Crete is the largest Greek island, where, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. Furthermore Crete is ideal for those who love hiking and walking in cloak-and-dagger paths.
10 of the best places to visit in Crete island (video for your information)
CHANIA PREFECTURE
Weather in Chania
The old town of Chania is considered the “Venice of the East”. If you visit the city for the first time, you will be full in love with the breathtaking coastal lines: Falassarna and Elafonisi (with the amazing pink sand and turquoise waters), Balos lagoon, Sfakia and so many others, creating a unique cluster of a picturesque landscape.
There are a lot of campings offering tents for rental, mobile homes, rooms, studios, even apartments: Grameno (Paleochora region), Nopigia (Kissamos region), Chania (Agii Apostoli region), Mithimna (Drapania, Kissamos region).
From Kasteli (Kissamos) port you can participate οn a daily cruise to Balos lagoon and Gramvousa islets (two in number). Gramvousa is famous for its historical Venetian fortress, which still stands at a height of 137m, over the beach. The fort had also been used by pirates; one legend says, that there was a great treasure buried in the island. Furthermore, the old wreck that was abandoned many years ago near the beach, has become a characteristic spot of the islet. In the island there is also a tavern.
Don’t miss the chance to stroll around to the alleys of the Old Town & the Venetian Harbor of Chania!
Venetian harbor
Old town
Old town
Venetian harbor
Old town
The Mythical Ideon Andron or Ideon Cave is also a remarkable place of interest! According to Greek mythology, it was the cave where, the greatest god of antiquity, Zeus, grew up. Plato, Pythagoras and Epimenides (Greek philosophers) were initiated into this cave, as in ancient times, this cave was a place of initiation and purification. There are no historical references to the mysteries that took place in the cave, as the initiates were asked to conceal them from the public.
Ideon Andron
Ideon Andron
Ideon Andron
Frangocastello (is a Venetian Castle) and one of the most popular beaches of Crete, due to the stories of the legendary Drosoulites, the ghosts of soldiers who were appearing on the beach, before sunrise, at the end of May and on the first days of June.
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- Frangocastello
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- Frangocastello
Walk the majestic Samaria Gorge, the longest in Europe, with narrow passes reaching 500m in height.
Samaria gorge
Samaria gorge
Travel to the picturesque Vamos (traditional village), Apokoronas village with the majestic lake of Kournas, Stilos with the cool springs and the isolated village of Milia (on the way to Elafonisi), a remote paradise destination.
If you wish to experience the life in Gavdos then you can visit the island with the boat, from: Sfakia, Paleochora, Agia Roumeli or Sougia port. You can check further info at the itineraries. This stunning little island is a top destination for nature lovers and those who want to enjoy relaxing holidays by the sea. The “island of Calypso”, is famous for its sand dunes and cedar forest, both rare on Greek islands. The island has a few trails that lead you to some impressive coves and isolated beaches.
Chania has an airport and a ferry connection with the port of Piraeus (Athens). Furthermore Kasteli port has a ferry connection with Gythio port (south Peloponnese) and Kythera island.
Kaladi Beach, Kythera
RETHYMNO PREFECTURE
Weather in Rethymno
Rethymno is my beloved city! In my opinion the old town is the prettiest of all Crete. Spreading from its Venetian harbor through a maze of alleyways and lively streets, Rethymno’s Old Town contains all the life, history and traditions of Crete’s third-largest city. Fortezza fortress, Anogia village (Nikos Xilouris a great Greek musician was born there), are only a few of the lots of sights you may visit.
This prefecture, as Chania, offers to the visitors, amazing coastal areas: Preveli Palm Forest, Plakias beach, Bali, Agia Galini, Triopetra and so many others.
At Agia Galini village the camping No Problem is located. From Agia Galini port, you can participate on a daily cruise to Paximadia islets.
At Misiria beach (3km from Rethymno) there is also the camping Elizabeth, where you can rent a tent, a bungalow or a mobile home. Before you leave Rethymno, don’t forget to visit Argiroupolis’ springs. Apart from the wonderful waterfalls, you can also enjoy the delicious taverns.
Ιn Rethymno, Chania and Messara Bay you will discover the cute sea turtles nests of careta careta! Archelon is a rescue center for the protection of sea turtles around Greece. The nesting beach in Rethymno is about 12km long and it is located east of the capital town, on the northern coast of Crete.
Rethymno is also famous due to the Carnival Festival, which is very popular in Greece.
Carnival of Rethymno
Carnival of Rethymno
Rethymno has a ferry connection with the following ports: Piraeus (Athens), Santorini, Antikythera, Kythera.
HERAKLION PREFECTURE
Weather in Heraklion
Heraklion is the largest city of Crete and a rather popular destination for travelers from all over the world. Heraklion is a well-developed city with modern amenities and a strong cultural character. There are several sights and museums in the city and close to it: Koules castle (Venetian fortresss), Knossos (Minoan) Palace, Phaistos (Minoan) Palace and the Grave of Nikos Kazantzakis (one of the most important writers of Greece and worldwide).
Heraklion has a numerous of idyllic coasts, some of them are: Agiofarago, Agia Pelagia, Matala, Fodele (Dominikos Theotokopoulos – El Greco painter’s city of birth), Vathi, Lentas, Tsoutsouras, Kalamaki and so many others… Heraklion windsurfing centers can be found in popular beach resorts, such as Amoudara, Hersonissos and Malia.
At Heraklion, you can explore hiking trails, visit many gorges (Rouvas, Agiofarago, Gavari, Astrakiano) and go to the famous Psiloritis (or Mount Ida) and the Asterousia Mountains.
Heraklion has two campings: Creta Camping (it is located at Kato Gouves area) and Caravan camping (at Hersonissos area). They offer tents for rental, mobile homes, bungalows.
One of the top places of interest at Heraklion, is the Natural History Museum of Crete with the small scale aquariums and terrariums housing living animals that can be found in Eastern Meditarranean region. This Museum deserves a visit for an additional reason: An educational seismic table (earthquake simulator) is being operated at the Museum, offering its visitors the opportunity to learn about earthquakes and experience, in a safe environment, real earthquakes.
Natural History Museum of Crete
Sharks, seahorses, jellyfish… you’ll be astonished by the variety of Mediterranean marine life on display at the Cretaquarium, which includes 60 tanks with 1,7 million lt of seawater.
From Hersonissos you can participate on a daily cruise to Santorini island.
Αnother wonderful boat trip is to Dia island.
A wine tour of Heraklion introduces you to some of the best wines of Crete and allows you to uncover many of the region’s astonishing cultural highlights.
Heraklion has an airport and a ferry connection with the following ports: Piraeus (Athens), Thessaloniki, Chalki, Chania, Ios, Karpathos, Kasos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Rhodes, Santorini, Sitia.
LASITHI PREFEFCTURE
Weather in Aghios Nikolaos
Lasithi Prefecture, is a mysterious destination, appealing to all of those travelers who wish relaxation moments during vacation and having a mood for wandering indolent around. Agios Nikolaos is the capital city. Close to the town you can find many beautiful beaches such as Ammos, Kato Zakros, Voulisma, luxury resorts such as Elounda beach, Plaka or Istros and the exotic palm forest of Vai, the largest in Europe.
The campings located in Lasithi are the following: Sisi (located at Sisi beach), where you can rent a tent. Koutsounari camping (located at Ierapetra), where you can stay in wooden houses, rent a studio or a little house.
From Plaka beach you can participate on a daily cruise to Spinalonga island. From Ierapetra port you can participate on a boat trip to the exotic island Chrisi (Gaidouronisi) and from Makrigialos (Ierapetra) port you can participate on a daily cruise to Koufonisi island.
Some of the best places to visit in Lasithi are the following:
* Diktaion Andron (cave where according to Greek Mythology, was the place of birth of Zeus, Ancient God of Greeks).
DIKTAION ANDRON CAVE
* The Amazonas Park. It is a private zoo in the north east of the island of Crete. The focus of the zoo is on animals from South America, especially parrots and monkeys and cockatoos from Australia. There are also some domestic animals like donkeys and goats.
* Greek Mythology Thematic Park: The creation of this park was made to meet the needs of thousands of visitors who sought to find and learn more about the Myth and the culture of the ancient Greeks and Crete island. Ideal experience for families with children.
* Hike in Richtis Gorge and waterfall.
RICHTIS GORGE
RICHTIS GORGE
RICHTIS GORGE
Near Ierapetra, there is a seaside village which is considered the warmest location of all Europe! This village has an ideal climate with a continuous sunshine during 320 days annually. Even if, the weather is windy elsewhere, in this village you will not need heating or warm clothes! This is the reason why a lot of European people, retired people or digital nomads select this sunny destination to move out and enjoy the sea, the fishing, the wonderful living conditions! This village is called Myrtos and it is located in Crete, near Ierapetra city! Myrtos is also a very clean and well-kept village, famous for the sports activities that are organized there and the network of marked paths!
Myrtos village
Myrtos village
Myrtos village
Sitia has an airport and a ferry connection with the following ports: Piraeus, Karpathos island, Kassos island, Rhodes island, Anafi island, Milos island, Santorini island, Chalki island and Heraklion port.
“The Gastronomic Treasures of Crete”
Traditional Cretan Cuisine is excellent to taste. Most of the dishes consist of local fresh vegetables, olive oil flavored and meat coming directly from animals breaded at the lowlands nearby. More than 1700 plant species are existing at Cretan Land (oregano, thyme, rosemary, mint and cumin are some of them to be used to local recipes). So when you will visit Crete, remember to taste snails, kaltsounia (crispy cheese pies whose dough is pinched with the fingertips), apaki (smoked meat with a vinegar flavor), staka (is made from the crust of boiled sheep’s/goat’s milk) and it accompanies perfectly with fried eggs, fried potatoes and meat pies, gamopilafo (rice pilaf which is boiled in chicken and goat broth) and of course drink tsikoudia (the Cretan fire water)!
Would you like to discover more spectacular islands of Greece? Then you can visit:
Aghios Dimitrios Beach, Alonnisos island
Lalaria beach, Skiathos island
Panormos beach, Skopelos island
Samothraki island
Thasos island
Keros beach, Lemnos island
Pachia Ammos beach, Samothraki island
Agios Efstrations island
Lemnos island
Leros island
Astipalea island
Kounoupes islets, Astipalea
Panteli, Leros island
Leros island
Castellorizo island
Blue Cave Castellorizo Island
Chalki island
Ftenagia beach, Chalki island
Pondamos beach, Chalki island
Castle, Chalki island
Antipsara island
Glaroi Beach, Chios island
Oinouses island
Chios island
Gialiskari Beach, Chios island
Psara island
Traveling through Greece and not only there... 