Crete needs no introduction…it is the largest island of Greece and it is really unique and beautiful.

History, natural beauty, incredible gastronomy, hospitable people and wonderful beaches, high mountains, make it one of the most popular tourist destinations every year.

Visiting Crete is an experience of a lifetime and a stop on the bucket list of people who travel.

The Cretans, a proud but docile people, as genuine descendants of the Cretan Xenios Zeus, are famous for their hospitality, which they generously offer to the “foreigner”Crete has a rich history and culture which the visitor can easily feel. Get a taste of its historical past by simply wandering around its beautiful cities.

 

CHANIA -RETHYMNO -HERAKLEIO -AGIOS NIKOLAOS

Taking a walk you will come across stately mansions, Venetian fortresses, museums, fountains and churches, which exude a unique charm.

Chania, with its beautiful harbor, has preserved all its characteristics unchanged since the time of the Venetian occupation.

The city of Rethymno is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Greece: the Venetian fortifications blend harmoniously with the Orthodox and Catholic churches, the imposing residences of the Venetians.

Heraklion is the largest city of Crete and reflects the different cultures that flourished over the centuries with Byzantine and Venetian buildings as well as Ottoman constructions.Emblem of the city is the medieval Koule that dominates the Venetian harbor.

Agios Nikolaos is more modern and in the summer crowds of people gather and enjoy the tavernas around the picturesque lake of Vouliagmeni.

The Palace of Knossos

Knossos, the most important center of the Minoan Civilization, one of the most magnificent in human history, is the largest and most characteristic Minoan archaeological site ever discovered in Crete. The city’s heyday dates back to the Minoan era (2000-1350 BC). The brilliant Minoan palace has an area of ​​22,000 sq.m.

The Palace of Phaistos with its extraordinary findings such as the famous disk of Phaistos, to be exhibited in the Heraklion Museum.

Beaches

The beaches of Crete from one end to the other end of the island have clear blue waters in all shades, wonderful sandy beaches and “hidden” spots that, discovering them, is a paradise on earth.

Balos, Vai, Chrysi and Elafonissi are among the most beautiful beaches of Crete. Lie under the sun, feel the water gently flowing on your feet, gaze at the vast sea, take a dip in the heavenly waters.

On an island with 1,000 km of coastline it is very difficult to choose since they are all beautiful. But some stand out like…

ELAFONISI…the pink beach

It is a Natura 2000 protected area. There are only a few pink beaches in the world and the two most charming are in Crete. It is famous as the pink sand beach, caused by the corals that over time have been disintegrated by Mother Nature. isit is organized but very crowded in the summer. If you want more privacy, you can walk along the beach until you find a spot with more isolation.

BALOS

The enchanting beach of Balos is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, awarded as one of the best in the world by TripAdvisor. Very fine white and red sand, shallow water and at some point a lagoon with clear turquoise water. To reach Gramvousa and the beach of Balos, you can take one of the boats that depart daily from the port of Kissamos (Kastelli). The beach of Balos is also accessible from land.

FALASARNA

Crystal waters and an endless sandy beach. The white and red color of the sand as well as the view of the imposing mountains that surround it make a landscape unique.

PREVELI

With a dense palm forest, a wonderful lagoon and a Cretan gorge as a background, Preveli beach has every reason to be considered one of the most exotic in Greece.

VAI-Finikodasos (Palm trees beach)

East of Sitia, lies the most famous beach of eastern Crete with the only palm forest in Europe, Vai. A wonderful setting reminiscent of the tropics.

Matala

Loutro -Sfakion

The wonderful Mountains of Crete

PSILORITIS MOUNTAIN

It is the stone giant of Crete that dominates the entire island with its wild beauty. Mountain villages, unique caves, gorges and small plateaus make up a unique scenery.

LEFKA ORI (White Mountains)

In the west. Crete with the well-known plateaus of Omalos, Askyfos and a multitude of canyons, the most famous being that of Samaria. At the heart of the mountain range is the Mountain Desert, a lunar plateau with more than fifty bare peaks above 2000 meters that look like cones, the so-called piles. It is the most mysterious and eerie landscape that one can encounter in Greece and unique in the entire Northern Hemisphere.

The amazing SAMARIA GORGE

It is no coincidence that UNESCO has highlighted this canyon as a unique “biosphere reserve”. The tour is a unique experience, while the end of the route offers us an unexpected surprise, an exciting encounter with the waters of the Libyan sea.

Moni of Arcadi

Spinalogo

Traditional VILLAGES

Don’t forget to visit the traditional mountainous villages of Crete where customs and traditions of the original Cretan culture are preserved unchanged to this day.

GASTRONOMY

The miraculous Cretan Diet is well known for being highly nutritious, life-prolonging and helps prevent many of the modern diseases that shorten the lives of millions of people every year in the West. It is admirable the way the Cretans utilize the fruits of their rich land.

There are countless reasons besides the ones we mentioned to visit Crete. Most important is the excellent tourist infrastructure that offers many options for all tastes and preferences.

Crete has endless beauty and a summer that lasts longer due to its climate. Visiting Crethigh tourist season is a great idea to “discover” it.