Palace of Knossos, Crete

The great Bronze Age palace of the Minoan civilisation, Europe's oldest city, linked to the legend of King Minos and the Minotaur's labyrinth. Arthur Evans partly reconstructed it in the early 1900s, with red columns and copies of colourful frescoes such as the dolphins and the bull-leaper.

Go early to avoid tour groups and the heat. Combine it with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which holds the original frescoes and treasures; a combined ticket is available. It's about 20 minutes by bus from Heraklion.