Crete is the largest Greek island and the 5th largest in the Mediterranean (after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica). It is located in the south of Greece and belongs to Aegean Sea. Crete has population of more than 600,000 people. In this blog post I’ll tell you why you should visit Crete and why this Greek island is a perfect summer destination.
The capital of Crete is Heraklion and it’s the biggest city in the island.
Some of the other cities in the island of Crete are Chania, Rethymno, Ierapetra, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia.
Crete has three airports (the biggest one located in Heraklion).
Beside amazing beaches and lovely cities, famous Greek hospitality, Crete is a place of history, archeological sites and museums.
We spent our summer holiday in Crete two years ago. It was one of the best summers and you’ll understand why after reading this post.
“The mystery of Crete runs deep. Whoever sets foot on this island senses a mysterious force coursing warmly and beneficently through their veins, sensing their soul beginning to grow” wrote Nikos Kazantzakis, Crete’s most celebrated author.
My husband and I stayed in a small town called Chersonissos and we rented a car to see the rest of the island.
We used to go to the same beach almost every day. What we loved is the beach vibe, the restaurant that was there with great food and very friendly staff. The place is called El Greco and I have to show you some photos from there.
The beach is small and sandy. The beach path is made of wooden boards painted in different colors and it was really relaxing to spend most of the day there.
Near Chersonissos there are a few small villages which are perfect to visit after the beach. You’ll see white houses with blue doors, pretty details everywhere and you’ll love it! You can feel Greek vibes in all these villages. One of them is Piskopiano village and the other one is Koutoulofari right next to it.
Here, you can relax and have lunch or come for dinner in one of the tavernas. They are less touristy therefore less crowded. The atmosphere is beautiful during the evening when small squares are lit up with fairy lights and soft Greek music coming from the restaurants. This is a pretty good reason why you should visit Crete!
Close to Chersonissos there is a town called Malia which is where you should go if you like to party.
Now let me tell you a bit about each city and then you can choose where to stay.
Chania
Chania is located in the northwest of Crete.
It’s a beautiful city with Medieval architecture and the most colorful buildings in the old town. Chania kept its authenticity and I found it very romantic. A walk in the old town is like a walk back in time. While other people were at the beaches in the morning we explored Chania and loved it.
The most famous spot in Chania is the Venetian port, which can be very busy during the day but almost empty in the late evenings.
One of those must see things in Chania is a beautiful lighthouse is located at the pier, at the entrance of the port. It was built by Venetians in 16th century. You can’t go into the lighthouse but you can admire it from the pier. One of the most dominant buildings in the port and the oldest Ottoman building in town is Mosque of Kiotsouk Hasan built in 1645.
The Venetian port lies in the heart of the old town town. The views of the port are simply stunning.
When you enter Chania old town from the port you’ll see picturesque alleys covered in bougainvillea in the summer with Cretan taverns, local shops and restaurants at every corner.
Here you’ll find the best souvenir shops with handmade Greek products starting from t-shirts to wooden ornaments to olive oil.
I don’t mind spending hours walking beautiful streets, looking at old buildings and browsing the shops. After that finding a nice place to have lunch is what a great day is all about. This is the perfect way to spend a day in the beautiful city of Chania in Crete.
City scenes from the movie Zorba the Greek were filmed in Chania. Maritime museum of Crete is located in Chania as well as Chania Archeological Museum.
I have to say that Chania is one of the most colorful cities I’ve ever visited.
Rethymno
I’ll remember the little town of Rethymno as one with the prettiest streets and beautifully decorated coffee shops and restaurants.
It seems like they’re almost competing whose place is gonna look prettier. And they’re doing a great job! Just strolling the narrow streets and finding a quiet place to sit and enjoy the famous Greek frappé made my day.
Venetian fortress (Fortezza) dominates the town. Rethymno is located 80 km east of Heraklion and 60 km west of Chania.
We saw both Chania and Rethymno in the same day, but I would suggest taking at least one day to visit each city.
Heraklion
Heraklion is the capital of Crete and the largest city in the island. It’s full of interesting things to see.
If you are interested in history you’ll have a whole lot to explore and learn in Crete. It’s definitely one of the best reasons why you should visit Crete.
One of the oldest civilisations, the Minoans, inhabited Crete between 2700 BC and 1450 BC. Heraklion is close to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, which in Minoan times was the largest centre of population on Crete. From Heraklion port you can take a ferry to other Greek islands like Santorini, Paros, Ios, Rhodes, Myconos, Naxos.
The old town of Heraklion is surrounded by defensive walls. Venetians built Koules fortress in the 16th century.
This city is full of history. When in Heraklion you should visit The palace of Knossos, Archeological Museum and Historical Museum of Crete.
There are many Venetian and Turkish fountains in Heraklion.
Heraklion is not only for history and architecture lovers but also a modern city where you can find everything you need.
Agios Nikolaos
Another beautiful town in Crete is Agios Nikolaos. It is a small town located in east of Heraklion. It was settled in the late Bronze Age. The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas.
Here, in Agios Nikolaos, you’ll find Lake Voulismeni located in the center of the city. According to the legend, goddess Athena bathed in it. A local urban myth is that the lake is bottomless and that it is actually in a crater of an extinct volcano.
Fisherman’s church is located in on the pier west of Lake Voulismeni. Inside the church, there is a 25-meter-long crypt look like a museum of sailing. The church is dedicated to the safety of the fishermen of the lake.
Beaches
Crete has amazing beaches. Furthermore, they say that Crete has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world! They are one of the reasons why you should visit Crete.
Some of the most beautiful beaches are Balos and Elafonissi, both close to Chania. There is Preveli beach in Rethymno, as well as Rodakino beach. Matala beach in Heraklion was a famous hippie spot in ‘70s.
Lasithi plateau
Finally, the place we loved the most! We were looking for a place to visit in the mainland and Lasithi plateau was one of the best recommendations we got. We went there twice, that’s how much we liked it.
Beside beautiful beaches and cities Crete has much more to offer. So, what are the other reasons why you should visit Crete?
If you’re staying for some time and want to see something really beautiful, rent a car and go to Lasithi plateau.
Lasithi plateau is located about 70 km east from Heraklion and lies at an average altitude of 840 meters. The plateau is famous for its white windmills that haven’t been used since the early 20th century. They actually worked as water pumps and their purpose was to irrigate the land.
Here you will see the real rural life of Crete. There are many small villages on the plateau which maintain their traditional colour and character. Don’t hesitate to come out of your car and walk along the little streets. You will see sights of authentic farm living and you’ll enjoy moments of slow living.
There are also a few monasteries to visit in the Lasithi plateau.
I suggest staying here for lunch and having a relaxing afternoon strolling through the village of Tzermiado.
We had a traditional Greek lunch in a tevern owned by a great couple. He came to offer my husband some ouzo and to talk for awhile and she gave me a bag of their home dried oregano which I brought home with me. We felt really welcome and these are the small things I will always remember.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be happy to help you plan your trip to Crete.
Also, if you’re following me on Instagram you can always send me a message there. I’m looking forward to hear from you!
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