5 reasons to holiday in Crete this year!

The largest island in our country is a true paradise! It combines wonderful, internationally recognised beaches, unique culture and history, unforgettable natural landscapes, and exceptional cuisine.

The reasons to holiday there, not just this year but every year, are countless. We have tried to gather the most important of them and present them here!

Book flights to Crete and let's discover it together!

1. Visit historic Knossos

The most significant monument of Minoan civilisation is located 5 km southeast of the Heraklion prefecture on Kefala hill and attracts approximately 1,000,000 visitors from around the world each year. The operating hours of Knossos during the summer months are 08:00-20:00 daily, and the entrance fees are 16 euros for a full ticket and 8 euros for a reduced ticket, granting you access to the Archaeological site of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. If you do not have your own vehicle, you can take bus No. 2 "Knossos" from Heraklion.

The Palace of Knossos spans a large area of 22,000 sq.m. and was the most impressive Minoan monument of its time. Its history is extensive, and most of us have only seen it in primary school books. So, this is the best opportunity to see all these great places up close. Step into the Queen's apartment and admire the Dolphin Fresco from close by. This way, you will recall all the stories you have heard about the Labyrinth with the Minotaur and Daedalus with Icarus.

2. For its famous beaches

Crete is famous worldwide for its wonderful beaches. Recently, Kommos beach was featured on the "Forbes" website.

Kommos beach is located in southern Crete, very close to Matala and Phaistos. The beach is in a protected archaeological zone and does not have much organisation, nor does it have many shops or stores nearby. To get there, you will need to travel about 60 km from Heraklion. However, the beach will reward you. It is large, and its waters are always crystal clear. If it suits you, stay to enjoy the magical sunset and the wonderful colours the sky takes on. If you see fenced-off sections with wire on the beach, you should know that these are spots where loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs to incubate in the sun. Finally, you should know that Kommos, or at least its northern part, is exclusively a nudist beach.

Other very well-known beaches are located in Chania: Elafonisi also has its own distinction, being the 11^th best beach in the world. Its characteristic, like Balos, is the pink colour of its sand, which comes from broken shells mixed with the waves in the sand. "A dream" is the word used by those who speak of this unique beach. To get there, you will need to cover a distance of 75 km southwest of Chania. In essence, it is a small islet located 200 metres away, with the shallow waters of the beach in between.

Balos is located in the southwestern part of Chania, 55 km away. You can go to this unique beach by car, but there is a steep dirt road towards the end of the route and some distance you will need to cover on foot. It is easier to take the boat from Kissamos to Balos, with very frequent routes. The fine sand and crystal-clear shallow waters of Balos, along with the unparalleled beauty of the landscape, will be etched in your memory.

Falasarna is the third most famous beach in the Chania region. It is an incredibly large beach with deep blue waters and fine golden sand. Its size often makes it appear empty, even though many locals and tourists frequent it every day. This beach is also located west of Chania, 55 km away.

3. To try authentic Cretan Cuisine

Crete is famous for its dishes and for the traditional Greek products it produces. Exquisite olive oil and olives, unique cheeses such as graviera and xynomyzithra, unique rusks, and, of course, a large production of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

The Cretan land also produces many kinds of wild greens such as stamnagathi, purslane, zochos, and of course, only there can you find fresh capers and rock samphire. Due to the weather conditions, many aromatic herbs also thrive in the area, such as oregano, thyme, chamomile, and mint.

Traditional Cretan dishes that you absolutely must try if you find yourself on the island are, of course, chochlioi boubouristoi, the snails known to all of us. Try sioufihta, their own pasta, which is always made fresh and has a wonderful flavour in its simplicity. Other well-known dishes include Chaniotiko boureki, gamopilaf served at weddings, marathopita, and many others. I imagine you have all tried dakos salad, so I won't suggest it.

Cretans eat more lamb and goat than pork and beef. And of course, they drink a lot of raki, a lot of raki indeed! Feel like a local! Visit a traditional kafenion in Chania, and you won't regret it! And try as many things as you can.

Book flights to Chania at the best price, through TRAVELO!

4. To enjoy the unique natural landscape

Green Crete has been described by many as an earthly paradise! While on the island, take your time to discover not only its coastal areas but also its mountainous regions. The Palm Forest of Vai is a place adored by all nature lovers! It is located at the eastern tip of Crete, in the Lasithi prefecture. The palm forest of Vai is a protected natural area, thanks to the endemic Cretan palm tree that dominates the forest. This forest is unique throughout Europe because it is the only area where this species of palm tree is found in such a large extent. If you go there, definitely take a swim at the wonderful beach in front of the forest!

If nature fascinates you, also visit the Samaria Gorge! It is located in the southern part of Chania, very close to Sfakia. It is the second-largest gorge in Europe, with a length of up to 16 km; essentially, it is a deep ravine that can be walked through. Since 1962, it has been a national park and is one of the first to be declared in our country. Many tourists traverse the entire gorge from Omalos to Agia Roumeli, where it ends, observing the species of birds and animals that live there. You might even see the famous wild goats, the Kri-Kri.

5. To take a trip to Spinalonga and Gavdos

 

From Sfakia and just an hour away by tourist boat lies the southernmost point of Europe, namely Gavdos. The boat departs at 9:30 from Sfakia and returns to the port of Hora Sfakion around 19:00. It is a pristine island with crystal-clear waters, a wild yet beautiful landscape, and the most dreamlike sunsets.

Take a small tour of the island and head to one of its beaches. The most famous are Agios Ioannis beach, Sarakiniko, and Trypiti.

Agios Ioannis beach in Gavdos previously ranked 2^nd among the best beaches in the world, so you can imagine its unique beauty. You can go by bus from Karave, the small port of Gavdos (which is also one of the island's most famous beaches), or on foot from Sarakiniko, but it will take you about an hour's walk in the heat. The beach is not organised, so if you want to stay there for hours, it is essential to bring your own umbrella.

If you are only going for one day to the island, essentially for six to seven hours, relaxing on a beach and taking a short walk are the only things you will have time for, so don't stress and just enjoy the moments.

Another day trip you can take is to the islet of Spinalonga. There isn't much to see and do there as the island is very small. It's worth going with a guide to learn a few things about its history.

Most excursions to Spinalonga depart from Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, or Plaka. The distance from all is at most 20 minutes, and all organised excursions usually include a visit to the islet of Kolokytha for a swim.

To enter the Archaeological site of Spinalonga, which is the 2^nd most visited after Knossos, the entrance fee is 8 euros.

These are the most important reasons to spend your holidays on this wonderful island. Its natural beauties and history are unique. But most of all, the Cretan people are the most unique! They are very hospitable people and respect the tourists who come to see their land.

It is certainly an island that requires many days if you want to explore all of it, and it definitely requires a means of transport. If you wish, you can stay for a few days in each area.

See where to stay in Chania, Heraklion or Rethymno here.

To go to Crete by plane, search for cheap flights on our website!

To find cheap ferry tickets, search here!

Crete has connections with all the major ports of our country.

Have you been to Crete?