Zeus Cave Crete and Lasithi Valley: Everything About the Legendary Birthplace of Greek Gods with Transportation Options, Hiking Trail Information and Underground Lake Tour Details
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The Dikteon Cave is located on the largest Greek island – Crete. It’s situated in the central part of the island, in the Lasithi valley, in Mount Dikti, and is also located at an altitude of 1050 meters above sea level.
The entrance is not so easy to find: it’s inconspicuous. But when you get inside, you’re amazed by this centuries-old beauty frozen in stone, because it’s a whole system of underground grottoes with galleries between them. At the bottom of the cave lies a lake. Archaeologists have found weapons, gold and bronze ornaments here. In the Minoan era, this cave was a cult place. And today tourists simply throw coins into the lake to return here again.
In my today’s article I’ll tell you where Zeus Cave is located, how to get there, how much a ticket costs, about opening hours, tours and other useful information for tourists.
Dikteon Cave: this is where, according to legend, Zeus was born
Zeus Cave in Crete invariably ranks among the island’s most popular attractions. After all, it was here, according to ancient Greek myths, that the great god Zeus was born and raised.
For a long time the location of the legendary cave was unknown, however in 1886 archaeologists conducting research in the Dikteon Mountains discovered a large sanctuary and cult objects dating to the second millennium BC. The ancient finds made it possible to assume that this particular place in ancient times was revered as Zeus’s birthplace.
The Dikteon Cave consists of two halls:
- vestibule (measuring 42 m by 19 m by 6.5 m), in which in ancient times stone tables for offerings and an altar were installed;
- main hall (measuring 85 m by 38 m by 5-14 m), purpose in ancient times – unknown.
In the depths of the cave a small underground lake has formed, over which a bridge is thrown. In both halls massive stalactites and stalagmites hang from the ceiling and walls. They are what most strongly impress tourists.
Objects are illuminated, creating a surrealistic atmosphere.
Photos of Zeus Cave in Crete only partially convey the unreal atmosphere of the place. Photography is allowed, but without flash, which violates the integrity of the cave walls.
Unremarkable entrance to Zeus Cave
How to get to Dikteon Cave
On the map of Crete, Zeus Cave is located in the central part of the island. You can get there in one of four ways:
- By rental car. Coordinates for navigator: 35.162622, 25.445231. The road goes southeast from Heraklion (distance 90 km). Travel time – from an hour and a half due to difficult terrain. Parking costs 2.5 euros.
Might be useful: previously I wrote a large article about car rental in Greece, as well as a separate article about car rental on the island of Crete, which you can view and read by following the links
Map of Dikteon Cave location on Crete island
2. As part of a tour group. Tours to the cave where Zeus was born are organized from all major resort places in Crete. The final cost of the tour will depend on the departure point. I’ll tell you more about tours later in the article.
3. By bus. From Heraklion to Psychro village a bus runs irregularly. Finding out its schedule is extremely difficult, usually it’s a couple of trips a day.
4. Taxi or transfer. However, a taxi will be expensive – from 50 euros and up. You can call a taxi in Crete through local services: Crete.Cab, Stathmos Taxi and Taxi Rank.
With a transfer everything is also simple, just choose the pick-up location and arrival location, as well as the date and time. Transfers can be booked in advance on online services such as Gettransfer.
Cafe with cooling drinks and fresh orange juices right at the exit from the cave and view of the parking from the entrance to Dikteon Zeus Cave
From parking to the cave entrance
At the parking lot and around it there are cafes and small shops to drink orange juice and catch your breath before the walk.
From the car/bus parking area upward, to Mount Dikti, leads a rather steep trail 800 meters long. The climb with rest stops takes about 30 minutes.
Fragment of a truly difficult climb, especially under the hot Cretan sun
My advice for those wishing to visit the cave:
- you need to choose comfortable shoes for visiting the cave, as the road is difficult;
- you should take water and a hat for sun protection.
- It’s advisable to take sunscreen with you.
If you’re not confident in your endurance, you can purchase a donkey ride – 10 euros one way, 15 euros – round trip. This should be considered more as an attraction than serious transport, but kids will definitely enjoy such a ride, and the photos will be great.
Here a paid service for animal transfer is provided, in other words – a donkey station
Ticket prices and opening hours of Dikteon Cave
- Visitors from 18 years old – 6 euros,
- Under 18 years old – free.
Note that the entrance ticket is purchased at the top, at the ticket office.
At the foot, some locals say that you can’t visit the cave without a guide, you need to purchase an tour with a ticket from them.
You can visit Dikteon Cave only during working hours:
- from 08:00 to 20:00.
- in the winter season (November-March) from 8:00 to 15:00.
Duration of visit (tour of the cave) approximately 15-20 minutes.
In summer I advise arriving in the morning, before the midday heat.
View of the cave when approaching the mountain itself (photo 1) and view of the cave from inside (photo 2), on the walls and ceiling you can see bizarre stalagmites and stalactites, as well as a bridge over the lake
View of Lasithi plateau
What you can see when visiting Zeus Cave
After purchasing a ticket, right behind the ticket offices you’ll see a small cafeteria where you can buy juice, water or ice cream. Prices here, to be honest, are noticeably inflated, as usually happens in popular places, so you can bring a bottle of water and a couple of apples from the hotel in advance.
Right before the entrance to the cave, archaeological zone staff will check your tickets, and immediately after ticket control you’ll see stairs leading down. At first the entrance and descent may seem dangerous, and the steps steep, but this is only appearance. Soon you’ll be convinced that descending is easy and moreover you can hold on to the railings.
View of the descent into the cave by metal staircase from above
The cave has good lighting: natural light enters from the surface at the beginning of the path, and in the depths of the cave multicolored artificial lighting creates a mysterious atmosphere.
Follow the signs and keep to the left side, then you’ll walk around the entire underground in a circle, see the lake in the cave – Zeus’s cradle, and, of course, numerous stalactites and stalagmites.
As soon as you pass the first 10-15 meters, a pleasant coolness will envelop you. At depth there’s almost always a constant temperature of 16 degrees, so you may want to take something light in clothing with you that you can quickly throw on.
Appearance of a small underground lake in the depths of Zeus Cave
At the exit you can take beautiful photos with a view of the Lasithi plateau, and then a descent along the exit trail awaits you. Descending from the cave is much easier, and usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
Note that in Crete there are 2 sites called “Zeus Cave”. The second, Idaean – less popular, is located on the Nida plateau. Tours are not organized, entrance is free. But there are almost no visitors, as besides the name, there’s nothing remarkable in it. Archaeologists continue to work here. To reconcile supporters of different versions about the “true” Zeus Cave, it’s accepted that Zeus was born in Dikteon Cave, and was raised in Idaean Cave.