Hochebenen, Wälder & Parks

Nida Plateau

Anogia, Rethymno · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A high plain under Psiloritis.

The Nida plateau lies at about 1,400 m on Mount Psiloritis, about 20 km south of Anogia. It's a high plain surrounded by peaks, used by shepherds who bring their flocks here in summer.

A short walk from the plateau leads to the Ideon cave, where Zeus is said to have grown up. On the plateau, there's a taverna and a tourist pavilion, and the Andartis monument, a large land art sculpture of a soldier made from stones, commemorates the resistance during WWII.

From Nida, the classic path to the summit of Psiloritis begins. The plateau is cold even in summer, and in winter it's often covered in snow.

Anogia is a proud mountain village on the slopes of Psiloritis, famous for its musicians, weavers and shepherds. The area around it is high and wild, with the Nida plateau, the Ideon cave where Zeus grew up and the path to the highest peak of Crete. Life here follows old traditions, and the food is hearty: lamb cooked over wood, local cheeses and wild greens. Come for the music, the views and the mountain air.

Around Anogia

Nearest town: Mires, about 22 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 45 km by road

Rethymno sits between the mountains and two seas, and it is the easiest region to combine with the rest of the island. Its old town and Fortezza are among the best preserved on Crete, with Venetian doorways, Ottoman wooden balconies and a long sandy beach right next to the centre. More about Rethymno