Lake Votomos


Emerald green and tree fringed, this small reservoir just northeast of Zaros was created in 1987 to store the town’s natural spring water. It attracts scores of birds and is great for chilling in the shady park or enjoying a meal in the excellent taverna-cafe.

The trailhead for the Rouvas Gorge hike is also here.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Moni Agios Nikolaos

0.48 MILES

Just west of Zaros, a sign directs you to this monastery at the mouth of the Rouvas Gorge, about 2km up the valley. The church has some fine 14th-century…

2. Folklore Museum of Zaros

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Opened in 2015, this tiny museum, housed within a traditional stone cottage, is one of those things you feel you should go to just to support them. It…

3. Moni Vrondisi

1.72 MILES

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4. Skinakas Observatory

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5. Gortyna

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6. Andartis – Partisan of Peace

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7. Ideon Cave

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Although just a huge and fairly featureless hole in the ground, Ideon has sacred importance in mythology as the place where Zeus was reared by his mother,…

8. Museum of Cretan Ethnology

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Well worth a detour to Vori, this nonprofit museum lifts the curtain on how rural people lived on the island until well into the 20th century. The English…

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