Permanent Exhibitions

Familiarize yourself with key concepts of evolutionary theory, such as abiogenesis and speciation, and engage in conversation with the father of evolutionary theory, Charles Darwin! Explore the thematic sections “The Tree of Life,” “The History of Evolutionary Thought,” “Natural Selection,” and “Mutations and Adaptations in Mediterranean Ecosystems.”. Take a close look at the skulls of early humans and admire the reconstructions of Homo heidelbergensis (male), Homo sapiens (female and juvenile), and Homo neanderthalensis (male).

Scientists study migration by catching birds using special nets and placing a ring around their leg, hoping that a colleague somewhere far away will catch the same bird again! Explore bird ringing tools and discover why birds migrate.

Did you know that mountains host half of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots? Explore some of the most characteristic high mountain ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. Travel from Mount Olympus and the peaks of Cyprus to the snowy Alps and discover how life adapts to these unique environments!

Visit the coniferous forests of Lebanon, South Turkey, and Bulgaria and meet, among dozens of other animals and plants, the majestic feline Lynx, the unique Cedar of Lebanon, and Hyrax, an unexpected elephant relative!

The Museum cafe is not yet open to the public.

Discover the astonishing variety of organisms that inhabit our region and make the Mediterranean basin one of the top biodiversity hotspots on our planet!

The shrublands are one of the most characteristic ecosystems in the Mediterranean area and host numerous endemic organisms (organisms you won’t find anywhere else in the world!). Travel from Crete to Libya and then back to the Balkans and see up close the rare Cretan wildcat, the formidable spines of the Porcupine, and the wise owl of goddess Athena!

Stand in front of a real bear, wolf, and wild boar. Try to find the different species of owl and woodpecker hiding in the tree branches and learn all about the remarkable species you can find in a deciduous forest!

Visit the Museum Gift Shop and discover a wide selection of unique gifts, books, educational items, souvenirs and products inspired by nature and the environment. Find something special for yourself or your loved ones and take home a little piece of your Museum experience. And if you’re looking for a last-minute gift, the Museum Shop is open 7 days a week!

Have you ever seen what a real viper looks like? Did you know how frogs breathe? Can you identify a bear footprint? Discover the answers to these and many other exciting questions by meeting our little friends in the Living Museum!

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At first glance, these ecosystems seem poor in biodiversity. But if you look closer, a surprising variety of organisms will reveal! And if you look carefully, you will discover all the outstanding adaptations that desert animals and plants have to survive in these extreme, yet fragile, ecosystems!

Wetlands are the natural “labs” for cleaning polluted water and are champions in carbon storage. They provide clean water, protection from floods, numerous materials, and medicines, while they are a vital habitat for many living organisms. Unfortunately, our planet lost about 87% of its wetlands over the last 300 years. Explore these precious ecosystems, the creatures that inhabit them, and learn about the dangers that threaten them.

The auditorium features documentaries, environmental videos and other audiovisual content. Visitors can find out more about the screenings at the Museum’s reception.

Discovery centre is a 250 sq.m. area, specially designed for children. It is a model of the various ecosystems of Crete enriched with a multitude of original and interactive games that invite our little friends to discover while playing. Start an excavation to uncover the fossilized bones of the largest animal that ever lived on the island! Enter a cave and explore, sit around the campfire, study animals and plants at the scientist’s bench, and experience the nature of Crete with all your senses.

Enjoy a relaxing walk among some of the most characteristic plants of the island and rest under the shadow of giant dinosaurs!

What was Crete like thousands of years ago? During the Pleistocene, the island was home to unique animals, including dwarf mammoths! Many of these species are known today only through their fossils. As the Earth and climate constantly changed, so did life, with countless species appearing and disappearing over time. Discover fossils from the Museum’s collection and come face to face with impressive life-size models, including a sirenian, a dwarf mammoth and a giant owl!

Crete hides a fascinating geological story within its mountains! Three major rock formations — marbles, schists, quartzites, limestones and dolomites — have shaped the island’s unique landscapes over millions of years, creating plateaus, gorges and caves. Explore the geological structure of Crete and step inside a life-size cave!

The Mediterranean is the last remnant of the ancient Tethys Ocean. The exhibition invites you on a fascinating journey through millions of years of geological history, using rocks, simulations and interactive exhibits to reveal a world that usually remains hidden from view: the slow movements of tectonic plates, faults and earthquakes, volcanoes and the movement of magma. Along the Greek subduction zone, tectonic plates continue to move, shaping the Aegean and causing earthquakes, volcanic activity and the uplift of the Aegean arc. Each rock is a trace of this long geological journey, while each fault bears the imprint of the forces that continue to shape the Earth. Discover the geological history of the Mediterranean and the Aegean and explore a planet that is still in constant motion.

In a specially designed environment, the visitor can experience earthquakes up to 7.6 Richter degrees, and get more familiar with this natural event. Useful information for a more complete understanding of earthquakes and correct practices are also offered.

“Encelados” simulates real earthquakes in a school classroom. Visitors learn all about earthquakes and the seismicity of the eastern Mediterranean through specially designed programs in collaboration with O.A.S.P. (both in Greek and English).

Attempting to raise awareness, improve knowledge about earthquakes, and train specific groups (educators, parents, volunteers, and civil protection agents), the Natural History Museum of Crete coordinates the RACCE program. The program is financed by the Civil Protection Service 2010, on the initiative of the European Union.

In the museum’s spherical projection, an immersive 360° experience, you will explore high-definition, real-time dynamic data, including cloud cover, temperature, rainfall rates, sulfur dioxide levels, and seismic activity. At the same time, discover historical data about Earth and the other planets in our Solar System. Planets and moons come closer than ever!

Minoan Crete was a world in which people and nature existed in constant interaction. The Cretan landscape, with its mountains, plains, and sea, provided the Minoans with raw materials, food, and opportunities for communication and trade, while also shaping their architecture, art, religion, and mythology. From the island’s plants and animals to everyday diet and impressive palaces, every aspect of Minoan life reveals a close relationship with the natural environment. Archaeological finds and modern ancient-DNA analyses shed further light on the identity and origins of the Minoans, allowing us to discover not only their civilisation, but also the people who created it. Despite the natural disasters and profound changes that led to its decline, Minoan civilisation left a unique and enduring mark on the history of Crete, the Aegean and the eastern Mediterrenean.