A Roman colony built on the ruins of a Minoan site, this archaeological site is a smorgasbord of Crete’s colorful history: an ancient Greek theatre and temple, Roman baths, a Turkish castle and an Orthodox monastery. Many experts predict that future excavations will reveal a new Knossos—now it’s like Knossos without the crowds. On a plateau high above the port of Souda, framed by the White Mountains and the sea, Aptera is worth a visit for the views alone.

Also known as Gaidouronisi (Donkey Island), this uninhabited wildlife sanctuary is like a tropical illusion adrift in the Libyan Sea. Shaped from the lava of an underwater volcano, the island’s white sand beaches are fringed by fragrant cedar trees. Rolling dunes spill into shallow, translucent water that’s perfect for snorkeling. Bellegrina beach, covered in shells in every shade of pink, is especially beautiful. Day trips from Ierapetra run between May and October.

Crete’s rocky peaks and steep ravines are accessible to serious hikers. A more dramatic way to explore the unforgiving terrain is on a tandem flight with paragliding instructor, Yannis Katsandredakis. You don’t need any previous experience—just a sense of adventure and a head for heights. Each flight lasts about 25 minutes.

The setting for Victoria’s Hislop bestselling novel, The Island, this floating Venetian fortress and archaeological site was the last leper colony in Europe. (It closed in 1957, but some of the last survivors still live in the village of Plaka.) Spinalonga has just been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, so the whole place is getting spruced up. Boat trips depart from Ayios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka, sometimes stopping for a dip in the pristine bays of the Kolokytha peninsula on the way back.