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30

Crete Travel Guide

Filed Under Greece

A trip to Crete
A thriving oasis for nature lovers and beach bums worldwide, Crete is the largest of Greece’s islands, boasting spectacular sceneries of majestic mountains and beautiful beaches. Oozing an authentic Greek feel mixed with the enchanting charms of the old world, Crete makes a great holiday vacation for those wishing to soak in exotic ambiance and explorer ancient ruins. The island is dotted with a dizzying array of holiday resorts with stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife. It’s almost impossible to avoid touristy riff-raff here in the summertime, but quieter months may leave you with the island to yourself.

Flights to Crete
Flip a coin to choose which way you should go to get to Crete: by air or sea. International travellers need to stop at Athens and take a plane from there to Iraklio or Hania. Taxis are aplenty at both airports, while you can always ask for a courtesy pick-up from your hotel.
By sea, tourists can take a car ferry from Brindisi, Ancona, Bari or Venice in Italy. The Piraeus harbour in Athens operates a number of services, while ferries also leave frequently from Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Kalamata and Glythio, and some of the Cyclade Islands in Greece. Crete is easy to navigate and most holidaymakers choose to explore the island on foot or buy taxi or hire car.

Sightseeing in Crete
Although it’s hard to resist the stunning beaches around Crete, exploring the capital city is also a rewarding experience. Stop by Iraklio, which is the main point of the entry, home to the bustling main squares of Plateia Venizelou and Plateia Eleftherias where you can watch people and while away the hours in the sun. Morosini Fountain, located in the heart of Heraklion city, is lovely while history buffs might want to check out the Archaeological Museum and Historical Museum of Crete.
Not to be missed is the magnificent sight of the Palace of Knossos. Don’t forget to check out the remarkable re-created frescoes. If you can’t get enough of sun and sea, head to Sitia and Agios Nikolaos, east of Iraklio, two of the most popular resorts with fully-equipped facilities.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Crete cuisine is second to none, with rich ingredients and fresh vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Cretan dishes boast mouth-watering seafood, while pita bread will give you the energy to stay up until dawn when you hit the nightclubs. With a great number of tourists, Crete offers electrifying, action-packed nightlife everywhere on the island. Major clubs and pubs can be found around the portside of Heraklion, while many resorts also provide rip-roaring entertainment for their guests.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
In Crete, it’s fun to buy things at quaint local shops where you can bargain for inexpensive, one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Crete is famous for leather goods, embroidered items and copper, bronze and terracotta wares. Local food also makes for a good souvenir. You can buy delicious cheeses, local Cretan honey or even Greek spices so that you can have a Greek cooking showdown back home.

Crete is also home to jaw-dropping coastlines and lovely valleys. Those into outdoor activities can enjoy several exciting pursuits such as snorkelling, fishing and hiking. Trekking in Samaria Gorge is not to be missed, especially by serious nature fans.

Daytrips
A large assortment of excursions can be enjoyed from the main town of Crete. Throughout the summer months visitors can enjoy dolphin tours from Rethymno Harbour, with some trips stopping at the little village of Panormo. Other boat trips include pirate ship tours out to Bali or Marathi upon boats which are dressed up like pirate ships. The trips involve visiting secluded beaches and playing pirate-based games.

For a more sober outing, visit Dictaean Cave, or the Cave of Zeus, which overlooks the beautiful Lassithi Plateau, an important site in Greek legend. The imposing Monastery of Arkadi lies close to Rethymno town and contains a museum whose collection includes artefacts ranging from religious icons to objects from the 1866 Holocaust.

Europe’s largest gorge, Samaria, takes around five hours to walk to and is a must-see for nature lovers. Breathtaking views can be enjoyed along the way and the hike culminates in the charming village of Agia Roumeli.

Must-see attractions
Boasting more attractions than any other Greek island, Crete is a place that cannot be fully explored in just one visit. But some places should really not be missed. Commonly regarded as one of the world’s greatest attractions, Minoan Palace features a collection of fine frescoes and some fascinating architecture, and makes for a wonderful day out for lovers of history.

For a more family based day out, Limnoupolis Water Park is the perfect place. Thrilling adventure rides can be enjoyed as well as a relaxing river ride, several swimming pools and a decent selection of restaurants. In contrast, the Star Beach Water Park is a collection of more traditional water-based attractions, such as waterskiing, scuba diving and banana boat rides.

Best time to go
Although Crete is most popularly visited between the months of July and August, the island can be enjoyed at any time of the year, with May and June or September and October being the most pleasant temperature wise. The winter time can be cold and rainy, but the frequent sunny days make it all worthwhile, particularly when the flowers come out in January. The much loved Heraklion Festival stretches from July to September and features live music, art and theatre performances.

Rainy day suggestions
Depending on what time of year you visit, you may well be in for a few rainy days but luckily, Crete has plenty to offer in the way of indoor attractions. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion houses an impressive collection of artefacts from ancient Greece. The smaller Sitian Museum is crammed with objects from the Minoan period, while Rethymno’s Historical and Folklore Museum and the Lychnostatis Museum are also worth visiting.

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