Greek Islands
Crete
Photos and travel information about the island of Crete
The holiday photo site
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Crete |
The holiday photo site
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About CreteCrete is one of the 13 regions of Greece. Crete lies approximately 160 km south of the Greek mainland. The island is surrounded by four seas, to the north is the Sea of Crete, to the south is the Libyan Sea, to the west the Myrtoon Sea and to the east the Karpathian Sea. Its population is 650,000 people (2005). Crete straddles two climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the North African, mainly falling within the former. As such, the climate in Crete is primarily temperate. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea. The winter is fairly mild. Snow fall is practically unknown to the plains, but quite frequent in the mountains. During summer, average temperatures are in the high 20's-low 30's (Celsius). The exception can be the south coast, including the Messara plain and Asterousia mountains, which fall in the North African climatic zone and thus enjoys significantly more sunny days and high temperatures during the summer. Probably the best time to visit Crete is spring and fall. Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece come through the city of Iraklion (port and airport), while charter flights to Iraklion were last year 20% of the total of charter flights in Greece. In sum more than two million tourists visited Crete last year. This increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, which increased in Crete by 53% from 1986 to 1991 while in the rest of Greece the increase was 25%. Today the tourism infrastructure in Crete caters to all tastes. There is accommodation of every possible category, from large luxury hotels with all the facilities (swimming pools, sports and recreation facilities etc.), to smaller family owned apartments, to camping facilities. Visitors can arrive at the island through two international airports in Iraklion and Hania, or by boat to the ports of Iraklion, Hania, Rethimno and Agios Nikolaos. |
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Around Crete IslandIrakleio The beaches around the capital town of Irakleio on the north coast of the island are not that good, probably the best is the beach at Agia Pelagia. To get to the beach Agia Pelagia it is quite a trek down little roads and when you get to the beach you may have to park back up the road. The beach is small and shingle and due to the many hotels that have sprung up around this little village the beach does get very crowded. In the main they are shingle beaches and have been over developed. For better beaches you will need to go further along the coast towards Malia but these resorts still get very crowded at times.
Rethymno
Chania
Agia Galini The resort of Agia Galini is on the much quieter southern coast. The resort itself is very popular with the tourist industry but only has a comparatively small beach. However, there are a number of spectacular beaches along this coast that make this area a worth while destination. The beaches that are popular in this area are, Agios Geogios, Agios Pavlos and Matala . Agios (or Ayios) Nikolaos
Trying to find somewhere to park in Ayios Nikolaos is a real nightmare. The one way system takes you into the village and the harbour and right back out again, you just have to hope a space becomes available. If you see a car park before getting to far into the resort my advice is to take it. Having said that the harbour area of Ayios Nikolaos is absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit. Take the time to walk around the harbour, have an iced coffee at one of the many cafes and just soak in the atmosphere. One thing to be aware of is that prices in the cafes around the little harbour can be very steep. Finish off with a walk along the cliff overlooking the harbour, the views are fantastic. Chora Sfakia Chora Sfakia is situated along the south coast towards the western end of the island. It is an ideal place for taking a boat trip to the island of Gavdos. Although this area has seen some development in recent years you can still find beautiful secluded coves along this stretch of the coast such as Agia Roumeli, Plakias, Damnoni, Palm beach and Amoudi. Fodele
Lerapetra Leopetra is on the south coast towards the eastern end of the island. It is a mixture of developed and quiet beaches that can be quite stunning. A popular beach in this area is the small cove at Myrtos. Palaiochora Situated on the south eastern end of the island the beach at Palaiochora is stunning. It is a lovely sandy beach very clean and does not get over crowded. You can take a boat trip from here to Elfonisi another superb location. This has to be one of the best resorts on the island. Stalis
At night Stalis comes alive with many discos in the center of town or the more Greek style restaurants can be found on the outskirts. Stalis is not quite as lively as it's neighbour Malia just along the coast. When you come out of your hotel for your evening meal or walk Stalis at first glance can look like a little Plackpool but the resort does cater for all tastes from English pubs to some fine Greek restaurants. Malia
Sisi
Elounda (or Elounta)
Siteia Siteia is on the eastern side of the island and is another stunning beach. This beach can get quite crowded but other beaches in the area are much quieter such as Itanos, Palaikastro and Kato Zakros. If you want to get right away from the crowds try the deserted sandy beach of Zerokampos. |
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Places to visit Knossos
Herakleio Venetian Koules Fortress
. Spinalonga
In 1579, the Venetian rulers built the powerful fortress that we can admire today, for the safety of the port of Elounda, enclosing the area from hostile ships. In 1630, the fortress seemed to be impregnable but n 1715, the Kapoudan Pasha, the Turkish captain, besieged it at close quarters and took it. During the 1821 Revolution, it was a safe haven for many Turks, and during the 19th century it was the main port which was importing and exporting goods for the entire region of Mirabello. In 1881, it had 1112 Ottoman inhabitants who were involve in commerce, and they comprised the local council. During the revolution of 1821, 1866 and 1897, it was besieged by Cretan rebels. By edict of the State of Crete, from 1904 Spinalonga was used as a gathering point and place of refuge for Cretans suffering from leprosy. For a half century, this barren rocky outcrop had been host to life’s outcasts who lived out a drama of human pain at the height of their tragedy. Here they found their life’s end as well as the paradise of their dreams. With the progress of science, a cure was found to put an end to the misery of these lepers, and the hospital was dissolved in 1957. Spinalonga is a recognized archaeological site, and constitutes an identified historical grouping, one of the few examples of the art of Venetian island fortification and fortress-building in the Eastern Mediterranean. Every year over 30000 Greek and foreign tourist visit the island. Today, the unoccupied island is one of the main tourist attractions in Crete. In addition to the abandoned leper colony and the fortress, Spinalonga is known for its small pebble beaches. The island can easily be accessed from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Tourist boats depart from both towns on a daily basis. There is no accommodation on Spinalonga, meaning all tours last only a few hours. Boat trips from Elounda take approximately fifteen minutes while trips departing Agios Nikolaos can take upwards of one hour. The book "Island of the Damned" by Victor Zorba - a local expert on the island - is still in print. It relates the true story of the leper colony and, as the author met with the last governor of the colony, contains many exclusive photos and stories of the German occupation. The book "The Island" by Victoria Hislop is set on Spinalonga and shares the fictional story of a family's ties to the leper colony.
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One beach I can recommend is Tomprouk beach, this beach can be seen from the main road but do not be put off. The beach has local amenities and car parking facilities right on the beach. The beach never seems to get over crowded except the area that has been taken over by by a hotel complex.
Rethymno is on the north coast of the island east of the capital Irakleio. The wide sandy beach at Rethymo tends to get over crowded but there are alternative sandy beaches along this coast that are not so crowded and less developed. This area can have problems with strong currents at times so you do need to mindful of this with small children.
Along the north coast and towards the western end of the island this stretch of coast stretches from Chania to Kalamaki is one development after another. There are a number of resorts along this coast including, Akrotiri, Stavros, Chryssi Akti and Falasarna. The main town beach for Chania is Akrotiri and is usually quite crowded. For a much quieter beach try Falsama near Platanos, it has a long stretch of fine sand and rarely gets too crowded.
This area is on the north coast and towards the eastern end of the island. The best beaches in this area are the sandy resorts of Almyros near the town of Agios Nikolaos and the beaches near Istro. As you travel eastwards towards Gournia and Pachia Ammos the beaches are not so good.
Fodele is a great little resort that has everything for the whole family. The resort is set in a valley with a mountainous back drop and is cut in half by the Pantomountrios river. The beach is cut in half with most tourists using the beach nearest to the village center. Plenty of restaurants and bars are available catering for all tastes. At the top of the resort you will find a water park with all different types of slides and tubes. One word of caution I did find that in the center of the beach the water currents can be quite strong and it is advisable to swim near the village end of the beach where the beach is protected by a break water.
Stalis, you either love it or you hate it. Some of the best beaches on the island but they do get crowded. From Stalis to Malia you will find a number of beaches mostly taken up with organized sun beds that leave little room for people who just want to relax on the beach for a couple of hours then move on. The sea can get quite rough and some precaution is warranted although when calm it can be ideal for all the family.
Malia is the place to go if you are looking for a lively night life. Discos, English pubs and bars make this the entertainment center of the island for those wishing to live it up at night and sleep it off during the day on the local beaches. Don't get me wrong many families still visit Malia and will have a great holiday but please pick the correct hotels, ask your holiday agent to check it out for you before making that all important decision. 
Leaving the bustling resort of Malia and finding Sisi right right on your door step is too good to be true. The quaint resort of Sisi with it's little harbour, tiny shops and excellent restaurants is ideal if your looking for a quiet relaxing holiday. 
The tiny beach set at the entrance to the harbour has a big advantage that when the sea on the surrounding beaches is quite rough the water here is protected by the harbour entrance and seems to stay calm and is ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
The road to Elounda from Ayios Nikolaos has fantastic scenery of the coast and the island of Spinalonga. The resort of Elounda sits in the sheltered bay protected by the island of Spinalonga and is one of my favourite resorts. The resort is made up of five villages and is very popular with tourists. The sandy beach and calm waters make this resort ideal for families. 
A walk around the cosmopolitan village center with its little shops and churches add to this popular resort. If you find the main beach is a little crowded just walk along the coast road a few hundred yards and you will find a small stony beach that never seems to get too crowded. Boats leave the resort every 30 minutes for the island of Spinalonga. Elounda is the self-proclaimed "most luxurious resort" in Greece.. It is home to many luxury 5-star hotels as well as budget accommodation. Most of the major luxury hotels are located out of town, set in their own grounds. Probably due to the cost of the area some of the British tour operators began to pull out of Elounda. 
The Palace of Knossos was inhabited during the Neolithic period about 2000BC and has produced many fine artifacts that are housed in the museum in Heraklion. The site itself gives a peek back in time of the Greek Minoan civilisation and is a must if you are interested in history or archaeology. The site is situated about 20 minutes outside of Heraklion, plenty of car parking but I would recommend an early visit before the crowds start to arrive. The great palace was built gradually between 1700 and 1400 BC, with periodic rebuildings after destruction. Structures preceded it on Kephala hill. The features currently most visible date mainly to the last period of habitation, which Evans termed Late Minoan. The palace has an interesting layout - the original plan can no longer be seen because of the subsequent modifications. Also, there are not several main hallways. Instead, 1300 rooms are connected with corridors of varying sizes and direction. The six acres of the palace included a theatre, a main entrance on each of its four cardinal faces, and extensive storerooms (also called magazines). The storerooms contained large clay vases that held oil, grains, dried fish, beans, and olives. Many of the items were created at the palace itself, which had grain mills, oil presses, and wine presses. Beneath the pithoi were stone holes used to store more valuable objects, such as gold. The palace used advanced architectural techniques; for example, part of it was built up to five stories high.
The Fortress at the mouth of the harbour in Herakleio stands proud and is the gateway to Heraklieo. The fortress is known as Koules Fortress and was buit during the Venitian period between 1204 -1669. The fortress walls are so thick that it was able to with stand any assault. The fortress was orginally built due to constant raids on Herakleio by the Arab pirates. The small charge to walk around the fortress is well worth it. 
Spinalonga is an island fortress on the south western entrance to the Gulf of Elounda. It is 5.6km away from Skisma. On the rocky island of Spinalonga, a fortress was built even from ancient ages to protect the port of the ancient Eloundians. It is reported that many Christians from the surrounding village took refuge in the ruins to save themselves during the time that the Saracens overtook Crete.