CRETE TRAVEL ARTICLES

Where Is Crete?

This is one of the most frequent questions of people who think about visiting a Greek island for the first time in their life. They start researching all islands and end up by figuring out that Crete is different. In fact, Crete is the cradle of the Minoan civilization, and home to the archaeological site of Knossos.

Although Greeks, the locals like to call themselves Cretans. They are neutral to foreigners, but welcoming enough for you to have a great time on the island. Don’t expect them to bargain with you, as they are rather firm once they tell you a price for whatever you want to buy from them. Did I tell you that their olive oil, their honey and their orange jam are worth every Euro cent?

Crete is the biggest of all islands in Greece. It is so big that it requires at least three of four visits to cover all these lovely cities, beaches and mountain villages. It is also the most southern island of Greece (if we don’t count the tiny Gavdos island)

Crete has everything in terms of landscape: there are marvelous beaches with white (and even pink sand), charming fishermen villages, lovely harbors, steep gorges and rocky mountains. It even features a small but scenic lake, Kournas. Here you can taste an amazing Dacos (traditional Cretan dish made with double-baked bread, tomatoes and garlic).

The Four Regions of Crete

Crete has four regions, which also count as administrative prefectures: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion (Iraklio) and Lasithi (Lassithi). Heraklion (the city) has the biggest airport on the island.

You can get from Athens to Crete by plane or by ferryboat. The flight is short, but the ferry trip is more exciting. You can hop on the ferry in Piraeus in the evening and travel all night to get to Heraklion early in the morning. The first thing you’ll see after landing will be the old citadel.