The largest of the Greek islands has plenty to offer its visitors.
Lovers of nature, sea, and culture will consider Crete to be a paradise where everyone will find something to marvel at.
Read on to discover the essentials for your stay.
Balos Beach
With its turquoise waters, white sandy beach, and distinctive lagoon, Balos Beach is like stepping into a postcard.
Located on the west side of the island, Balos is accessible via a footpath strewn with endemic plants, which wild goats feast on all day long.
The path to the lagoon is easy to walk and takes around 30 minutes. After which, all you have to do is put down your towel and enjoy a dip in the sea.
Another option is to arrive directly by boat, where you can be dropped off right in the heart of the lagoon.
Chania
Crete’s second-largest city is called Chania and is a popular port city for tourists. Accessible from the mainland by ferry, Chania offers visitors a host of architectural and historical points of interest.
Numerous restaurants and terraces let you enjoy a breathtaking view of the sea while sipping a delicious cocktail and sampling local specialties.
During your visit here, be sure to see the Byzantine fortifications and the Museum of Archaeology.
Samaria Gorge
Samaria Gorge is in the southern part of the island and offers hikers the chance to explore Europe’s second-largest canyon, after the Gorges du Verdon.
The 16 km route begins with a 1200 m descent to the valley floor.
Samaria is an ideal place to explore for the day, with ancient monastic monuments, cliffs, waterways, and a sumptuous natural setting.
You can return by boat from the Samaria pier once the hike is over. Plan a rest day at the beach the following day after your time here, as the route can sometimes be quite tiring!
Heraklion
Crete’s largest city, Heraklion is also the island’s port of entry for tourists wishing to begin their stay with a cultural visit.
The citadel, the old port, and the archaeological museum are an excellent starting point for your Cretan vacation.
The surrounding area is also rich in ancient remains, including the Royal Palace of Knossos, which gives an idea of the prestige that once reigned on the island.
Matala Beach
A little further south, Matala Beach is also a guaranteed favorite for those who decide to venture there.
The fine pebble beach is bordered on both sides by a rocky hill that once served as a burial ground for the local inhabitants.
In the 1960s, hippies came to stay here, and since then an annual music festival has been held in Matala.
The musician Jim Morrison himself spent some time in one of the cliff’s troglodyte shelters.
Cretan gastronomy
It’s hard to talk about Greece and its islands without mentioning its gastronomic heritage.
Crete is particularly well served when it comes to cuisine, from small village stalls to the more popular restaurants in town, it’s possible to find very good addresses to suit all budgets.
Enjoy delicious gyros, souvlakis, tzatzikis, moussakas, and more. As well as being particularly tasty, the Cretan diet is also reputed to be one of the healthiest in the world!
Going to Crete
This is just a small sample of all the riches Crete has to offer, and this island of many charms is sure to seduce you from the very first days.
Crete is perfect for a road trip with friends or loved ones, as the winding roads linking the island’s various points of interest offer breathtaking scenery at every turn.
The best way to get to Crete is by ferry, which will land you in the port of your choice after a journey across the Aegean Sea.
Plan your next vacation and book your ferry tickets today on Ferryscanner.