Photography Credits: Matt Teague
- Not to point out the obvious, but incredible beaches await! Balos beach on the north side of the island is like the Caribbean of Greece with soft white sand and amazing teal waters. It even features a Venetian castle! On the southern side of the prefecture of Rethymno is a place of great natural beauty, Preveli beach. This beach is actually where a river flows into the sea, passing through many palm trees and forming a lake near the sea. Lastly Matala beach has amazing caves that you can explore. One of the best way to see Greece is on a yacht, Yacht Sales in Greece is a great place to start! Bask in beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea in one direction and enormous mountain ranges in the other. Stroll down the beach or find your perfect chill spot under a thatched umbrella.
- Samaria Gorge is totally epic. It is 11.25 miles, making it Europe’s longest gorge. It’s a beautiful experience and there is no elevation so it’s not too strenuous. Nothing takes away from the sense of achievement you’ll feel when you reach the Libyan Sea at the southern end.
- Malia has the best night life, it is a fantastic place to meet new people. The lively town has a fun strip of bars, restaurants and clubs. The people of Crete are said to be very friendly and find great pleasure in giving their visitors the time of their lives when visiting their home towns! For the full experience stay at The Ilios, which located right in the heart of downtown is perfect for just walking to everything!
- The sailing tours are incredible! Crete’s unique landscape is best appreciated from the water. Split the cost with your travel friends and hit the waves! Sailing will reveal multihued rock formations, stunning private beaches and incredible views of the whitewashed towns perched high on the caldera.
- The Palace of Knossos is located in what is considered Europe’s oldest city. When you’re there you can really imagine what the ancient world was like in 6000 B.C. The whole of the site, including all of the outlying buildings and tombs, covers an area of about 200 acres. The size of the ancient city suggests an urban area with a population of several thousands. Pack a picnic, beat the crowds and to avoid the heat, get there before 10am.
- Cretan food is not just a variety of dishes laid on the table. It comprises a whole philosophy of life and represents the lifestyle of the Cretan people. You can find chicken souvlaki sandwiches, gyro plates, baklava and many other tasty Greek dishes at classic tavernas-small restaurant serving Greek food.
- Sunsets in Crete are known for being some of the most stunningly beautiful in the world. Catching one from the beach is one of the most popular things to do on the island, but the sunset view from a restaurant overlooking the caldera would be perfect too.
- There is something for everyone, Crete is a particularly attractive destination for people of many ages and one of the key reasons behind this is the large variety of things to do there. It is often put that Crete is a miniature version of the Greek mainland, and that rings true in many ways. There are three larger cities on the island, as well as number of relatively remote villages that also offer a variety of activities and accommodation options.