Crete Island is considered to be the ideal island for snorkeling first of all due to water clarity, one of the most appreciated in the world, an amazing translucency up to 30 meters, allowing a wide variety of fish and marine animals, aquatic plants and many other extremely interesting places.
About
Best period
The climate is mainly Mediterranean, with high humidity and light winters.Snow in high mountain areas, and during summer the highest temperatures reach plus 30 degrees.
- Primavara intreaga natura infloreste in Creta. Vremea este placuta, soarele straluceste cu blandete pe cer si vantul adie placut. Este perioada ideala pentru o excursie in care sa descoperi frumusetile Cretei, ascunse de privirile curioase ale turistilor.
- Vara plajele insulei sunt inundate de turisti in cautare de soare, plaja, ape cristaline si multa voie buna. Create este o destinatie potrivita atat grupurilor de prieteni in cautare de distractie, cat si familiilor care vin aici pentru liniste si peisajele impresionante. In luna august, temperaturile sar si de 33 grade, insa adierea placuta a Mediteranei racoreste atmosfera.
- Toamna este sezon de plaja pana in luna octombrie. Soarele incalzeste cu putere, temperature apei este placuta, iar turistii mai putini.
- Iarna este blanda si dulce in Creta, cu ceva ploi si zile mai innorate, dar aceiasi atmosfera calda si primitoare.
Tourist Attractions
If you are looking for a friendly town without too many things, Frangokastello can be exactly what you are looking for.This city on the coast has no tourist shops, but it has good restaurants, an ancient fort and a few wonderful beaches.It is one of the true hidden stones of Crete. Instead on the South Coast, about 45 minutes by car west of Plakias, Frangokastello is off the road and outside the ordinary tourist route.The leadership here takes you either through Plakias, over a mountain step with incredible views up and down on the southern coast, or down by the impressive stingy gorge and over the small plains, with the growing mountains on one side and the sea on the other.Venetian fortress of the city.You can also walk a short distance from the city and you can be on a completely undeveloped beach, supported by sand dunes.
Halfway between Chania and Heraklion, the wonderful old city of Rethymnon is made up largely of buildings in the Venetian era, although there is some evidence of the year under Turkish rule (1669-1898), such as the minaret.the beach for a day. In many historical buildings, they have been transformed into small boutique hotels, shops and restaurants.Wandering on the shaded streets and alleys, twisted in an attempt to find the perfect photo, followed by a long lunch in the old Venetian port, is an excellent way to spend an afternoon.The area is a good basis for visiting nearby attractions such as the Samaria and Mount Psiloritis gorge
What began once as a humble fisherman village has now turned into one of the most relaxed and pleasant cities on the beach on the south coast.Unlike many of the northern beach areas, which are highly developed, Plakias keeps the atmosphere of a small town and has some of the best meals in the surrounding area.The beach near the city center is a mixture of pebbles and sand and is supported by taverns and shops, but further to the east, it is quieter and has soft sand.Preventi Monastery;Souda beach;and rethymmon, which is 40 minutes away
Most visitors who come to Crete between spring and autumn are here to relax on the beautiful beaches of the island.Not all the beaches here are created equal.Some of the beaches in Crete are pebbles, but some are among the most beautiful soft sand beaches in the world, with clear water like the crystal, which shines a turquoise color under the Mediterranean sun.Both are at a striking distance from Chania.And, although these are places to visit, they are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to remarkable beaches in Crete.Here you will find Matala, a wonderful town, with a fantastic beach stretch, lined at one end of caves.Preventi beach, located at the end of a gorge and supported by huge rocks, but still accessible by a short hike, is another top attraction on this part of the island.One of the top choices here is Voulisma beach, but if you have time to explore a little further, Vai beach, also known as Palm Beach, is one of the top beaches in Crete
Prepili beach is considered one of the most spectacular beaches on Crete.Located on the southern coast, it is located at the mouth of a small river and is surrounded by both sides of false rocks and has a view on the Sea of Libya.However, keep in mind that, from the parking area, you will need to go down 30 minutes along a rock.It is possible that it does not seem so difficult, however, the return to the bright sun of the afternoon will definitely be harder, so bring good shoes and plan accordingly.You can also reach the Pre -Barca Plakias beach nearby. If you are gone for a day of visiting the tourist attractions, combine a trip here with a stop at the Prepro Monastery.Then go to Plakias for lunch and enjoy traditional Greek dishes
Matala beach is one of the most interesting and visited beaches on the southern coast of Crete.The beach is a huge arc of sand, with a rock wall on one side, full of ancient caves that look down on the impossible blue waters.You can relax in the sun, swim, explore ancient caves and have lunch at a coastal restaurant.After that, you do a little shopping shopping at one of the shops along the only pedestrian birds behind the beach. The hippies were haunting in the 1960s. Travelers of a certain age will recognize the name of the beach in the famous song of Joni Mitchell named Carey.
Located near the top of a mountain and offering extensive views on the Sea of Libya, the prejection of the seventeenth century makes a beautiful day trip from nearby cities and cities, such as Rethymnon or Georgioupoli.The landmarks include the courts and terraces, the mountain spring and the small museum with air conditioning, with a collection of religious artifacts.You will also find a lot of friendly cats here waiting to greet visitors.The skirts are offered to women, if their clothing does not expand over the knees.Not far from the monastery is the Prepeli Beach, another popular tourist attraction in Crete.It's a little walk to the beach, but you can simply stop for a view of the beach and the coast, if you don't want to go right to the water edge.
Heraklion is the capital of the island and a pleasant surprise for visitors for the first time.The old city is a maze of wonderful pedestrian streets, lined with shops and restaurants.The huge trees offer a large shadow in squares, where you can stay for a coffee for hours at an outdoor cafe.Like many of the most beautiful coastal cities in Crete, it has earned its current appearance under the Venetians, which ruled between 1204 and 1669, a period that experienced a considerable cultural flowering on the island, producing artists like El Greek, from Fódele, near Heraklion.It was also from Heraklion and you can see its tomb between the walls of the old city.
Chania is the main city of West Crete and was the capital of the island until 1971, when it moved to Heraklion.In view of the Aegean Sea and supported by the White Mountains, which are snowy in winter, the appearance of the old city dates from the centuries under Venice (1204-1645).Chania is a wonderful place to explore on foot.The municipal market, built in 1911, is worth a look at its fresh seasonal products and gifts such as Cretan and honey.It is a good base to visit the beaches of Elafonissi and Balos and to hike in the Samaria Gorge
The Semi-Mistic Kossos is a city and a palace from the Bronze Age built by the Minoan civilization.When the palace was built.furnished with plaster, beams, lights of light, drainage and water supply systems. In the throne, sacred deposits and pillar crypts are remarkable in the western wing, while the east wing owned the residential apartments and the reception halls.It is fresco hunting by Bull Bull.
Crete is known for its remarkable keys, but the most impressive is Samaria's gorge.Contained in Samaria National Park, is a reserve of the UNESCO biosphere.The main reason why tourists come here is to go on the 16 km popular road that crosses the gorge.The Tarraios River, which dries in the summer, but floods in winter, goes through the length of the gorge with high rocks on each side.The gorge is open to visitors from May to mid -October. It is mostly downstream, with most of the altitude loss in the first kilometers, the stone path is slightly provocative and is not recommended for people with knee problems.It is a necessity for the hikers who do not mind a good day trip. In the form can take between four and six hours, depending on how much you are in shape, but with transport, plan a day of 12 hours, at least from the moment you leave the hotel in Chania until you return.This is a one -way trip, with a ferry and a bus carrying visitors back to the city.
Agios Nikolaos is a small charming city on the northern coast of East Crete, about 65 kilometers east of Heraklion.Although it is definitely a tourist city, it feels much less tourist than places like Chania. In the climax points here include a walk along Lake Voulismeni, with its numerous cafes and restaurants on the sea and the nearby port, with sea view.A walk around the point at the port at the Kitroplatia Beach takes you next to two famous statues and offers amazing views over the Bay of Mirabello to the Eastern Crete Mountains. Nearby Agios Nikolaos, you can also visit the Diktean Cave, with its stalactites and stalagmites, or you can adventure in the village of Krins.Local sell traditional crafts, such as leather, ceramic and hand -woven carpets.On the way to Kritsa, stop near the Church of Panagia Kera from the 13th century (our lady from Kera) to admire the beautiful Byzantine frescoes.You can go out here to see Elocunda and look along the bay to the ruins on the island of Spinalonga, which was used as a colony of lepers.Most people take a boat tour on the island, leaving the port of Agios Nikolaos
Balos beach is the jewelry of Crete.This is a lagoon with exotic waters, white sand and a Venetian castle.On Balos beach you can reach the boat from Chania Town and Kissamos.Location: 60 km from Chania
Elafonissi beach is famous for the pink sand that in combination the azure crystalline waters creates a broken landscape from a movie.Location: 82 km from Chania
Heraklion has had a kind of wall from the first Byzantine period since the fourth century.and 1560 built a fortifications system of almost four kilometers, in four gates and seven bastions, all surrounded by a ditch.In 1669. You can find this fateful place, and start on an adventure over the meteresis and by arches and Renaissance passages.
A way of getting in touch with the ancient history of Crete is to take a trip to the ancient, hilly landscape, south of Heraklion.To name a few. In order to take things to the next level, you can book a tour and tasting to three wineries near Heraklion: Domaine Paterianakis, Lyrarakis and Douloufakis.The facilities, wrapped in an idyllic landscape, you will hear your own winemakers from the owners and you will stay at a guided tasting session.
In a "pocket" west of the new port in Heraklion, the place where the maritime activity of the city was carried out in the Venetian times.times. You are continuing along, passing over the fortress to look back to the huge cruise ships in the modern port.
