There are hundreds of Instagrammable spots on the island. But if you need a short-list of locations, be sure to include Koules Fortress and the Palace of Knossos in Heraklion, the Old Port of Chania, the small alleys of Rethymno, the Samaria Gorge. And almost any beach you like – yet Balos, Stavros, Matala, Agia Pelagia are must-shoot locations if you happen to be around.
Crete was under Venetian rule for about four and a half centuries before it fell under the Ottoman Empire in the 1660s. Koules Fortress (Castello a Mare in Italian) was probably one of the primary representations of that period when Heraklion was a part of the maritime empire of Venice. Read more....
Arguably this is the site Crete is most famous for. The remains of the ancient palace of Knossos are situated just a few miles south of Heraklion, and you can reach it using the city bus. The monumental complex dates back to the second millennium BC - some of the buildings still stand and you can some of the beautiful frescoes. Read more....
The area where Greece meets Italy - you cannot help but think of Venice, yet the Greek sensation remains. You just can’t miss it being on a trip to Chania. The Old Port is the absolute must-see attraction of the city and the Western Crete as a whole. And you can do it more than once - take a walk in the daylight and the next time repeat it after sunset. Read more....
Rethymno is the third most populous town on the map of the island. Located 80 km west of Heraklion, the place has its charm worth to be sensed. Taking a walk around the Rethymno Old Town will bring you back to the Venetian and Ottoman periods. At the same time get you familiar with local customs and tradition. Read more....
Cretan mountains provide hikers and climbers with dozens of possible routes. The most well-known goes through the magnificent Samaria Gorge. Located in National Park by the same name, the 18 kilometres route is one the longest in Europe. You need to reach the village of Omalós, 42km south of Chania. Read more....
If you have reached as far as Phaestos, don’t miss Matala! You will enjoy one of the most magnificent beaches on the southern side of Crete, and the hippies have celebrated that in the 1960s. And right next to the sea the traveller has the chance to see the famous and unique rocks and caves. Read more....
Comments