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Known by the names Zeus Cave, Diktaion Andron, and Psychro Cave, the Cave of Zeus is located right in the heart of the Lasithi Plateau (sometimes also spelled Lassithi Plateau).

These are some of the basic things you need to know to get ready for a visit…

General Information about the Psychro Cave in Crete

The cave stands at 1025 meters above sea level, and it covers an area of more than 2200 meters.

A comfortable staircase leads you down inside the cave while the whole paths and chambers have nice, suggestive lights that allow visitors to appreciate every detail inside the cave.

Hiking up to the entrance is not as easy as I expected (from any of the two entrances). It was fairly easy for the kids, a bit less for me.

The longer path takes about 25 to 30 minutes to complete, and it’s still steep, though not as much as the short path.

Despite having some trees and shade along the way, the hike up can prove exhausting in Summer, so don’t forget to bring some water.

How to Get to the Psychro Cave

The village of Psychro is towards the south of the plateau, at a height of about 828 m above sea level while the Psychro Cave is located a few meters higher, at 1025 meters.

Map of Diktaion Andron & Lasithi Plateau

Zeus Cave is on the northern slopes of Mount Dikti, in Psychro, one of the 18 villages of the Lasithi Plateau.

Psychro is famous for the Cave of Zeus, which stands above the village.

Prices, Opening Hours, and Other Details

It’s possible to access the cave via one of the two entrances. One of the two is shorter but much steeper.

Otherwise, if you don’t feel like walking, there are donkeys and you can hire them for 10 € each way.

As you know this is a practice that we don’t support in most cases, but we are also aware that people with disabilities could only access the entrance of the cave this way.

About Psychro Cave, the Diktaion Andron

The Psychro Cave is an ancient Minoan site of worship. Local villagers discovered it at the end of the 1800s. During that period, there were several archaeological excavations going on in Crete.

Knossos, for example, was excavated at the same time. Therefore, it didn’t take long for Zeus Cave to attract the attention of many archaeologists.

The first excavations in Psychro brought to light a collection of ritual objects which led to the conclusion that the cave was a sacred site to the Minoans.

As research continued over the years, archaeologists agree that, due to the importance of the artifacts in the chambers, the cave was probably one of Crete’s most important sites of worship.

Since those times, the Psychro Cave has been related to the ancient myth of Diktaion Andron (also Dikteon Antron).

The Chambers and the Formations inside the Psychro Cave

The first place to be excavated was the Upper Cave. This complex has two distinct spaces and is rather similar to a mountain shelter, with no stalactites.

Here, archaeologists discovered a temenos (a piece of land dedicated to a god or a sanctuary) and ruins of an altar.

The Lower Cave is made of 5 more chambers and hosts a small lake in one of the extremes.

Here you can appreciate the stunning columns of stalactites and stalagmites. In this ancient place of worship, archaeologists found figures, tools, axes, and seals, probably offerings left by pilgrims and worshipers.

Myth, Legends, and More…

Rhea, being very angry at her husband’s behaviour, fled to Crete while she was pregnant with Zeus and gave birth in a cave of Mount Dikti.

This is what reads on a sign at the entrance of the Cave of Zeus. And this is where the legend begins.

As I’ve mentioned before, Rhea found refuge inside the cave thus escaping from Kronos, who was known for devouring his offspring in fear of being overthrown.

The Kouretes were nine dancers who venerated Rhea. They would play the drums at the entrance of the cave.

By doing so, they prevented Kronos from hearing the cries of baby Zeus, thus protecting him from being killed.

Other legends, tell us about Zeus being raised in Idaeon Andron.

This important cave is on Mount Ida, near the village of Anogeia (Rethymnon). However, I’ve often heard locals say that, even if Zeus grew up in Mount Ida, he was definitely born in Mount Diki.

In any case, both caves remain important worship places dating back to the Minoan times… and, after all, it’s a myth!

Since we are talking about Zeus, the father of all gods and humans, we couldn’t be short of legends! Other myths state that Zeus brought Europa to this cave after he abducted her from Phoenicia.

No matter what legend we chose to believe (or not!), the Psychro Cave remains a must-visit place in the Lasithi Plateau.

And not just for its relevance in Greek mythology, but mostly because of its archaeological value and for being part of the most remote history of Crete.

Visit the Surrounding Area: Lasithi Plateau

These are some of the landmarks you should not miss in Lasithi…

Villages and Windmills

If you visit the Psychro Cave, you’ve certainly planned to stop in some of the villages along the 23 km road that circles the Lasithi Plateau.

The drive up the plateau is one of the most scenic road trips you can enjoy in Crete.

One more thing to do in the area is to stop at these massive giant mills close to the village of Kera.

The impressive tall structures date to the 1800s and were still in function until 1945. If you stop at Kera, pay a visit to the Kera Monastery or have lunch in the village taverna and kafenio.

Homo Sapiens Museum

The museum proposes a trip in history back to the period of the caves.

It follows the evolution of man and the inventions of humanity over the centuries.

Calculate to spend at least one hour, more if your kids are really curious.

Aposelemis Dam

Even if you are not interested in a visit to the Homo Sapien Museum, a stop at the entrance is worth the unique views of Aposelemis Dam, better known for hosting at its bottom the sunken village of Sfendyli.

From here you can choose to drive all the way to Heraklion to see more traditional villages such as Krasi and the beautiful Mochos.

If you want to know more about the story of Sfendyli, check out this video by Giannis Psaroudakis.

© Giannis Psaroudakis

Krasi Village

The village of Krasi is technically part of Heraklion and not the region of Lasithi. However, it’s just 10 minutes away from Kera, and the road to reach it has great views of the mountains and lush vegetation.

Krasi is 600 m above sea level.

Once there, it’s possible to visit the monumental plane in the main square of the village, an impressive perennial tree about 2500 years old.

Right in front of the tree, check the water fountains or Vryses, with clean drinking water flowing all year. Besides, in Krasi it’s also possible to see an Early Minoan Tomb.

The village has a place in Crete’s history since here was born Nikos Kazantzakis‘ first wife. On the other hand, the famous Cretan author was known for spending his summers in the area.

His name and image can be seen on a ceramic decoration on top of one of the water fountains.

Where to Eat the Lasithi Plateau

This place is right across from the cave’s parking lot.

They serve traditional Greek dishes as well as the original Cretan paidakia (lamb chops), myzithra from Lasithi, and fresh juices.

For dessert we enjoyed hot pastries with local cheese and honey, fried in olive oil (kalitsounia).

The views of the plateau are worth a lunch here.

Where to Stay in Lasithi

There are different options if you want to extend your visit to the Lasithi Plateau and visit the nearby villages other than the Cave of Zeus.

When staying in the region, you can easily find very traditional Cretan stone houses, typical of the mountains.

Also, you can take full advantage of the relaxed atmosphere of the plateau. Here are some of the villages where you can choose to stay:

Check More Caves in Crete

If you’re interested in knowing more about the Caves of Crete, check my article about the beach of Elafonisi.

Here there’s a special section dedicated to the Agia Sophia, a fantastic cave you can see in the region of Chania.

Instead, if you want to visit Melidoni or Sfentoni caves in Rethymnon. But also Cherontospilios cave in Heraklion, or the Cave of the Elephants in Chania, check this article I wrote for Greek Reporter.
There I describe 5 of the most beautiful caves of Crete.

Read more about Lasithi

• Day Trip to Chrissi Island, Crete: Super Guide to Visit
• Unforgettable Day Trip to the Lasithi Plateau, Crete
• Amazing Things to Do in Agios Nikolaos, Crete
• Most Stunning Beaches in East Crete: Complete Insider’s Guide
• How to Visit Vai Palm Beach

Pin this Guide to Visit the Psychro Cave, Lasithi For Your Next Trip to Crete!

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You might also want to read these posts about Crete’s regions:

• 52 Things to Do in Lasithi Region
• 52 Things to Do in Heraklion Region
• 52 Things to Do in Rethymnon Region
• 52 Things to Do in Chania Region

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