Lasithi Plateau & Dikteon Cave
Οροπέδιο Λασιθίου / Δικταίον Άντρον
A basin plateau about 850 metres above sea level, once covered with thousands of white-sailed windmills. On its edge, Dikteon Cave is said to be the birthplace of Zeus, king of the gods.
The Lasithi Plateau is surrounded by mountains. Some stone windmills remain on the flat farmland, and the small villages on the plateau have traditional tavernas and craft shops. Zeus Cave, also known as Dikteon Cave, is located in Psychro village. It is about 15 to 20 minutes' walk uphill from the car park, or you can ride a donkey. Inside, stone steps descend about 60 metres, and stalactites and an underground pool look mysterious in the lamplight. Entry costs about 6 euros. From Heraklion it is about 1.5 hours by mountain road. It is often combined with Malia and a Cretan winery into a day trip.
Opening hours
Cave of Zeus: summer about 08:00–20:00; shorter hours in winter
Nearby sights
- Palace of Malia
- Lychnostatis Open Air Museum
- Cretaquarium (Thalassocosmos)
- Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
- Archanes & Peza Wine Region
- Knossos Palace
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum
- Venetian Walls & Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis