FOUR REGIONS · GEOLOGY · MYTHS AND MEMORIES
The caves of Crete
Σπήλαια
An extensive atlas of 37 known caves and cave locations, organized by region, with their story, visitor character and sources.
An atlas, no list of free entries
The Crete region speaks of more than 4,500 maps of caves and singing caverns. So, all caves are not part of one visitor chapter, and some belong in specialist registers. This atlas brings together 37 known caves and cave locations, from cult cave and memorial to deep shaft and underwater cave. Spelling varieties are not counted as additional caves.
[1]The sections below describe the character of the site, not its current opening. A cave that has an entrance, a church or a place name on the map is not automatically opened. Check a visit to the administrator, the archaeological service, the geopark or an appropriate speleological organization. In specialist caves this guide is mainly intended to learn their meaning.
How to learn to read a cave
Many caves in Crete are part of limestone and pine landscapes. Water searches for weak spots in the rocks and can form underground spaces. You don't always see an active river: traces of older currents can be preserved after the water has found another way. A shaft, a collapsed hall and a long gallery do not tell the same story.
Dripstone is created by depositing minerals from water. Stalactites hang on the ceiling, stalagmites grow from the floor; when both reach each other, a column arises. However, shapes do not automatically tell an exact year. The growth rate depends on circumstances. Running routes that use forms such as "altar" or "mantle" connect perception with human imagination.
This overview also includes non-natural spaces. Matala and the corridors at Gortyn ask for a different story than a karst cave: excavation, stone use and reuse play with it. By making that distinction explicit, the underground world becomes richer than a collection of beautiful caverns.
Holy space, hiding place and memory
The same cave can be used quite differently in different periods. In cult caves sacrifices and traces of use have been found; later a chapel sometimes appears. Zeus traditions at Psychro and Idaion are related, but the sites are geographically and archaeologically different. A myth is not an excavation report and a match between stories does not make two caves one.
Melidoni and Milatos ask another way of looking. They are places of memory of violence and human loss. An ossuary or church is not just a special element in a walk of nature. Read the local explanation, take time and leave room for people who visit the place as religious or family remembrance.
Search the cave atlas
The map links open a search in our own Crete map. A search result is an orientation help; it does not indicate an allowed entry, current condition or underground route. All entries remain visible when JavaScript is off.
Chania · Akrotiri, Sfakia and the Lefka Ori
Culture & landscape
Agia Sofia · Topulia
Αγία Σοφία
A spacious cave near the Topolia gorge with a small church in the rocky space. The combination of natural forms and religious uses this makes a good place to view geology and culture together. The regional description calls archaeological finds from several periods. The approach has a difference in height; a cave church is no guarantee of flat or thresholdless access. Respect the church and any clues about clothing, silence and photography.
Culture & landscape
Lera · cave of Pan near Stavros
Λερά
Above Stavros on Akrotiri lies the cave that is also connected to Pan. Inscriptions support the connection with the worship of Pan and nymphs. The archaeological story makes this place different from any hole above the beach. See it in connection with the hill and coast, but do not confuse the location near a well-known beach with a simple walk or equipped visitor route.
Religious Place
Arkoudiotissa · the bear cave
Αρκουδιώτισσα
This cave is located in the religious landscape around Gouverneto and Katholiko. The chapel and its name are part of the story of the place. Names of natural stone formations often connect perception and tradition in Crete. Take stories about a petrified animal as tradition, not as geological explanation. Follow the allowed access of the monastery area; the hiking connection through the gorge requires own preparation.
Religious Place
Agios Ioannis · Katholiko cave
Άγιος Ιωάννης
The cave of Saint John belongs to the monastery complex Katholiko on Akrotiri. It is part of a landscape of hermits, chapels and abandoned monastery buildings. Don't confuse this cave with other caves of Agios Ioannis elsewhere in Crete. Katholiko and the cave are one geographical context; the famous name is no indication that all the galleries behind it have been designed for visitors.
Vulnerable heritage
Asfendou · Skordilakia
Ασφένδου
The rock shelter at Asfendou is known for scratched images in the limestone floor. The regional source describes, among other things, animals and abstract signs. The heritage is not only on a striking wall: also the subsurface can be vulnerable. Do not clean, wet or touch surfaces yourself to see a drawing more clearly. Inquire about permitted guidance and access.
Unfurnished cave
Kournas-grot
Κουρνάς
The cave at Kournas must be distinguished from the lake and the village of the same name. The tourist information calls it a place with a drip stone. That does not mean anything about an actual visitor scheme. Combine a visit to the village or more only with a cave visit if you have confirmed the entrance and necessary guidance in advance; do not use the name as a free pass for an independent descent.
Historical hiding place
Krionerida
Κρυονερίδα
Krionerida is one of the caves that come back as hiding places and memories in the regional history. The general cave overview connects her with the violent history of Crete. Give a place here next to curiosity about rock formations. This guide gives no current access confirmation, no visitor hours and no route through the inner part.
Speleology
Tzanis · Omalos
Τζανής
Tzanis is mentioned in the UNESCO Sites cave overview in Crete as a cave for which special equipment is needed. It is a good example of the difference between a striking entrance and a visitor cave. To see an entrance does not mean that you can assess the descent. Treat the underground exploration as speleology and ask a recognized local organization about the current possibilities.
Technical speleology
Gourgouthakas
Γουργούθακας
One of the internationally known deep cave systems of the Lefka Ori. The significance lies in underground research, depth and technical exploration. No recreational tour can be expected here. Depth records change with research; therefore we do not use a record number as an invitation or as a measure of our own experience. Ordinary mountain hiking equipment is not an appropriate preparation for a technical cave system.
Technical speleology
Lion · Liodari
Λιοντάρι
Lion, also called Liodari, is part of the great deep caves of the western mountain country. The exploration requires a specialized team and adapted techniques. The system shows that a large part of Crete lies invisible below the mountain slopes. This is a reading portrait of a research site; no ordinary walking route or descent is deliberately described.
Dimple rot
Elephant Cave
Σπήλαιο Ελεφάντων
The Elephant Cave is an underwater site with paleontological significance. The regional visitor information describes elephant remains and the value of the habitat. A diving cave belongs in a category other than a coastal cave where you look inside from a beach. Inform only competent diving professionals about admission, necessary qualifications, conditions and nature rules; a snorkeling tour is not a substitute for that assessment.
Rethymno · Psiloritis and reminder
Furnished visitor cave
Sfendoni · Suniana
Σφεντόνη
Sfendoni at Zoniana is one of the most famously decorated drip caves. The regional description mentions lighting and a landscaped visitors' passage along a part of the rooms. This allows you to carefully view geological forms without choosing an underground route. The visitor route is not the same as the entire cave system. Check the current guided tours and possibilities for reduced mobility directly with the administrator.
Visitor cave & reminder
Melidoni · Gerontosilios
Μελιδόνι
Melidoni combines dripstone, ancient cult and a heavily loaded history. The memorial room keeps alive the memory of the people who died here in January 1824 after a siege. As a result, the cave is a visit to nature and a place of mourning. Take time for the historical explanation and do not treat the monument as a backdrop for a quick group photo.
Holy Cave
Idaion Antron · Nida
Ιδαίον Άντρον
At the Nida plateau lies the Idaeian cave, an important cult site in the Psiloritis Mountains. This site is part of the Zeus traditions, but is not the same cave as Psychro above the Lasithi Plateau. Its significance is mainly in landscape, archaeology and worship. So do not automatically expect the same drip-stone presentation as in an equipped show cave. The high location makes weather conditions and the accessibility of Nida relevant.
Research and heritage cave
Gerani
Γεράνι
Gerani at Rethymno has an archeological and natural significance. It is one of the examples where research and protection are more important than a daily tourist program. An indication in a guide is not confirmation that the cave is open. Ask the competent archaeological service for the current arrangement. In this overview the location and its meaning remain separate from an unconfirmed visitor's promise.
Grotto church
Agios Antonios · Patsos
Άγιος Αντώνιος
The cave church at Patsos is situated in a landscape where ancient and Christian worship come together. The regional source describes cult use from the late Minoan era and an inscription called Hermes. The later church is dedicated to Saint Antony. Here you can see why caves in Crete are not just natural phenomena. Make a distinction between reaching a church space and following a further gorge.
Heraklion · sanctuaries and excavated spaces
Archaeological cult cave
Eileithyia · Amnissos
Ειλείθυια
To the south of Amnissos lies the cave connected with Eileithyia, goddess of birth. Cultus spores and natural formations reveal the relationship between rock form and religious meaning. The cave was used over a long period of time. This is not a reason for contemporary medical claims: the guide describes old beliefs. Check possible visits to the archaeological service; no free daily access is promised here.
Mountain cave & archaeology
Kamares
Καμαρών
The cave on the south slope of the Psiloritis Mountains gave its name to the famous Kamares style of Minoan pottery. That does not mean that all that pottery was made in the cave. The site helps archaeologists to investigate objects, cults and exchanges. The approach from the village is a mountain enterprise. Do not plan it as a short replacement for a closed visitor cave and check route and conditions locally.
Unfurnished cult cave
Skotino · Agia Paraskevi
Σκοτεινό
Skotino and the name Agia Paraskevi are used for the same cave context; we count them here once. The large spaces and natural stone formations are connected with ancient worship. An ancient source that calculates a .tourist path . is not evidence of modern lighting, supervision or a safe visitor route. The deeper parts require assessment by experienced guides. Confession and size do not make a cave accessible by itself.
Speleology
Sarchos · Honos
Σάρχος
Sarchos is a well-known name in the underground landscape of central Crete. You should always use the alternative name Honos together with the place: names for water disappearing points and caves are more common. This is not an equipped tour offered as a standard outing in this guide. Inquire about recent circumstances and appropriate specialist guidance, especially when a cave is connected with drainage.
Closed / dangerous heritage
The Labyrinth at Gortyn
Λαβύρινθος
The Labyrinth is an artificial corridor system, connected with quarries, and no geological evidence for the story of the Minotaur. In World War II it was used as an ammunition storage. The regional description refers to explosions, collapses and ammunition that are left behind. This is no destination to explore independently. A mythical name does not make a closed or damaged corridor system an adventurous visitor route.
Artificial corridors
Labyrinthaki · little Labyrinth
Λαβυρινθάκι
The small Labyrinth is a separate, smaller corridor complex in the same broader context at Gortyn. It gives rise to discussion of the difference between a natural cave and excavated stone extraction. That it is smaller does not mean that access is automatically allowed or safe. This guide does not confirm any actual opening and does not encourage a search for alleged connecting corridors with the great Labyrinth.
Vulnerable cult cave
Chosto Nero · Juktas
Χωστό Νερό
Choso Nero belongs to the sacred caves of the Juktas. In the regional description, connected spaces and cult finds are mentioned. A good reading question is how a natural formation became a sacred place for a community. Do not let that meaning be lost in the desire to continue through a corridor. The existing data does not support any ordinary, equipped visitor route here.
Archaeological cave
Stravomyti · Juktas
Στραβομύτη
Stravomyti is also located in the Juktas context and is known for archaeological finds. Several openings on a rock wall should not be read as multiple safe entrances to one freely accessible system. The site requires protection and local information. In combination with Chosto Nero she shows that a sacred mountain consisted not only of one peak sanctuary, but also of underground sites with their own usage history.
Archaeological Visitor Site
The carved caves of Matala
Μάταλα
The famous openings above the beach are largely carved spaces with a funerary history. The official heritage presentation describes Matala as a rock-cut necropolis. The later story of the hippie community is only one layer. Do not change those spaces with ordinary natural caverns. Follow the designated visitor zone; climbing to random openings and edges is not part of a normal tour.
Lasithi · plateau, Sitia and the east coast
Archaeological cave
Psychro · Diktaion Antron
Δικταίον Άντρον
The cave above Psychro on the Lasithi Plateau is connected in tradition to the birth of Zeus. The official heritage description mentions long cult activity, votive gifts and a top and bottom space with drip stone formations. The distinction between myth and archaeology is essential: the finds prove worship, not the birth of a god. Take the high access path and the stairs inside your schedule. Check the current opening at Hellenic Heritage; old reports about work or closure may now be outdated.
Archaeological cave
Trapeza · Kronio
Κρόνιο
Trapeza, also called Kronio, is a cave in the vicinity of Tzermiado and Marmaketo on the Lasithi plateau. It is a separate archaeological site, not a second entrance to Psychro. The name Trapeza also occurs in other places, including Tylissos; therefore, always combine it with the plateau and the village names. Recognition of an archaeological cave requires an actual access control and respect for vulnerable floors and remains.
Memory Place
Milatos · Rapas
Μιλάτου
Milatos is at the same time a cave complex and a memorial of the events of 1823. In the cave there is a church of Agios Thomas and an ossuary. The multiple openings and irregular floors are part of the natural form, but do not allow to explore all parts. Give space to commemorate and observe how religion, local history and geology come together in the same space.
Unfurnished cave
Pelekita · Sykias Spilios
Πελεκητά
Pelekita is located in the coastal landscape northeast of Kato Zakros and is also known as the cave of the fig tree. It has extensive spaces with drip stone, but the regional description also mentions slopes, loose rocks and dangerous parts. A walk to the area is not the same as a safe underground passage. Do not use old descriptions of passageways as a route book. Let an appropriate specialist assess the current possibilities.
Unfurnished shaft cave
Vreiko · Latsida Vrikou
Βρέικο
Vreiko, also Latsida Vrikou, is the steep limestone cave near Pefki. The existing extensive reportage is included below, with the geological story, traces of past use and visit preparation. Read the full report →
Cave of shelter
Apoloustress · Pefki
Απολούστρες
Apoloustress, also Apaloustres, is the second cave at Pefki. The consolidated report below deals with the local hideout story, the location and the distinction between the approach and a visit inside. Read the full report →
Unfurnished cave
Megalo Katofigi
Μεγάλο Καταφύγι
Megalo Katofigi is located in the vicinity of Agios Georgios, the former Tourtouli, south of Sitia. Its name means great refuge and also occurs elsewhere in Crete. So use the entire site context. The cave landscape around the village belongs to the Sitia Geopark. An approach on a slope and a visit to a cave ask for different skills; one possibility does not prove the other.
Vulnerable Archaeological Cave
Mikro Katofigi
Μικρό Καταφύγι
Mikro Katofigi is the other cave name in the Katofigi couple at Agios Georgios. The geopark calls the caves in its regional overview, with natural ornamentation and archaeological significance. . . Small . is here a name, not a risk category. Respect local restrictions and do not search for material on the bottom. In a heritage cave there is also an unobtrusive trace possible information.
Shaft and research cave
Peristeras · Karydi
Περιστεράς
This Peristeras is located near Karydi in Sitia. The regional source describes a collapsed underground space with a large dolin, steep parts and archaeological traces. The name is also used elsewhere; do not change it with a beach or another cave. Seeing daylight in a large hall makes edges, debris slopes and shafts not suitable for a regular visitor walk.
Unfurnished cave
Theriospilos · Kavousi
Θεριόσπηλος
Theriospilos is part of the coastal landscape of Kavousi. The source is called pebble, drip-stone formations and bats. This is a good example of a cave that is both geological and ecologically interesting. A colony of animals is not a landmark to approach or light up. Keep a specialist or research visit separated from a walk along the coast.
Water cave / speleology
Oxo Latsidi · Sitanos
Έξω Λατσίδι
At Sitanos lies Oxo Latsidi, with long galleries and traces of water flow. The regional description also mentions contemporary drainage in wet periods. This is not a cave for which you can determine your own route on the basis of dry weather at the entrance. Water, narrow areas and underground form require experienced assessment. This guide does not give you a normal visit route or timetable.
Unfurnished cave
Atziganospilios · Adrianos
The cave near Adrianos in the Mirabello region has several spaces, dripstone and archaeological traces. The town name is important to distinguish it from other caves with similar names. In the description there are steep levels and vulnerable formations. An attractive spatial setting is not an actual security assessment; please inform local experts and the competent heritage service.
THE EXISTING REPORTAGE · BROUGHT TOGETHER IN THIS FILE
The caves near Pefki · Vreiko and Apoloustress
Βρέικο · Απολούστρες
Two entrances to another Crete
Above the coast of Makry Gialos the attention shifts from sea to stone. Around the village of Pefki lie Vreiko and Apoloustress: two caves that allow the landscape to be read from the inside. One name appears on cards sometimes like Vreikou or Latsida Vrikou; the other you also encounter the spelling Apaloustress.
Those who look around here can put two time scales next to each other. A rock face tells about the formation of the landscape; a sheltered opening raises questions about people's lives. This reportage connects those perspectives. The walk to an entrance and a descent into the cave each ask for their own preparation.
Vreiko · where the light touches the depth
According to Pefki's cultural association, Vreiko is located about two kilometers northeast of the village. The association describes an entrance with a fig tree, an elongated gallery and a deeper shaft. The transition from daylight to dark makes understandable why an entrance simultaneously attracts and awes.
Discover Crete describes limestone of the Tripoli unit above a less permeable layer of phyllith and quartzite. The cave develops steeply through the limestone. Within are dripstone formations present; traces of Neolithic habitation have also been found. This connects this underground space with a much older human history.
For the visitor the steep character is especially important. Attendance stairs or fixed aids are no guarantee of a safe descent. Discover Crete advises entering without experience with cave techniques and calls a helmet and main lamp essential. Ask an expert local guide to the current situation.
Apoloustress · a hidden hiding place
According to the village association, Apoloustress is located about two and a half kilometres north of Pefki. The less visible entrance plays a key role in the local story: the cave provided shelter for people from the area in the event of attacks and persecution. Thus, the dark gets a human meaning: to seek protection out of sight.
Discover Crete mentions a large interior space and access via a dirt road. However, the local association also describes a depth of about fifteen to twenty meters. A relatively simple approach does not mean that the interior space is suitable for every walker.
The cave is also the subject of a story about coins that visitors would have found in 1930, with a reference to Marcus Aurelius. The village association mentions this, but does not provide an archaeological catalogue on that page. Therefore, read it as a locally described find story; it does not in itself prove how the cave was used in Roman times.
Preparing for a visit
Use Pefki as the starting point for your preparation and ask on-site for current access, possible limitations and condition of the dirt roads. The map links below open the environment and the individual cave names on our own map. Do not allow a map app to determine an unknown country road for your car without checking the situation.
There is no fixed lighting in both caves according to the cultural association. For an accompanying cave visit, take with you suitable equipment: helmet, main lamp, spare lights and shoes with grip. A telephone lamp is not a good main light. Do not go underground alone and let someone know where you are. Please leave the choice of descents and technical equipment to an experienced companion.
Current opening hours, admission price and availability of guidance are not confirmed for this guide. Therefore, do not consider the caves an equipped attraction to enter without an appointment. In case of rain, thunderstorm or doubt about access you choose another program.
From village to cave, at your own pace
A quiet visit begins with information in Pefki. Then, with a local guide, see which approach and possibly which cave visit fit your experience. Return to the village for a break. If you want to continue your walk, you can find out about the Pefki gorge separately; do not make that extra walk a mandatory part of the same day.
In 2016, the Heraklion Mountain Sports Association described a group tour along both caves, Estavromenos and the gorge. This shows how the scenery is related. The old trek program is not a current route description and the mentioned hiking time applies to the entire trip, not to one cave.
Take a small viewing question: where does the daylight end, what forms do you recognize at the entrance and what changes in your perception? Don't touch the drip stone, take nothing and don't disturb animals. A good memory doesn't have to leave a trace.
Pefki on our map
Orient on the hinterland of Makry Gialos. The map contains no confirmed entrance or underground route.
The landscape around Pefki →Search Vreiko →Find Apoloustress →
Sources at the Pefki reportage
Consulted on 17 October 2026. Descriptions of location, history and access are based on the sources below. The visit order and viewing questions are editorial suggestions. Distances from the village description are not measured walking distances; historical visit descriptions confirm no current accessibility.
Which cave would suit your visit?
For a first visit, the logical choice is a really open, equipped visitor cave. Psychro and Sfendoni have a different visitor context than a shaft in the Lefka Ori. Melidoni explicitly adds a memorial layer. Always ask for the current route, stairs, lighting, guidance and the possibility to return earlier.
Anyone who wants to understand archaeology in particular can combine a cave with museum collections. Objects from a cave are often located elsewhere; an empty site is therefore no less important. In a church space you can look at the relationship between rock and religion without entering an underlying system.
For unfurnished caves, shafts and diving rots, the question is not how much courage you have, but what knowledge, guidance and permission the specific activity requires. A large hall, a short distance or a friendly cave name is not a useful size. A visit to the environment alone can be a full choice.
An underground world is vulnerable
Don't touch the drip stone, don't take rocks or finds and don't sign or scratch anything on the wall. The damage of many small actions can be great. Stay on the allowed path with furnished caves. Use light and sound restrained, especially in the vicinity of bats; ask the administrator about the rules for photography.
Respect fences and seasonal restrictions. Caves can be geological formations, archaeological sites and habitats at the same time. Sitia Geopark emphasizes that protection context. A public map is not a permit to pass a closed site, a fence or a forbidden zone.
[2]If you are planning a visit, you can check the access and the activity. A walk to an entrance, a tour, technical speleology and cave diving are several companies. Therefore, this atlas contains no clues for rope technology, narrow passages or diving penetrations. For the technical caves, the information is meant as a natural and research background.
Sources & Accountability
Composed on 22 October 2026. Historical descriptions are based on the sources below. Viewing tips and time formats are editorial suggestions; they are not an official terrain route. Prices and opening times can change. The typographical illustration at the top is not a reconstruction or photo of the location.