Triada is in south central Crete, 30-40 meters above sea level. It lies 4 km west of Phaistos, situated at the western end of the Mesara Plain. The site was not one of the "palaces" of Minoan Crete, but rather a well-to-do town, and possibly a royal villa. Gortys was first inhabited at the end of the Neolithic period (3000 BC) and flourished much later, in the Late Minoan period (1600-1100 BC), when the villa with the shrine was founded at the site of Kannia, near Metropolis.
Elounda-Spinalonga: Spinalonga is a small island near Elounda in East Crete. In Spinalonga island was quarantined lepers from Crete until 1957 as it was a leper-colony. Nowadays ,Elounda, the village opposite of Spinalonga, is a VIP tourist destination nowadays.
Arkadi monastery: The Arkadi Monastery is one of Crete's most venerated symbols of freedom. The defiant defence of this fortress-like monastery during the 1866 Cretan rebellion against the Turks is still legendary and inspirational.
Margarites -Eleftherna: Ceramic studios are plentiful in Margarites and these attractions number more than 20 in total. The studios themselves vary greatly in quality, although amongst them you will find some true gems. Many of the most traditional potters actually use clay collected from the very base of Mount Psiloritis.
Amari valley: It is five to six hundred metres above sea level (around 1,800 feet) and has the most perfect climate. Here there are olive trees to be sure, but also here grow the finest cherries you can find and in spring the cherry trees are full of blossom.
Ha gorge: Ha is considered to be one of the wildest gorges in Crete and one of the most difficult to cross. Being practically inaccessible to people, the Ha gorge maintains a rich and diverse avifauna.
Balos beach: Clear waters and desert-isle sand, an exceptional place in a wind-protected area of the sea.
South-Crete beaches:Triopetra beach is a magnificent beach with lovely sunsets.If you walk to the east of Triopetra you will discover a long sandy beach with very few people on it.It is a clothing optional beach and it can be also accessed from Agios Pavlos over the sand dunes.There are a couple of pebbly beaches in Rodakino, plus a marvelous secluded beach (Agia Marina) behind the hill at the west end of the road.
Crete aquarium: This is actually the biggest aquarium attraction of its kind in the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean area and contains a number of huge tanks, filled with marine landscapes and colourful sea creatures.
Vai palm forest: Vai palm forest, is one of the most popular sights in Crete. Vai draws thousands of visitors each year. Vai was “discovered” by hippies who were turned out of Matala in the early 70s and sought a new refuge in the area.
Hiking-mountain climbing: Crete is a true paradise for lovers of the outdoor-activities. An array of recreational activities ranging from light walking trails to steep hikes.
Scuba diving: The warm and rather inviting waters surrounding the island of Crete offer endless opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving, and the clarity is usually exceptional. Particularly popular are the underwater attractions to be found around South coast of Rethymno, Chania, Bali and the famous "sunken" city of Olous near Elounda.