Cave of Zeus
Cave of Zeus
3.5
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12 within 10 kms
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- Tant HarryStockholm, Sweden22 contributionsNot as it used to beNot as good as it used to be. Returned after 18 years and was shocked by all the tourist arrangements. It felt like going to a circus..very commercialised. Also, the stalactites were destroyed at many places, due to “someone” have used the wrong kind of light system in the cave. The experience was ok but far from what it was 15-20 years ago.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 May 2024
- Ceri N38 contributionsPoor donkeys!!Poor Donkeys! If you can’t make the trek up the hill to the cave or through the cave and up all the steps you have no business getting on those poor donkeys! Did not see them with any water either..heartbreaking! The cave is beautiful, steep steps etc but pretty. Give your donkeys shade and water!Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 June 2024
- Josh J20 contributionsZeusAbsolutely amazing and must visit. Good hike up and really some amazing cave and formations with some cool history. Great restaurants on way back for lunch with the best farm local ingredients right next to the windmill museumVisited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 9 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
157 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
51
Average
37
Poor
16
Terrible
10
Rhonda S
Carlisle, MA24 contributions
Dec 2019
wowzers, this cave was worth the trip. we rented a car, which cost next to nothing and headed around the plateau and the villages that it took to drive to the cave. the views from the mountain drive was truly amazing. the cave was a 10 minute's walk, once you parked the car at the bottom of the gate (you cannot drive up to the top) and once there we paid a small fee to enter (kids are free to most cretan sites). the walk down to the cave was truly spectacular and not to be missed. the CRETAN people are so hosipitable and food is, downright, the best!!! Hail to the Cretes and their lovely island.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lee13ond
Montreal, Canada43 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Trip advisor has this place three times over. It is known as Diktaion Andron. It’s a beautiful cave that is marked as the birthplace / nursery of Zeus. You do a 1-2KM hike up the mountain from the parking lot which gives you a beautiful view of Lasithi. Pair it with the nearby mythology museum for a fun 2-3 hour experience or the whole thing may seem short given how long it takes to get there from any coastal city.
I would also greatly suggest you drive around Lasithi, one of Cretes idyllic agricultural areas. It is filled with monasteries, local and affordable taverna (with amazing food, special nod to the Mizinthra desser cheese) and scenic views including goats and olive trees.
Rent a car at your hotel and drive around the area, make the cave and museum a stop during your day and you really won’t regret it.
I would also greatly suggest you drive around Lasithi, one of Cretes idyllic agricultural areas. It is filled with monasteries, local and affordable taverna (with amazing food, special nod to the Mizinthra desser cheese) and scenic views including goats and olive trees.
Rent a car at your hotel and drive around the area, make the cave and museum a stop during your day and you really won’t regret it.
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake K
Vancouver, Canada71 contributions
Jan 2020
As the legend goes Zeus' father Cronos, intended to devour all his children to ensure his own survival. Zeus mother Rhea managed to save only her son by giving birth and hiding him in this cave. Ofcourse, Zeus went on to kill his father and rescue his siblings. Happy ending? Not really, Cretans complicated this colorful myth by having two caves competing for the same honour. We chose the Psychro cave to visit because it is located in the hillside of the Lassithi Plateau which is a natural wonder in the heart of the island. About 40 kms/1.5 hrs from Herklion by car, the route winds through the mountain range. Hairpin turns, good roads, picturesque villages, windmills, breathtaking views lead to the Plateau. Tucked away, surrounded by the mountain range almost more like a valley, lays this incredibly fertile agricultural land. My personal opinion is that it must have been a body of water once upon a time. Blessed by an over abundance of water from the mountain streams, it laid mostly submerged in January during our visit, making it easy to see how the long, sunny, summer months turn it into the bread basket of Crete. The cave is located at almost the opposite end of the entrance from the mountain pass, after parking at the bottom of the hill, there are two paths up, the newer is easier, both about same time. There are also donkey rides. The cave itself is impressive but it was our first cave so we lack perspective. 200 steps to the bottom. Awe inspiring natural formations, living, breathing rock constantly reforming, quite a sight. Bring water. Only one Tavern was open and the garrish tourist park was thankfully closed as well. We were the only visitors and it was a bit eerie but magical, all you need is your imagination. Don't leave to late if driving, retracing your way through the mountains in the dark not for the faint of heart.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynne H
Salzburg, Austria554 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
On a hot afternoon parked our moped! There was a path up to the caves! It was shady but still hot. I recommend to wär firm shoes sandals not a good idea get uneven at the top. Also stairs slippery in cave in some places. It’s nice and cool inside! View at the top gorgeous. They also have toilets at top.the cave is amazing and interesting not for people scared of the dark deep!!
Written 7 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mariasopa
Vilnius, Lithuania18 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
The path to the cave is hard and risky. They have donkey taxi if you do not go on your on. The price for entrance is 6€ which is fine. The view inside of the cave is wow. Maybe I am mesmerised because my country does not have such things but the place in 80 meters depth is amazing.
Written 5 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ceri N
38 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Poor Donkeys!
If you can’t make the trek up the hill to the cave or through the cave and up all the steps you have no business getting on those poor donkeys! Did not see them with any water either..heartbreaking!
The cave is beautiful, steep steps etc but pretty.
Give your donkeys shade and water!
If you can’t make the trek up the hill to the cave or through the cave and up all the steps you have no business getting on those poor donkeys! Did not see them with any water either..heartbreaking!
The cave is beautiful, steep steps etc but pretty.
Give your donkeys shade and water!
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh J
20 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Absolutely amazing and must visit.
Good hike up and really some amazing cave and formations with some cool history.
Great restaurants on way back for lunch with the best farm local ingredients right next to the windmill museum
Good hike up and really some amazing cave and formations with some cool history.
Great restaurants on way back for lunch with the best farm local ingredients right next to the windmill museum
Written 9 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mr_Kadi
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK227 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
We drove here on recommendation by a local, it was well worth the visit.
On the drive towards the caves you circle a huge piece of flat land which has a number of beautiful tiny villages dotted around it.
When you arrive you have to pay for parking (2 euros), the car park itself has souvenir shops and restaurants.
The walk up towards the cave is steep and takes about 15-35 minutes depending on your level of fitness, you can hitch a ride with a donkey for 10 euros (15 return).
When you finally reach the top the views are great and you feel a sense of achievement. You have to pay 4 euros to visit the cave which is stunning, it feels like you're in a different world...truly amazing.
Tips:
There's no shade walking up so beware, maybe take an umbrella.
Take plenty of water with you, there's a shop when you reach the top but you'll need it walking up (especially in the summer).
The steps are wet and steep going in and out of the cave so make sure your footwear has good water grip.
On the drive towards the caves you circle a huge piece of flat land which has a number of beautiful tiny villages dotted around it.
When you arrive you have to pay for parking (2 euros), the car park itself has souvenir shops and restaurants.
The walk up towards the cave is steep and takes about 15-35 minutes depending on your level of fitness, you can hitch a ride with a donkey for 10 euros (15 return).
When you finally reach the top the views are great and you feel a sense of achievement. You have to pay 4 euros to visit the cave which is stunning, it feels like you're in a different world...truly amazing.
Tips:
There's no shade walking up so beware, maybe take an umbrella.
Take plenty of water with you, there's a shop when you reach the top but you'll need it walking up (especially in the summer).
The steps are wet and steep going in and out of the cave so make sure your footwear has good water grip.
Written 20 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard D
Rijswijk, The Netherlands83 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
We were on a we will see where we get drive on the Lasithi plateau. As this was one of our first days on Crete this time and second time in this part of the island. We had Made an overview of the possibilities of this area. The cave of Zeus is in the city of Psichro. Spelling can be different so be aware of that. When you finally get to the village it is not clearly where the cave is. Cave of diktaean was a sign so we choose that. We ended up on a parking (fee of €2) and surrounding with souvenir shops and bars. There was a path going up which we followed. You get to a gate after which you can get a donkey for the path further up the mountain. €10 for one way and €15 for return. We don’t want to use this ‘service’ as the donkeys haven’t got a choice. It is hard work to walk up in hot weather and only shadow at their base. After a steep path up we got to the entrance. Entrance fee is €6 per adult. The cave is down in the mountain. You are allowed to take photos but no flash. There is a path with steps and a railing. The cave is not like a cave in Belgium. The stalegmites and stalegtites are impressive. The cave is old. You will use about 20 min but you are not alone. There are many other tourists. Nice place to visit but i would not go here as a main visit. Choose other things in the area to visit or just a drive across the area.
Written 27 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daTravelGal
Los Angeles, CA67 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
If it was not linked to the legend, it was not worth all the sweat and panting up the hill and than waiting in line in hot sun to get tickets.
I can see it as a good hiking point as any other cave. Not at all impressive as it looks on pictures ...
I can see it as a good hiking point as any other cave. Not at all impressive as it looks on pictures ...
Written 13 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M G T
is er ook een excursie die naar the cave of zeus gaat? Wij verblijven in Stalis en willen het graag bezoeken. Iemand een tips voor het reizen erheen?
Written 3 August 2018
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