Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV via PexelsMelidoni Cave: what to know before visiting
Melidoni is a large chamber under a hillside in the Mylopotamos foothills, reached down a flight of stone steps. It has stalactites and scale, but the reason Cretans visit is what happened inside it in 1824, and the memorial that stands there now.
- Access
- Entered down a flight of stone steps, with the same climb back out
- Also note
- Cool and dim inside; steps can be damp
- Also note
- Confirmed when you enquire
When to go
Any month. The interior holds a steady cool temperature, which makes it a relief in August and cold enough for a layer in winter.
The history
In 1824, during the Greek War of Independence, several hundred villagers from the surrounding area took refuge in the cave. Ottoman forces sealed the entrance and lit fires at the mouth, and those inside died.
The cave is known locally as the Gerontospilios, and a memorial stands in the main chamber. Visitors are expected to be quiet inside — it is a place of remembrance rather than a show cave, and it is worth telling children what happened before you go down.
What the visit is like
A stone stairway leads down from the entrance into a single large chamber with formations along its walls and the memorial at its centre. It is lit, but dim, and the air is markedly cooler than outside.
The steps are the thing to be aware of. They are worn, uneven and often damp where water comes through the rock, so closed shoes with some grip make a difference.
Before you go down
- Closed shoes with grip — the steps are worn and often damp
- A layer in winter; the cave is cold year round
- Cash for the entrance
- Some sense of the history, especially if children are with you
A note on the entrance fee
We are not publishing a price for Melidoni. The two sources we hold disagree — one gives 5 EUR per person and the other 3 EUR — and picking the more convenient of two contradictory figures is not something a visitor should have to discover at the gate.
It is confirmed with the site before you travel. Until then, this page says what the visit is like and leaves the number blank.
Questions people actually ask
How much is entry to Melidoni Cave?
We will not state a figure until it is confirmed. Our two sources contradict each other — 5 EUR per person in one, 3 EUR in the other — so we check the current amount with the site rather than repeat a guess. It is paid at the entrance.
Is Melidoni Cave suitable for children?
Many families visit without difficulty. The considerations are the steps, the dim enclosed interior, and the history, which is sombre and better explained beforehand than read off a plaque at the memorial.
How long does a visit take?
It is a single chamber, so the visit itself is short — well under an hour including the descent and climb. It is usually combined with Margarites or a meal nearby rather than done alone.
Is it a good option when it rains?
One of the best in the region. Nothing about the cave is affected by weather, and the pottery workshops at Margarites nearby are also under cover.
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.