Visitors of Crete may come to contact with the traditions and customs of Crete, through a large number of museums and collections that intend to highlight the folklore and ethnological tradition of the island. Important collections of bygone eras include utensils related to traditional agriculture, livestock breeding, wedding, christening, birth, architecture, clothing and equipment of traditional Cretan houses.
Excellent collections are met at the museums of Lychnostatis in Hersonissos, Chania, Arolithos by Tylissos, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Therisso, Gavalohori, Piskopiano, Somatas, Ini, Asites, Chandras, Palekastro, Vrahassi, Gavdos, Pefki, Hamezi, Mohos, Spili and more. Traditional watermills at Zakros and Chromonastiri are open to visitors. Similarly, venues related to the olive tree include the Museum of Olive in Vouves, the old oil mill (fabrica) of Archanes, Vatolakos, etc.
Special ethnological collections are listed at the Museum of Acritans of Europe at Paleochora and Vori. Maritime and fishing tradition is highlighted at the Naval Museum of Crete and at the Fisheries Museum at Kolimbari. Other notable museums are the Museum of School Life at Nerokouros, the Museum of Musical Instruments at Houdetsi and the Wax Museum of Potamianos in Zoniana.
Oriseum Museum 
The museum is a private idea of the priest Michael Georgoulakis and consists of his personal collection of folk art and historical objects.
Roustika Melathron hosts the Greek Community of Folk Dance and Song, the Dancing Association Parthenon and the museum of traditional costumes from all over Greece, from the collection of Katie Karekla and Andreas Fragiadakis.
The Folk Museum of Spili is housed since 2011 in a traditional two-storey house at Spili and was founded by the local Women's Association.
The Folklore Museum of Agia Marina - The Cretan rural house, is a non-profit project-exhibition supported by volunteers. We opened doors in 2014 and we receive many visitors and schools as guests year round. Also, we organise traditional feasts and run workshops on traditional olive oil making and weaving art.
The Folklore Museum of the picturesque village Somatas was founded in 1971 by Evangelos Hadjispyrou. The exhibits include traditional agricultural tools, traditional home furnishing, but also weapons and military equipment from the German Occupation.
The folklore museum of Metohi - Sgoudiana is located near Korfos beach at Gavdos Island and was founded by the priest Emmanouel Bikogiannakis, who collected all Gavdian day life tools, agricultural and shipbuilding equipment, traditional costumes, household items, etc.
The Open-air Museum Lychnostatis was founded in 1992 by the doctor and collector George Makrakis. The buildings themselves are some of the main exhibits as they were built thoroughly with the prevalent raw materials (stone-wood-clay).
The Menelaos Parlamas Museum of Rural Life & Theano Metaxa-Kanakaki Weaving Collection, housed in a 19th century stone-built olive mill and house, was founded by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies in 1988.
