Cities on the island of Crete Greece name. Greece: Crete and its resort regions

Much has already been said about Crete in guidebooks. Mentioning the name of this island, it is certainly associated with the ancient Minoan civilization, the best Greek olives and wines, legendary architectural monuments and beach resorts, known far beyond the borders of Greece. But The best way make sure of the limitless tourism opportunities of Crete - see it with your own eyes.

Geography of Crete and how to get there

Crete- the southernmost and largest island of Greece, surrounded by the Libyan, Ionian and Cretan seas. Its landscapes are predominantly mountainous, but give way to fertile valleys, orange and olive groves. The mountains of Crete are riddled with numerous caves, which in ancient times were places of worship. Administratively, Crete is divided into nomes Chania, Heraklion, Lassithi And Rethymno.

Getting to Crete V high season will not be difficult - from May to October the island is connected by direct air links with many cities in Russia and the world. Tourists are received mainly internationally. Sometimes charters are launched to Chania. IN low season you will have to fly with a transfer in Athens. The island is also connected by ferry service to the port of Piraeus and the Greek islands.

History of Crete

It is known that people lived on Crete back in the Neolithic period. By the 2nd millennium BC. 4 kingdoms were formed on the island with centers in Zakros, Knossos, Malia and Phaistos. The main population of Crete were the Kydonians, Minoans, as well as Phoenicians and Pelasgians. By the 1st millennium BC. The Dorians appeared on the island, forming dozens of policies here. The further history of Crete is a series of conquests, during which the island passed from one invader to another. On its territory in different time ruled by Muslims and Catholics, Crete was under the control of the Venetians for several centuries and Ottoman Empire. Finally, in 1913, it reunited with Greece, becoming the country's largest and southernmost island. The entire history of Crete is closely intertwined with mythology. According to legend, Zeus was born here, the Minotaur lived here, King Minos ruled and the brave Theseus performed exploits.

Climate and swimming season in Crete

On the island, as throughout Greece, reigns Mediterranean climate. The season in Crete is longer than in northern regions. You can swim from May to October. The hottest months on the island are July-August, when the air warms up to +37 C°, the sea - up to +27 C°. Those who do not like the heat should plan a vacation for June or September. During these months, the air is heated to +29 C°, the water - to +25 C°.

Resorts of Crete

Each of the regions of Crete has an administrative center and a whole scattering of resorts. The center of the island is Heraklion - a city with developed infrastructure, a large aquarium and water parks. Among the popular resort villages are: Amoudara, Kokkini Hani, Agia Pelagia, Hersonissos, Stalida, Gouves, Malia. Lasithi is an area that attracts with its natural beauty. It includes the resorts of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.

The region of Rethymnon is the leader in the number of vacationers. Tourists love picturesque Rethymnon with its Venetian streets and abundance of attractions. This region includes the popular resorts of Bali, Panormo, Adele, and Platanias. The Chania region is no less attractive. The most striking sights and beaches of Crete are located on its territory. This region includes the resorts of Agia Marina, Georgioupolis, Stalos, Kalyves, Paleochora, Agia Roumeli.

What to visit in Crete

Crete deservedly enjoys the love of tourists from all over the world. And one of the reasons is the abundance of attractions, visiting which will allow you to get to know the culture of Greece as much as possible. Each of the island's nomes can boast interesting places for visiting:

Heraklion. The famous giant castle is located here, consisting of labyrinths of rooms and passages. This archaeological site has been partially restored. The main finds of the Minoan era found in Knossos are today exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Not far from the capital of the island lie the ruins of Festos, one of the largest aquariums in Europe and the picturesque lake Zaros. In Heraklion itself, it is worth seeing the Venetian Loggia, the Cathedral of St. Titus, the Koules Fortress and the Morosini Fountain in the Lions Square;
Lassithi. This area is primarily famous for its nature. In Lassithi there is the Cave of Zeus, decorated with stalactites and shimmering underground lake. The most famous landmark of the area is the Venetian fortress, which long served as a leper colony;
Rethymno. A region that is especially popular among tourists. Here is the architectural pearl of Crete - the Arkadi Monastery. It is also worth visiting the caves of Melidoni, Ideon Andron and Sfedoni, and in Rethymno itself - the Venetian harbor, the Fortezza fortress and the Museum of Archaeology;
Chania. The westernmost region of the island is famous for its luxurious beaches. Among them are the famous Elafonisi, Balos, Falasarna. People come here to walk along the Samaria Gorge, see the ancient Aptera and the Gramvousa fortress. Chania itself is a beautiful Venetian city worth visiting Cathedral, Maritime Museum and Firkas Fortress.

Cuisine of Crete

Local kitchen - business card Crete and its intangible attraction. Traditionally, on the Cretan table you can see olive oil, cheeses, and herbal salads. And although the island’s cuisine is in many ways similar to the traditions of pan-Greek gastronomy, it has its own characteristics. You should definitely try the calcunya pies, the ofto (coarsely chopped pieces of meat grilled over charcoal), the dakos appetizer, the graviera and mizifra cheeses and the typical tsikoudia drink. The cuisine of Crete is not complete without seafood: squid, fish and octopus.

Crete is one of the most valuable assets of Greece. The island contains majestic mountains, monuments of ancient civilizations, charming cities of the Venetian era and modern resorts, ready to show tourists true Cretan hospitality.

The island of Crete (Κρήτη) is one of the most popular destinations summer holiday among tourists from many European countries. It is the largest island and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Crete is the southernmost of the large islands of Greece. The distance from the island to the Greek mainland is approximately 110 kilometers, up to 175 kilometers, to Africa 300 kilometers. The administrative center of the island is the city of Heraklion.

Crete has a well-developed tourism infrastructure. The island has comfortable hotels offering the most Better conditions accommodation, small budget hotels, as well as rental apartments. Wealthy residents of some European countries buy property here to live during their holidays and after retirement. Largest quantity Tourists come to Crete from April to October.

Dimensions of the island of Crete

The area of the island is 8261 km².
Length from west to east – 260 km.
The maximum width from north to south is 60 km.
The length of the coastline is 1046 km.
Highest point 2456 m.

General information about the island of Crete

Crete has a mountainous terrain. The island has many gorges, caves, mountain plateaus and few plains. The island has a Mediterranean climate. The weather on the island is characterized by moderate, rainy winters and dry, hot summers. Snow falls very rarely in the lowlands. In summer average temperature fluctuates between 25 and 30 degrees. The south coast has higher summer temperatures and milder winters. West Side the islands are greener. There are more trees here.

Crete has a developed road network and regular city and intercity bus services. The main highway of Crete runs through the entire island along the northern coast and connects the main cities from Kissamos in the west to Vaia in the east.

The island of Crete has a rocky coastline. Therefore, most of the beaches here are relatively small. The longest beach on the island is located near the town of Rethymnon.

The photo shows one of the beaches near the city of Chania.

There are three airports on the island(two of them are international, one serves local lines).

Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis).
Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis.
Sitia Airport (serves local flights).

Most tourists arrive in Crete through the airports in the cities of Heraklion and Chania. Some tourists use sea transport, which arrives at the ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethimno, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia.

Most popular tourist attractions: Archaeological excavations in Knossos, Malia, Festos, Gortyn and other cities; monuments of the Minoan civilization.
Venetian Fortezza Castle in Rethymni, the port of Chania and other monuments of Venetian rule.
Samaria Gorge, Lassithi Plateau, Cave of Zeus, Palm Beach, protected natural areas.

The most famous cities in Crete

The island is home to approximately 623 thousand people. Most of the settlements are located on the northern coast of the island. Largest cities islands of Crete: Heraklion (population 275 thousand people), Chania (59.9 thousand people), Rethymnon, Ierapetra, Agios Nikolaos (19.7 thousand people), Sitia (9 thousand people).

Try a tour in Crete.

Heraklion city

The city of Heraklion is the largest settlement on the island of Crete and the administrative center of the island. Heraklion is located on the northern coast, in the central part of the island. More than 170 thousand people live in the city. Near the city (about 5 kilometers east of the city) is the Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport. Heraklion Airport serves a large number of tourists arriving on the island. The port of Heraklion has ferry connections with some islands and cities on the mainland (Santorini, Ios Island, Paros, Mykonos, Rhodes, Athens).

The photo shows an ancient fortress in Heraklion.

In the city and its surroundings there are a large number of interesting places for tourists: the Palace of Knossos, the Venetian fortress (Rocca al Mare), the old harbor, the archaeological museum, churches built at different times, a mosque.

Chania city

The city of Chania is the second largest city on the island of Crete. The city is located on the northern coast of the island, approximately 145 kilometers west of the city of Heraklion. The distance from the city to the western tip of the island is about 40 kilometers. The history of the city goes back more than three thousand years. Old city, the promenade and the harbor are considered the main tourist attractions of the city of Chania. The central part of the old city is called Kasteli. Nearby is the popular tourist square Eleftherios Venizelos. About 45 kilometers south of the city are the Samakria Gorge and Lefka Ori National Park. More than 55 thousand people live in the city. There is an international airport near the city. Not far from the city (7 km), in the town of Souda, there is a passenger port.

View of the embankment in the city of Chania.

Rethymno city

The city of Rethymno (Ρέθυμνο) is located on the northern coast of the island of Crete, about 70 kilometers west of the city of Heraklion. Currently, Rethymnon is a popular tourist destination. There are many beaches and hotels near the city. There are many cafes near the embankment and the old town, pedestrian zone. The main attraction of Rethymno is the Venetian fortress.

City of Ierapetra

The city of Ierapetra is the southernmost city in Greece. It is located on the south coast of Crete, in the eastern part of the island. This is the only big one locality on the south coast of the island. Average annual temperature air temperature in the city is 20.1 °C (one of the warmest cities in Greece). The distance from the city of Heraklion is approximately 100 kilometers.

Ierapetra was included in the "50 Most Beautiful Places" catalog Southern Europe". The old town and the embankment are popular places among tourists. The main shopping street is Koundouriotou. Near the city there are several beautiful mountain gorges. On the nearby island there is a popular nature protection zone. The beaches located near the city are some of the best in Europe. In 2012, the city was among the winners of the Gold QualityCoast award.

For history buffs

The island of Crete attracts not only amateurs beach holiday. The island left a noticeable mark on the history of Europe. More than 4 thousand years ago, the first Minoan civilization in Europe arose on the island. It is believed that the palace in the ancient city of Knossos was the first such structure in Europe. For the first time in the history of mankind, such engineering and architectural solutions as multi-storey buildings, natural and artificial lighting, water supply and sewerage, ventilation, heating, and paved roads were used in the Palace of Knossos.

The island of Crete has left its mark on Greek myths. According to legend, here in the city of Knossos, the Minotaur lived in the palace of King Minos. The heroes of Hellas Hercules and Theseus came here. The term Ariadne's Thread originated on this island. This island is the birthplace of the ancient Greek god Zeus. But, if these words don’t mean anything to you, come to Crete just to sunbathe and swim.

You may be interested in: my vacation .

Even Zeus ordered to relax on this beautiful island - Crete! Crete is undoubtedly a legendary, fabulous island, history and myths are intertwined here. The reality is that the island of Crete has an excellent climate and excellent conditions for tourists to relax.

The first tourist can be considered Zeus himself, who turned into a bull and stole beautiful Europe. After the abduction, Zeus brought Europa to the island of Crete and was not mistaken: the princess was picky, but she was also struck by the extraordinary beauty of the island. As a result, Europe was inflamed with a reciprocal passion for the formidable Zeus.

There is no industry on the island of Crete, except for a tiny fruit processing plant. Comfortable island hotels filled everything in Crete sea coast. Local residents have the opportunity all year round enjoy the clear sea and clean air of Crete. The area of the island is relatively small - only three hundred kilometers in length and much less in width, while the island of Crete is washed by the waters of four seas at once: the Aegean, Cretan, Libyan and Ionian. Each of these seas hides its own legends.

Russian tourists are accustomed, of course, to large scales. And yet, Crete is the largest island and has an ancient and colorful history. Perhaps, before visiting the island of Crete, it would be nice to read the myths of Ancient Hellas again and remember Helios, the god of the Sun, Hermes, the patron of trade, Aphrodite, the beautiful goddess of love. Aphrodite had her own messenger, the playful but sometimes very cruel boy Eros. He laughed loudly when he hit the target, and his eyes shone with triumph and joy. It can be assumed that tourists traveling around Crete are often accompanied on the island by the laughter of the messenger of Aphrodite, since the whole atmosphere of the island exudes bliss and languor.

On the island of Crete, there are absolutely no traces of any hard work, as if everything is growing on its own: bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers; here, under the dazzling sun, groves of olive, orange, and lemon trees lie.

The Minoan civilization once developed here, and was one of the oldest human civilizations on the island of Crete. Once upon a time, it was on the island of Crete that the birth of Greek religion, culture and history took place. The death of the Minoan civilization is associated with the most terrible volcanic eruption, the memory of which is preserved only in ancient legends. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Arthur Evans, an archaeologist conducting excavations at Knossos, found evidence of the existence of this great culture on the island of Crete.

On the island of Crete, of course, during summer heat best place becomes a sea beach. But, having arrived here, tourists will definitely want to go on some excursions to see the legendary sights of the island of Crete.

The Palace of Knossos amazes with its grandeur. It was built four thousand years ago and had so many rooms that the name “Labyrinth” became a household name thanks to this particular palace. Here according to legend great hero Theseus defeated the monstrous Minotaur. In addition to Knossos, ancient Phaestos deserves attention on the island of Crete, where an impressive palace rises on the mountain, the history of which is associated with many legends.

Each city on the island of Crete is unique in its own way; on the island, in addition, there are several ancient fortresses and active monasteries. To those tourists who are less interested historical monuments, you won’t be bored on the island of Crete either.

Those who like to tickle their nerves can walk on the island of Crete along the longest gorge in Europe, the length of this entire path is eighteen kilometers. Samaria is located in the southeast of Crete, and you will have to walk through the local gorge for at least eight hours. It's worth stocking up on comfortable shoes. The overhanging steep cliffs can rise to a height of more than 600 meters, and at a place called “The Gate” the gorge narrows to three meters! Along the entire route, tourists will encounter amazing landscapes and rare plants. At the end of the path, the gorge leads to the south of the island, the road descends to the village of Agia Roumeli.

Rarely will a tourist refuse to take a sea cruise to the island of Santorini while staying on the island of Crete. On a comfortable boat you can reach the volcanic island covered with the famous black sand off the coast in four hours. The snow-white houses of the island of Santorini, located right on the rocks, are unforgettable.

Those who swim in the sea face the only danger on the island of Crete - sea urchins. They spend almost all their time attached to rocks and not touching anyone at all. But sometimes the current carries them onto the sand, then, due to carelessness, there is a danger of stepping on sea urchin. Maybe that's why the Germans and Dutch love swimming pools so much sea water instead of a real beach? The sea urchin lives only in very clean water and therefore serves as a kind of quality mark!

The beaches of Crete are varied. Wide sandy beaches near the village of Elounda and the town of Agios Nikolaos, pebbly or rocky beaches in many other places. Not far from a place called Vai in the east of Crete there is a unique beach with numerous palm trees.

The northern and southern parts of Crete are very different from each other. In the north of the island of Crete are the capital of the island, Heraklion, and the picturesque city of Rethymno, as well as medieval Chania and all the main resort places. The climate in the northern part of the island is milder, nature is more abundant here, but there are also more vacationers.

South part The island of Crete, facing Africa, is more severe. Hippies loved to hang out here back in the sixties. The city of Ierapetra was for some time one of the most visited by young people in Europe. The south of Crete also provides all the opportunities for a good holiday. Excellent beaches and a lot of attractions, among which on the island of Crete one can note the fortress located here in Frangokastello, dating back to the Middle Ages. During the dominance of the Venetians, many different fortresses were built on the island of Crete; now cozy Greek restaurants, coffee shops and taverns are located next to them.

Tourists on the island of Crete will be able to taste dishes made from lobster that was still swimming in the sea in the morning, and here experts can even give their recommendations for cooking, and the cook will definitely take them into account. But you should still trust the local experienced chefs. For the attention of ladies watching their figure, it is worth noting that the portions here are simply huge... But these dishes are also dangerous because they are incredibly tasty...

Even if you're tired and only dreaming of the beach or the pool, consider at least a couple of traditional excursions on the island of Crete. One of them is to a water park, which is extremely popular among tourists. And if you are in a romantic mood, visit the Lasithi plateau; numerous windmills of a very exotic type would probably make Don Quixote work hard when he arrived here...

On the island of Crete, the youth of nature and the antiquity of history are unusually and harmoniously connected. Tourists on the island of Crete can expect a leisurely holiday among the beauty of nature, while the tourism infrastructure is quite well developed. The island of Crete has an attractive and magical feel.

Tourists vacationing here will not be bored. The hotels host evenings on weekends, and often every day: barbecue, fish evening, concert of a local folk group or pianist, lottery, disco... Even those who do not leave the hotel gates for several days do not get bored here. Tourists come from all over the world. There are a lot of tourists from England, a lot of Germans. Tourists from Russia on the island of Crete are very welcome here! Many people on the island of Crete come every year with their whole family to swim in the cleanest sea and breathe incredible clean air, throwing off the burden of constant worries. Tourists can rent a car and travel independently to different places, further experiencing the immediate atmosphere of the island of Crete. So, perhaps someday you too will walk through the mountains on the island of Crete, visit the beaches and sit here in some cozy tavern.

Reviews from tourists about the weather and holidays in Crete.

Crete is the largest island of Greece, located in the south of the country in the center of the eastern part Mediterranean Sea. This amazing island captivates tourists with its sandy shores, crystal sea, beautiful nature and rich history. Crete is an island where three parts of the world intersect: Africa, Europe and Asia. There are many resorts on the island, both large and small. The most popular of them are Amoudara and Hersonissos.

The island of Crete is divided into 4 regions: Lasithi, Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno. The southern part of Crete is framed by mountains near the sea, the northern coast has sandy beaches and warm sea, the western part has high levels of humidity due to vegetation, while the eastern part contains picturesque hills, fertile plains and rocky mountains.

Crete is located in the UTC+2 time zone (+3 in summer), so the time here is two hours behind Moscow (in summer, accordingly, an hour).

How to get to Crete?

Direct flights to the island depart only in the summer due to the large flow of tourists. Almost every day Aeroflot, Transaero and Aegenair send planes from Moscow to Crete. There are also direct flights from other major cities in Russia, but again only to summer time.

There are three airports on the island: Heraklion international, Daskalogiannis international Chania, and local Sitia.

At other times of the year, you can get to Crete with a transfer in Europe, or fly to Athens, and then use local airlines and fly to the capital - Heraklion. However, you can get to the island by other, cheaper and in an interesting way- on a ferryboat. A fast ferry departing daily takes you from the port of Athens to the ports of Heraklion, Sitia, Rethymno or Agios Nikolaos. This journey will take 12-14 hours.

Climate

Average monthly temperature in Crete

Areas of Crete

Heraklion- the largest, central region of the island, where the tourism infrastructure is most developed. Along the coast of the Cretan Sea there are noisy resort centers, comfortable hotels, and two water parks. Located in this area Heraklion- a city that has existed since ancient times, with its own airport, port, various souvenir shops, shops, disco bars and restaurants. The region has its own resorts: Amoudara, Kokkkini Hani, Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalida and Malia, Agia Pelagia. The main attractions of Heraklion are the Palace of Knossos with the famous mythical labyrinth, the house-museum of the artist El Greco, excavations of ancient cities, Lake Zaros, caves of the Paleolithic period and beautiful beach Matala.

Region Rethymno It is famous for its clean beaches, stretching for 16 kilometers, interesting ancient buildings and amazing landscapes. This area is more suitable for lovers of family or secluded recreation. The resorts include the same name Rethymno, Platanias, Adele, Panormo and Bali. Tourists here will be interested in the freshwater lake, the ancient monastery of Monis Preveli, the village of Argyroupoli with a complex of picturesque waterfalls and the monastery of Arcadia.

Chania- a picturesque area in the green part of the island, in the west. It rains here in winter, and the vegetation has a reserve of moisture for the entire subsequent dry summer. Popular resorts of Chania: Kavros, Georgioupolis and Platanias. Chania is loved by tourists for its excellent many kilometers of beaches. Elafonissi beach with its unique pink sand deserves special attention. Tourists are offered here leisure- water skiing, catamarans, paragliding, diving. On the shore there are playgrounds with attractions for children. For adults - evening programs and live music. There are also attractions here: the famous Samaria Gorge, the Venetian fortress, the islet of Gramvousa, ancient city Aptera, the Turkish fortress, and Chania itself - very picturesque and interesting place.

Lassithi- a beautiful and historically rich region. This is where Mirabello Bay is located. Popular resorts in the area are Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. The tourist infrastructure is well developed here. Diving in Lasithi will show you the ruins of an ancient Greek village that was underwater. In the central part you can see many windmills, of which there are about a thousand. Lasithi is home to the city of Sitia, one of the most beautiful cities on the island.

Entertainment in Crete

Sports and active recreation are encouraged in Crete. The mild climate of this island allows you to do whatever you want: sea activities will reveal the beauty of the local waters and underwater landscapes. Windsurfing and water skiing are popular. There are swimming pools and GYM's, horseback riding and cycling are popular, and the Cretan water park will be of interest to both adults and children. Tickets cost 40 and 25 euros respectively.

In Crete, many tourists discover canyoning- walking along river beds along mountain gorges, or mountaineering, fortunately, there is something to conquer: mountain ranges, steep cliffs, peaks, picturesque cliffs. Vacationers will be offered to go fishing on a yacht, visit a jeep safari, and at the end of the day relax at a traditional Cretan evening.

Shopping in Crete

In the center of Heraklion there are shops selling clothes, souvenirs and other goods. Another such site can be found near the Knossos Palace. There are also souvenir shops on the neighboring streets; prices there will be slightly lower. As a rule, vacationers from Crete bring clay or porcelain figurines, olive oil, products self made, coffee, painted plates and vases, cosmetics based on olive oil. In Crete, you can bargain; sellers will willingly lower your price after a little persuasion, and you will be pleased to buy a memorabilia at a lower price.

But the best thing you can buy in Crete is a fur coat. The Greeks have long been famous for their furs and their affordable prices. Such pleasure will not be so expensive - a mink coat will cost 1800-4500 euros, other fur products - 1000-1500 euros. In addition to fur coats, leather goods such as shoes and bags are popular. Shoes will cost you 40-100 dollars, a genuine leather bag - from 35 euros.

According to the Chania Police Department, in connection with the work on sections of the Northern National Road of Crete, traffic controllers will work and special road signs will be installed to ensure smooth traffic and the safety of people.

All about the island of Crete

“I traveled a lot to foreign cities and suffered so cruelly.
Still, I’ll say that you asked and want to know.
There is such a country in the middle of a wine-colored sea, -
Crete is beautiful, rich, washed by waves everywhere.
There are ninety cities in it, but there are so many people.”

Homer

Amazing beauty greek island with a rich history, culture and traditions, an island located at the very crossroads of three continents - between Europe, Asia and Africa. Stretching over 250 km from east to west and approximately 60 km from north to east, Crete has become the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean basin, covering an area of 8,261 sq. km. Coastline The island is more than 750 km long, most of which are beaches... sandy and pebble, famous, that show off on postcards and in social media feeds, and vice versa, almost unknown, hidden in secluded coves. Crete is bright sun, pleasing more than 300 days a year, a colorful azure sea, majestic mountains, charming villages and unique ones, this is a special culture, traditions passed on by local residents from generation to generation, a rich history dating back more than 5 thousand years... These are some of the myths and legends Ancient Greece, those that are known to us from school are closely intertwined with local history... It is here that she left us with a unique historical and cultural heritage highly developed Minoan civilization in the form of majestic palace complexes and ancient cities. It is here that the architecture of cities and villages to this day is a reflection of the real mixture of cultures that occurred as a result of the numerous conquests of the island... Crete is a unique island that lives in its own special rhythm, without changing for decades... And finally, amazing fact, Crete... this proud, rebellious, sometimes brutal, but at the same time incredibly beautiful and unique island that bears female name Kriti (Greek Η Κρήτη). Incredible...

You know, when you first look at the map of the island, you might think that all of Crete can be seen in one trip. And we thought so, what to hide!.. But time passes, decades fly by, and now we are almost sure that, most likely, we will never know all of Crete, even in our entire lives!.. After all, literally everyone every centimeter of this amazing island hides some kind of mystery, here every stone is a silent witness rich history, around every turn there are fantastic views... But what can I say, because even one part of the island is sometimes completely different from the other. For example, due to a more humid climate, western Crete boasts more abundant vegetation compared to the eastern part of the island. And, relaxing on the northern coast, it’s hard to imagine how different southern Crete can be with its secluded coves, many of which can only be reached by boat, steep mountains, often breaking straight into the sea, rugged by dozens, and of course, the incredible Libyan Sea!

Yes, perhaps we are a little crazy, but many years ago, having completely accidentally found ourselves on the island of Crete, we were unexpectedly drawn in... By the next trip, we couldn’t even think about anything, just to return to unusual island Crete, again learn its secrets, again be impressed by the grandeur of the harsh mountains, enjoy stunning views, be amazed at the incredible colors of the sea, the diversity of nature, get acquainted with the history, traditions, way of life of cute villages attached to the slopes of the mountains, communicate with local residents, proud, but limitless friendly and hospitable.

You can talk about Crete as endlessly as possible... And, of course, within the framework of the introduction on the main page it is impossible to tell even a small part of how unique and inimitable this island is, about all its wealth. But, in fact, our site is about all this. And, in order to get at least a little orientated in the endless flow of information, let us explain that: the sections on the site are divided by region, just as Crete itself is divided into Nomes: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi. In each of these sections we try to collect information about attractions, cities, villages, beaches, etc. There is also a section on the site “All about Crete”, in which we collect more general and background information about the island. There we also talk about how to go to Crete in general, where to start planning a vacation, what to focus on, etc.: How to go to Crete? And, finally, a real array of information can be found on the Forum about Crete, where thousands of travelers share their experiences, reviews, photographs, impressions of traveling to the beautiful and romantic island, whose name is Crete!..

How to go to Crete?

Helpful information

Shops in Crete

Shopping is an integral part of many tourists' trips. Therefore, when going on vacation, sooner or later questions arise: what kind of shops are there in Crete, where are they located, what are their prices, etc. And even more so, I wonder if there is...