BEACHES AND TOWNS OF CRETE

As the largest island in Greece, Crete has numerous places that are worth visiting such as enchanting beaches and mountain villages, historic towns and archaeological sites. In other words, Crete is the destination for a relaxing and cultural holiday.

WHAT TO SEE IN CRETE

Nature and beaches

Beaches are the main reason why tourists choose to go to Crete. They are more than 300, many are sandy beaches but some of them are rocky. One of the most beautiful is certainly Elafonissi, thanks to the white sand with pink shades.

The Balos Lagoon is located between Balos Beach and the promontory of Capo Tigani, an islet that can be reached on foot at low tide. The colors of this place are incredible, from the pink shades of the sand to the intense blue of the sea.

If you like trekking you should definitely visit the Samaria Gorge, a 16 km long canyon with rocks up to 500 meters high. To reach the canyon you have to go through a forest, which is not exactly the landscape you expect to see on a Greek island!

Towns

Absolutely unmissable are the ruins of the ancient city of Knossos. In particular, the castle of King Minos. Perhaps you have heard the myth of Theseus and Ariadne or that of Daedalus and Icarus. Daedalus was the architect who built the palace and was locked up inside it along with his son. To escape, they built wings with bird feathers and wax, but Icarus got too close to the sun, the heat melted the wax and he fell into the sea.
Isn’t it fascinating to visit the place that inspired these stories?

Then, you should go to Heraklion. Heraklion is the capital of Crete and one of the largest cities in all of Greece. As you can imagine, it is a lively city, but quite chaotic! However it is worth visiting for the Archaeological Museum that collects countless artifacts, some of which can date back to 5000 years ago.

One of the most popular towns is Agios Nikolaos. As a tourist town, you can find boutiques, trendy restaurants, but also traditional taverns and small craft shops.
The town lies on a hill in front of the Mirabello bay. This position give to Agios Nikolaos a fascinating atmosphere, especially in the evening with the lights on. In addition, the beaches around the town are really beautiful.

For a long time Crete was dominated by the Venetians and the Turks and the town of Chania is proof of that. It is no coincidence that it is known as the “Venice of the East”.
To discover this heritage, all you have to do is just stroll along the promenade. The buildings that reflect on the water are reminiscent of Venice, while the gold dome of the Janissary Mosque clearly recalls the Ottoman domination.

BEST TIME TO VISIT CRETE

Like most of the other Greek islands, such as Santorini or Mykonos, Crete has a pleasant climate all year round.

The tourist season generally starts in April and ends around mid-October. But the best months for a holiday are May, June and September when the heat is not excessive.