This small island, known to the rest of the world through Victoria Hislop’s book “The Island,” is an iconic island for the Cretans, as it was used for about 5 decades as a place of isolation for lepers. The island is located across from Elounda, where you can take a boat to get there. The boat leaves every 30 minutes or so and the ticket costs around €10, which does not include the cost of admission to the historical site.

Distance: About 30 minutes by car to Elounda and an additional 15 minutes by boat