Crete is the largest island in Greece and it is one of the major destinations for foreign tourists.
Crete is rich with historical and natural sights, there are beautiful beaches and you’ll never run out of places to visit.
It’s also a perfect for all types of travellers, from backpackers to families seeking summer holidays. There are so many options available from exploring historical locations to indulging in a variety of adventure water sports.
Crete Travel Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Find cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Get the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Crete Tours
One of the best ways to see the highlights of Crete and also learn about the places you visit is on a sightseeing tours. Search trips on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Best Things to Do in Crete
Deciding for a place to go can be daunting if there are tons of options to choose from, we’d like to suggest that you check out these six places when you visit Crete on your next holidays.
Chania
Chania lies directly opposite Athens, separated by the Aegean Sea, to the Western region of Crete and its history is colossal.
Once held as a settlement by Minoan civilisation from 3650 to 1400 BCE, it followed on as a stronghold in the Byzantine and Arab era, the Venetian era and the Ottoman era. A Venetian quarter is joined by narrow lanes, culminating at the stunning harbour.
A miscellany of Venetian and Turkish architecture assembles the capital, alongside a wonderful medley of atmospheric restaurants and enriched hotels.
Back streets itch to be explored, decorated by sweet scented oleanders in terracotta pots, brightly coloured hanging baskets and bistro aromas tempting you to stay longer.
A selection of breathtaking beaches dot Crete’s coastline. Be sure to visit Elafonisi to the southwest – also known as the pink beach. During the summer months Chania’s shores are regularly visited by the endangered Loggerhead sea turtles, so you may be lucky enough to see one.
Even the name Chania sounds ancient and mythical… and the beauty of Crete’s second largest city reflects its name well.
Beaches
The overall coastline of Crete is around 1046km long dotted with some of the beautiful beaches in Europe. You can relax, lounge around and indulge with watersports activities.
Most of the more develop beaches and resorts can be found in the northern side. This is where you’ll find most tourist facilities and tourists agencies arranging watersports activities.
If you prefer a more quieter and relaxing vacation, then head to the south and enjoy the quiet and serene environment.
The Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos is one of the places that you shouldn’t miss visiting in Crete. This is considered as one of the most famous tourist destination because of it’s impressive array of rich artefacts. Make sure to visit other Minoan ruins as well such as Phaistos, Gortys, and the Palace of Malia.
Spinalonga Island
This is a beautiful island in the Leounda Bay, eastern Crete. It was a Venetian Fortress that was later occupied by Turkish. This is a nice place to explore with the whole family.
Museums
There are various museums scattered all over Crete that you can visit. You’ll find well preserved ancient artefacts and other historical items.
Monasteries
There are many monasteries that you can visit in Crete and one of the famous monastery among visitors is St. George of Selinari Monastery which can be found on the main National Road between Malia and Agis Nikolaos. There’s a Byzantine complex that can be found above the monastery. You could also visit the Preveli Monastery.
These are just some of the places you could visit in Crete and there are more places to visit if you have more time.
Crete Travel Tips
Food and Drink
Food is an important part of any travel and you must definitely visit local restaurants and taste the local specialty of the places that you’ll go to. Some of the best Greek foods that you should try include Dolmades, Crete Cheese, Sarikopitakia and Kalitsounia Kritis.
Have you been to Crete? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations. Also if you are looking for more Greece island inspiration, view my Mykonos travel tips.