📌Crete is the largest Greek island and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica. The southernmost Greek island and is located about 330 km south of Athens.
▪ Crete is a huge island with a length of 260 km in the direction from West to East and with over 1000 km of coastline. It is mostly a mountainous island with 30 peaks over 2000m above sea level! Mount Ida with the highest peak and White Mountains stand out!
✔ Crete is a magnificent island and to me the most beautiful in Greece! The biggest island that can give everyone indescribable enjoyment. All in one place – Fantastic beaches, impressive landscapes and natural beauties, numerous historical and cultural sights, picturesque churches and monasteries, wonderful and authentic villages, beautiful cities, rich gastronomy, exceptional hospitality…
▪ “The country in Greece” as the Cretans say about Crete because of its size and rich history! Crete was the center of the first advanced European Minoan civilization in the period from 2700 to 1400 BC!
▪ Famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, author of “Zorba the Greek”, said about Crete: ▶ ”The mysticism of Crete is very, very deep. Anyone who sets foot on this island will feel a strange force that accelerates the flow of blood through his veins as a sign of welcome, and surely every visitor will feel that his soul is excited and it will seem as if it is growing…”
Crete – Magnificent Chania
Chania is located in the northwest of Crete, about 140 km west of Heraklion!
Chania is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece! A city of rich history and the capital for most of Crete’s history!
A place where different civilizations developed! Everywhere you turn, you can see the rich cultural and historical heritage of the impressive city!
The Old Town surrounded by walls is an exceptional location! Visitors are enchanted from the first moment by the seductive charm of the surroundings! Every corner is full of colors and beauty and ideal for taking pictures!
A real pleasure is walking through the charming narrow streets and enjoying in the wonderful locations and buildings from various historical eras!
You should also visit two beautiful churches in Old Town! Church of Saint Nicholas and Metropolitan Church of the Virgin Mary.
Stands out incredible Venetian harbor with a picturesque lighthouse that impresses visitors with its beauty! Enjoy with a coffee or a drink in a fantastic landscape! Visual Paradise for the senses!
In the narrow streets and the harbor there are taverns, restaurants and bars that fit perfectly into the surroundings. The local food is exceptional and a serious temptation for the palate! A stay in Chania will be remembered for a lifetime!
Wonderful Rethymno
Rethymno is located about 80 km West of the Heraklion!
Rethymno is one of the most charming cities with a great influence on the history of Crete!
One of the most important locations is the imposing Venetian fortress Fortezza from the 16th century, which is one of the best preserved in Crete.
Wonderful Old Town with its beautiful Venetian harbor stands out! From the first moment, visitors are enchanted by the seductive charm of the surrounding!
Picturesque narrow streets with medieval buildings with arched doorways and stone staircases, surrounded by adorable flowers and Bougainvillea are Paradise for the senses!
You should walk through the picturesque narrow streets of the Old Town, where the visitor will feed his soul with wonderful locations that leave him breathless!
In the narrow streets and the harbor there are taverns and shops that fit perfectly into the surrounding.
Agia Triada Monastery
Agia Triada Monastery is located on the Akrotiri peninsula, 15 km from Chania!
Agia Triada, or Tzagarolon Monastery as it is also known, is one of the most impressive and important monasteries in Crete!
The monastery was built in 1634. by the monk brothers Lavrentios and Ieremias, who came from a rich Venetocretan family.
Agia Triada is a square building complex with a beautiful church in the center of the courtyard surrounded by greenery and wonderful flowers!
Within the monastery there is a museum that contains an impressive collection of icons, books and relics!
The monastery produces great olive oil, wine, Tsikoudia (Raki) and can be bought in the monastery shop!
Near the Agia Triada Monastery is the beautiful Gouverneto Monastery, which is surrounded by lovely nature and greenery.
Gouverneto Monastery is followed by the abandoned Katholiko Monastery, which is 1,3 km away by foot through the impressive surroundings of the Katholiko Gorge. On the way to the monastery, a great path leads to the beautiful Arkoudospilio cave, where there is a small church at the entrance.
After that comes the impressive abandoned monastery Katholiko which is built into the rock at the foot of a high cliff! From the monastery, the gorge narrows and after about 20 minutes of hiking, you reach to the small Katholiko bay.
Samaria Gorge
Samaria Gorge and National Park is located in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) with the highest peak of 2453m.
Samaria is a spectacular location with amazing nature that leaves you breathless! Seeing Greece from a completely different angle!
The starting point of the Omalos plateau is about 35 km from the city of Chania. From there begins the descent from 1200m above sea level to the final point of Agia Roumeli, which is located on the southern side of Crete on the Libyan Sea.
Samaria gorge is the second largest in the world after Colorado if you look at the height difference between the starting and ending points ➡️ 1200m!
The length of the gorge is about 17 km! The descent requires an intermediate to excellent level of fitness. People also take children through the gorge! It takes about 5÷7 hours for the descent when going at a medium pace with breaks. In many locations there are fountains to pour water and refresh yourself.
Passing through Samaria offers a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains that are over 2000m high as you move through the cypress, pines and liander forest.
Surrounded by real wildlife and people who like you enjoy a magnificent location! Samaria is home of Kri-Kri wild goat.
The first 3km is a steep descent and descends about 700m high and passes through a deep pine forest. About 8 km from the start of the descent is the abandoned village of Samaria, since the gorge became a national park. With every bend on the path, a new breathtaking view opens up! The Taraijos River circles the rocks and fills the pools and carves interesting shapes into the rocks!
After the settlement, the gorge narrows, and the high cliffs that rise vertically begin to approach. In some parts there are completely vertical narrow rocks where the sky becomes a thin blue line.
The gorge is narrowest at the place called Iron Gate and is only 3m, and the height is about 300m! Magnificent unrepeatable location that is etched in memory!
After that, the gorge spreads all the way to the sea and the settlement of Agia Roumeli.
Top 10 Crete beaches
Crete has many amazing, beautiful, picturesque, unique and diverse beaches!
▪ Top 10 Crete beaches. My recommendation!⬇
1️⃣ Balos
2️⃣ Mazida Ammos (Xerokambos)
3️⃣ Erimoupolis
4️⃣ Kedrodasos
5️⃣ Agiofarango
6️⃣ Dragon’s Cave (Spilia tou Drakou)
7️⃣ Elafonisi
8️⃣ Kokkini Ammos (Red Beach)
9️⃣ Vai
🔟 Seitan Limani
Balos beach
Seeing Balos is a unique and unrepeatable experience!
Arriving on a narrow unpaved road with a cliff is a real adrenaline adventure!
The landscape view from above on the lagoon is fantastic, spectacular, picturesque, unique!
Goats also know how to enjoy this beauty and complete the fairytale environment!
Top 3 Crete locations!
Mazida Ammos beach (Xerokambos)
🎬 Mazida Ammos beach (Xerokambos)
Xerokambos is an isolated area in the southeast of Crete.
Approaching and going down to the beaches is a magnificent and picturesque sight!
Mazida Ammos is the largest beach of Xerokambos, a lagoon with a phenomenal turquoise-blue color of the sea! Paradise for hedonists!
Erimoupolis beach
Erimoupolis is an isolated beach in the northeast of Crete near the more famous Vai beach.
The type of beach that is simply adored! A cove surrounded by rocks on both sides and with a rock formation that creates a wonderful visual experience!
Fantastic beach with crystal clear water and golden-yellow sand. Ideal for relaxing!
Kedrodasos beach
Kedrodasos is a fantastic beach located in the southwest of Crete near the famous Elafonissi beach.
In the beach area there is a cedar forest and hence the name of the beach!
Phenomenal color of the sea and rock formation is a real paradise for the chosen ones!
As in most of the top beaches, it requires walking on rocky terrain!
It’s not as visited as neighboring Elafonisi beach.
Agiofarango beach
Agiofarango is wonderful beach located in the southernmost part of Crete.
Getting to the beach is a challenge in the form of a hike, a real pilgrimage through the Gorge of the Saints!
The effort is rewarded with a amazing landscape and a beach with a beautiful natural environment! For real adventurers!
Ideal beach for swimming and diving!
Dragon’s Cave (Spilia tou Drakou) beach
Dragon’s Cave (Spilia tou Drakou) beach
Ammoudi is an amazing beach in the southeast of Crete, about 30 km from Ierapetra.
The type of beach that is simply adored!
A landscaped cove surrounded by rocks with an excellent rock formation in the corner in the form of a pool. The color of sand and sea is true perfection!
The beach is much more beautiful live than in the pictures!
Note – Pictured 2 years ago! Now there is a beach-bar on the beach!
Elafonisi beach
Elafonisi is located in the southwest of Crete and is known to most people at least by pictures!
Magical lagoon known for its shallow waters and pink sand. Ideal for taking photos!
A much better part of the beach is on the peninsula towards the lighthouse where there aren’t big crowds!
Kokkini Ammos beach (Red Beach)
🎬 Kokkini Ammos beach (Red Beach)
Kokkini Ammos (Red Beach) is located in the South of Crete near the famous Matala beach.
Getting to beach requires some serious rock climbing! It’s worth the effort because you are rewarded with a fantastic view on the beach!
Fascinating and extremely specific beach because of red sand that turns into a shade of orange. For real hedonists!
Vai beach
Vai is a natural wonder in the northeast of Crete!
Incredible beach surrounded by a forest of palm trees that give a fantastic visual experience!
Ideal beach for enjoying in the tropical environment like in the Caribbean, or other tropical islands!
Seitan Limani beach
Seitan Limani is an amazing beach located on the Akrotiri peninsula, 20 km from Chania!
A picturesque narrow bay surrounded by high rocks!
Getting to beach also requires serious rock climbing!
It is worth the effort because you are surrounded by a phenomenal landscape and turquoise blue sea in various shades!
