The legendary birthplace of Zeus Crete is the most popular holiday destination in Greece, and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. The biggest of the Greek Islands, end the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Lying at the south of the Aegean Sea, separating the Aegean from the Libyan Sea. Crete has something precious to offer to every visitor, and this is especially true for visiting couples or families.
Crete is a paradise for holidays in many ways. Is the island that you can swim in 4 different seas(Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, Libyan Sea, Cretan sea), you will find magnificent beaches with unique colors, high mountains and gorgeous canyons for canyoning and canyon hiking Crete’s gorges offer unparalleled beauty, towns full of history, culture and customs. Crete is the place of the famous exquisite traditional Cretan cuisine and the Cretan olive oil. Archaeological sites from the era of the Minoan civilization the first organized civilization in Europe to the oldest olive tree of the world and many more. All of them making Crete an absolute delight place for holidays of every age.
“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, in Report to Greco.
On the island that is mystical, warm and welcoming, pure and generous. Crete captures the spirit of Greece, and enchants everyone who visits it. Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Ierapetra, Malia, Hersonissos, Sitia, Sfakia, Platanias, Kavros, Vamos, Kissamos, Maleme: an island with numerous destinations and thousands of vibrant images. Crete captivates and seduces the senses with its impressive and majestic landscape, with its open-hearted and vivacious spirit, its rich history, its world-famous cuisine and its hospitable people.
The most seductive beaches in Crete pictures of the heavenly Balos lagoon in Chania are featured in all the travel guides and glossies, as is the endless beauty of famous Falarsana, one of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. Exotic Elafonissos attracts thousands of visitors every year. Crete’s ‘hidden jewel’ and the largest beaches on the island is located on the outskirts of Chania and Rethymno – a lot of km of sand that boasts a Blue Flag beaches.
On Crete, you’ll find some of the most significant attractions in Greece: famous archaeological sites such as the Minoan palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Kato Zakros. You’ll also visit important monasteries, some built in the 14th century or even earlier, including Gonia monastery in west of Chania, Panagia Chrisoskalitissa monastery southern west of Chania, Preveli monastery in southern Rethymno, and the historic Arkadi and Toplous monasteries east of Rethymno.
You’ll be transported to another time wandering around the castles of the region erected by Venetians and Byzantines. Particularly noteworthy are Kastelli in Chania, Aptera, Ottoman Fortress or Gramvousa Fortress in Chania, the Fortezza in Rethymno, the castle of Heraklion, Frangokastello in southern Chania, the Kazarma castle in Sitia, and the Monte Forte in Lassithi. More of the island’s riches are displayed in its many museums. Visit those in Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion. Impressive also are the Cretaquarium, the Museum of Natural History and the Historical Museum of Crete. In Myrtia, there is the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum and in Fodele you’ll find the El Greco Museum.
Genuine hospitality that is truly unforgettable. Cretan hospitality shares the characteristics of its famous landscape; grand, generous and infinitely welcoming. Families are only too happy to share the island’s many specialties like a dakos salad, free flowing raki or the experience of the mantinades, poems often accompanied by a Cretan lyre or lute. Wise old men are only too happy to recount memories of the island’s rich, and often troubled, past or tales of the vendettas between feuding families. There are also stories of the great loves and friendships that characterise a proud and family-orientated people. You, too, can become part of this unique island: Cretan hospitality will be unforgettable!
Home of the Mediterranean diet. Here you’ll eat to your heart’s content, whether enjoying gourmet gastronomy, or simply a homemade rusk salad with sea salt, extra-virgin olive oil, raw artichokes and cheese. Discover the secrets of a Cretan diet – the best example of the Mediterranean diet, long been considered, internationally, as the healthiest.
Some of Crete’s many famous products are the local graviera (a piquant cheese), herbs and salad greens such as stamnagathi (a wild chicory), as well as dozens of types of wild and sweet greens for braising, staka (think clotted cream made from sheep’s milk and used in pilafs) and assorted savoury pies and sweets. Signature dishes that you must try before you leave are dakos (a rusk salad with tomatoes and myzithra cheese), fried snails, kalitsounia (sweet cheese pastries), savoury cheese pies, egg-lemon lamb with artichoke hearts and the famous gamopilafo (wedding pilaf). Crete is known for its tsikoudia (raki schnapps-like firewater) – all the locals will treat you to a few glasses and many make their own. They start drinking it early in the afternoon and it flows until late at night, at the tavernas, cafes, festivals and fairs. Be sure to bring a bottle home.
