The best place to stay in Crete is Chania area or western Crete that actually has the best beaches of the island and some of the best hotels along with the beautiful Chania town with its elegant restaurants, the picturesque Old Town of Chania, and the incredible Samaria Gorge (which you should hike).
Which part of Crete is most beautiful?
- Triopetra beach. Triopetra beach is best known for the three rocks found there, rising at the edge of the peninsula, hence its name. ...
- The White Mountains or Lefka Ori. ...
- Glyka Nera – Sweet Water beach. ...
- Margarites village. ...
- Myrtos village.
What is the most beautiful city in Crete?
Chania Town is probably the most beautiful town in Crete. The Old Town of Chania, with the evident Medieval style, is a wonderful place to walk around, lined up with elegant Venetian mansions.
Which is better Chania or Heraklion?
Chania is famous around Crete and Greece for its incredible architecture. Though Heraklion has several impressive buildings, it pales in comparison to Chania. On the other hand, Heraklion is more authentic, for lack of a better word . Both have a lively local population, but Chania is more touristy.
Is Heraklion worth visiting?
Both Chania and Heraklion have gorgeous cathedrals, picturesque old towns, numerous restaurants, and lots of places to shop. They also have lots of people, traffic, construction, and other drawbacks that come with large cities. Each is worth at least a half-day visit , but we found the heart of Crete in the small towns.
How many days do you need in Crete?
Crete is a large island with so much to offer. You are surrounded by stunning beaches, archaeological sites, small islands, gorges & historical towns. To see all the “top sights”, it will take a minimum of 10 days – 2 weeks , however, you could easily spend 4 weeks and still have more to see.
Which part of Crete is less touristy?
For a taste of the less touristy places on the island, Sitia is your town where to stay in Crete. The Venetians built it, though the Turks destroyed and then rebuilt it. Today it prides itself on its long and sandy beach that offers sun, sea, sand, and excellent swimming.
Which side of Crete has the best beaches?
The part of Crete with the best beaches is definitely Chania . One of the most exotic sandy beaches of Crete are Balos, a wonderful place in Chania with crystal Caribbean-like water. This place amazes visitors with stunning natural beauty.
Is Elounda worth visiting?
We loved the authentic Greek feel of Elounda, the friendliness of the locals we met, and the generally relaxed atmosphere of the village. Moreover, the view across the bay is spectacular. I could have spent my entire week just gazing out to sea — this is one of the most relaxing places to visit in Greece .
What is the main town in Crete?
Heraklion is the largest city in Crete with a population of about 200.000. Heraklion houses the public services and the major scientific centers of Crete, being the commercial center of the island with the main port and airport.
Does it get cold in Crete Greece?
The average Crete temperature decreases as you travel north. July and August are the warmest months, and January is the coldest month of the year . In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30oC (70-90°F) and in winter between 10-15oC (50-60°F).
How can I travel to Crete without a car?
Crete is easy to explore by bus – they are reliable, cheap, comfortable and have aircon in most cases. The main north coast towns of Chania, Rethymno, Iraklion and Agios Nikolaos all have bus stations where you can then access many rural areas of the island.
Which is better Corfu or Crete?
We'd sum it up by saying Crete is better for outdoors adventures and hiking, for out-of-season vacations, and for foodies . Corfu is more classically idyllic, has more family beaches, and is easier to travel to.
Should I stay in Chania or Rethymnon?
All in all, Chania appears to have the upper hand over Rethymno as a holiday destination . It is easier to reach, has a more charming old town, prestigious museums and many things to do. On the other hand, the city beach is better in Rethymno, and the same goes for nightlife and day trips.
Does Chania Crete have a beach?
Favoured by world travellers and locals alike for their spell-binding picturesque beauty and crystalline waters the top beaches in Chania, Crete comprise of the sandy beaches of Elafonissi, Balos, Falassarna, Frangokastello, Georgioupolis, Kalyves, Kiani Akti, Kolimpari, Platanias and Paleochora .
Is Crete better than Santorini?
Crete has more small traditional (non-touristy) villages. Santorini is more romantic and better suited to a honeymoon . Santorini has better and more unique luxury hotels. Both Santorini and Crete have a longer tourism season than most Greek islands.
Is Crete or Athens better?
The latter prefers vacation resorts with hotels by the lapping Mediterranean Sea, and boasts quaint villages and towns filled with tourist souvenir shops and tourist-orientated tavernas. To put it another way: Crete is for classic R&R holidays, while Athens is for culture trips and shopping .
Is Crete cheaper than Mykonos?
Mykonos = better nightlife, nicer restaurants, more fun for singles but more expensive, fewer flights, kind of a hassle with the ferry... Crete = better weather, more flights, cheaper overall but harder to pick a location, perhaps a bit too family or worse really trashy.
Which is better Crete or Rhodes?
The great thing about Rhodes and Crete is that both islands have diversified sightseeing options; it all depends on what you prefer . Crete has stunning archaeological sites such as the Minoan palaces, while Rhodes has the Acropolis of Lindos or the majestic medieval old town of Rhodes.
What to know before going to Crete?
- Crete is great for all ages and budgets. ...
- You don't have to break the bank to holiday in Crete. ...
- Raki is the answer to everything, really! ...
- Crete is a 365 Day Destination. ...
- You need a lifetime to discover Crete. ...
- Crete doesn't just have one beautiful village, but hundreds.
How long is the ferry ride from Santorini to Crete?
How long is the ferry ride from Santorini to Heraklion, Crete? The Santorini to Crete ferry time is approximately 2 hr with a high-speed vessel and almost 6 hr with a conventional ferry .
Is Chania very touristy?
Chania is probably one of the oldest cities in Europe. The more touristy areas are on the outskirts and tourist resorts along the coast nearby .
Is Chania Crete expensive?
How much money will you need for your trip to Chania? You should plan to spend around €74 ($80) per day on your vacation in Chania, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €26 ($29) on meals for one day and €12 ($13) on local transportation.
Is Crete a party island?
Apart from the Cyclades islands which are world famous for their party vibes, Crete island is also an island with wild nightlife in some spots . It offers a wide plethora of options to spend amusing nights for all tastes and ages.
Where are the pink beaches in Crete?
The Canadian travel site TravelVersed.com has recently announced the most beautiful pink beaches in the world, two of which are located in Greece and more specifically on the island of Crete. These beaches are Elafonisi (pictured above) and Balos, near Chania .
Is the sea calm in Crete?
The sea remains calm but the sand hitting your body makes you feel like someone is trying to sandblast the skin off your body. This happens on a few days each year when the north winds are particularly strong, mainly in July and August.
Is it safe to swim in Crete?
Crete is an ideal place to enjoy swimming at any time of the year . All needed, beyond a good mood and leisure time, is a relatively nice day without much wind and extreme cold. You don't need to go too far away, because the informal meeting points of winter swimmers are located very close to the towns of the island.
