Photo by JACK REDGATE via PexelsMargarites pottery village and nearby stops
Margarites is a small village in the Mylopotamos foothills that has made pots for a very long time and still does. Workshops open onto the main lane, kilns are in use, and the person who sells you something is usually the person who made it.
- Access
- Gently sloping village lanes; short distances
- Also note
- Confirmed when you enquire
- Also note
- Confirmed when you enquire
When to go
Mid-morning, when workshops are open and before any afternoon closures. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant for walking the lanes.
Why the pottery is here
Clay. The ground around Margarites yields a workable clay, and the village has built an industry on it over centuries — at one point supplying storage jars across a wide area of Crete.
What survives is smaller but genuine: a handful of working potters rather than a heritage display. That is the reason to come, and also the reason not to expect a fixed visitor experience.
Buying something you will keep
Ask questions. Is the clay local? Was this thrown here? Is it food safe or decorative? Potters are generally happy to answer, and the answers vary meaningfully between workshops.
Then think about logistics before you commit. Fired clay is heavy and breaks, and a large piece bought on day two of a fortnight is a fortnight of worry. Ask how it should be packed, and be realistic about your luggage.
Pairs well with
- Melidoni Cave, a short drive away
- A long lunch in the foothills
- Eleftherna, for the archaeology, if you have the time
Questions people actually ask
Can you watch pottery being made in Margarites?
Often, but not on demand. Several workshops have a wheel in view and potters who do not mind an audience. Whether someone is throwing when you arrive depends on the day and what they are working on.
Is it touristy?
It is visited, and the main lane is set up for that. It is also a small working village where the kilns are real. Walk one street off the main lane and it is quiet.
How do we get pottery home safely?
Ask the workshop to pack it — they do this constantly and know how. Hand luggage is safer than checked for anything you care about, and size matters more than you think when you are still travelling.
Days that go here
Read before you go
Nearby
Page facts last reviewed 18 September 2026. Opening hours and entrance fees at third-party sites are confirmed at the time of enquiry. Tell us if something here is out of date.