With a population of around 600,000, Crete, Greece’s largest island, is where the mountain meets the sea. Very popular as a holiday destination, Crete has become sought after by many tourists worldwide, thanks to its historical sights, natural attractions, and museums.

A holiday in Crete is a real treat. With its crystal-clear waters, beautiful beaches, and rich history, Crete has been one of Europe’s most sought-after holiday spots for decades. And not since today or yesterday. Crete is undoubtedly Greece’s most exotic holiday destination, from pure olive oil to tiny bananas to palm forests and colourful sandy beaches. 

Over the years, Crete has witnessed the birth of European civilisation, dwarf mammoths, the king of the gods – and the famous Nana Mouskouri. So whether you’re a beach addict or a culture vulture, Crete is the place to spend your holiday in Greece. Let’s review some special places in Crete to visit.

Crete island and its regions

Being a vast island, Crete is divided into four administrative regions, each with its personality and charm, as well as its tourist attractions worth visiting: from west to east – Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, and Lasithi. 

The Chania region, located on the island’s west, is notable for its imposing White Mountains (Lefka Ori) and its national park, which dominates most of the region. Chania is an ideal holiday destination for couples looking for romance and families with children who want to enjoy beaches lapped by the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea, such as Efalonisi, Balos, and Falassarna, unique historical monuments, and Venetian stories. The region is also famous for its culinary specialities and local wine, considered one of the best in Greece.

The smallest region of Crete, Rethymno, hides between the White Mountains and Mount Psiloritis. It is an ideal destination for those looking for a quiet holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the Greek summer months. Even if it doesn’t stand out because of its size, the region doesn’t disappoint with dreamy beaches, beautiful mountain scenery, Byzantine churches, and fascinating historical monuments. A mythical place in Rethymno is the Ideon cave, which is said to have been the place where Zeus lived in his childhood years.

The largest and most populous region of Crete is Heraklion, which offers a variety of facilities for tourists of all ages, and enjoys picturesque villages, valleys dotted with olive groves, and sprawling vineyards the sources of some of Greece’s most famous wines. Heraklion is framed by two imposing mountain ranges, Mount Psiloritis to the west and Dikti to the east, where you will discover traces of Minoan civilisation, illustrated by the Minoan palaces of Knossos and Phaestos. Of course, the beaches are not to be missed and, unlike the other regions, Heraklion also enjoys the active nightlife, especially in Malia, Agia Pelagia, and Hersonissos.

Last but not least, the Lasithi region lies at the southernmost tip of Crete. The mountains are already losing their impetuosity and are replaced by wide beaches, a mythical palm forest, and windmills on the Lassithi Plateau, the largest plateau in Crete. The region is also home to beautiful towns, such as Ierapetra, Sitia, Neapoli, and Agios Nikolaos, and luxury resorts.

You can’t visit the whole of Crete in one holiday, as the island is too big, but depending on the region you choose to stay in, you can do various excursions, especially if you are inspired to rent a car. In what follows, we’ll detail some of the unique places to visit in each of the four regions of Crete. You should not miss these places, as their beauty and/or stories are truly fascinating.

Elafonisi Pink Beach

With its atypical shape and pink sand, Elafonisi is one of the most special beaches in the whole of Greece. 

The pink sand of the beach, with sparkling reflections, is due to the large amount of coral, shells, and small red marine organisms that grow on the reefs in this area. But you won’t always find these pink shades of sand at Elafonisi Beach. The sand’s colour can vary depending on the wind, tides, and fluctuations in the marine life in the area. Regardless, Elafonisi beach remains one of the most beautiful in Greece, and the scenery here often resembles that of the Maldives. 

There is also a legend of the pinkish sand here: in 1824, on Easter Day, the Ottomans killed several hundred women and children on the island of Elafonisi. It is believed that from then until today, the sand has remained coloured in shades of red in memory of the souls who perished here.

Elafonisi translates as “Island of the Deer”, and what you will find on maps as Elafonisi Village is a small holiday village with accommodation units located about 300-400 meters from the famous beach. Elafonisi beach is located in the southwestern part of Crete. The distance from Chania to Elafonisi is 75 kilometres, which means that you will have to drive here for about an hour and a half, but if you are staying in a more remote part of the island, you should bear in mind that you can drive 3-4 hours to Elafonisi.

Samaria Gorge

The Samaria Gorge is located in the western part of the island in the massif of the White Mountains and is one of Greece’s most sought-after National Parks for hiking and trekking enthusiasts. Its natural beauty is magnificent, and also its flora and fauna are exceptional and rare! The gorge was created by a small river that ran through the White Mountains and Mount Volakias. This gorge is a significant attraction on the island.

Samaria, with a length of 16 km, stretches from the Omalos Plateau at an altitude of over 1200 meters to the Libyan Sea and offers the most beautiful landscapes on the island. Its rocky walls reach a height of 600 metres. On the mainland, only the Verdon Gorge in France is longer, at 20 km. The Samaria Passage is between 3 and 4 metres wide.  

If you get here, don’t forget to pass through the village of Samaria! Samaria is an old village whose inhabitants were displaced in 1962 when the whole gorge was declared a national park. The old houses still exist and serve as houses for the guards. The village of Samaria offers tourists a glimpse into Crete’s architectural and traditional past, which will fully fascinate them with the uniqueness and charm of its houses.

This village is located halfway along the gorge route. It offers visitors the perfect opportunity to stop for a break, to have a small snack, or simply to admire the rural authenticity. A little further down from the village is the church of Osia Maria (Virgin Mary), a building that has been here since the 14th century. The name of the gorge, Samaria, derives precisely from the name of this church.

Balos Lagoon

Balos Lagoon is located about 56 kilometres northwest of Chania and 17 kilometres northwest of Kissamos and is another dream place in Chania, the western region of Crete. Balos is the most photographed beach in Crete, famous for its natural and exotic beauty, turquoise water, and white sand, which make many liken it to a Caribbean beach. 

In high season, Balos is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists who arrive here by ferry from Kissamos. Access by car is more difficult because the dirt road crosses the Balos Reserve, along Cape Gramovousa to a parking lot, and from there, it’s about a kilometre down to the beach.

Balos Lagoon has white sand, and the water is white, dark blue, and turquoise. The sea is shallow and very warm, ideal for children. In some places, the sand is pink due to millions of crushed shells. Passing the rocks that border the lagoon, the water becomes deeper and cooler, perfect for snorkelling. The entire lagoon is protected thanks to rare species of flora and fauna, including cormorants, Eleonora hawks, and the cute Caretta Caretta turtles.

Knossos Palace

Situated 5 kilometres from the oasis of Heraklion, the Minoan Palace of Knossos is the most important archaeological site in Crete and the most representative relic of the Minoan civilisation that flourished on this island in the past. The palace is built on the slope of Mount Kefalas, with access to the sea but also to the interior of the island. Greek mythology gives this place well-known myths and legends: the myth of the minotaur, the labyrinth, and the story of Daedalus and Icarus.

It seems that the palace was built in 1900 BC. Two hundred years later, it was destroyed, and another similar edifice was built in its place. An earthquake caused extensive damage to the building, but the palace was renovated, and a number of other buildings were added. In 1900 systematic excavations began, which lasted almost 35 years and led to the discovery of the entire palace. In addition to the ruins of the palace, visitors can admire pots, murals, and other utensils that originated in the years before our era.

Beyond the myth, the Palace of Minos at Knossos is material proof that, in ancient times, on an island surrounded by the waters of the Aegean Sea, a select civilization knew how to cherish the art of living with joy and wisdom and forged values whose traces have been preserved to this day. 

It is worth noting that in this area of Crete, Knossos, there is no sign of any military structure’s presence- no fortifications or weapons depots. The Minoan civilization was a peaceful, prosperous, culturally interested civilization, putting the woman before the man, which is almost inconceivable for that period if we refer to other cultures and peoples. It remains to be seen whether you will have this feeling when you visit the palace ruins.

Agios Nikolaos

The port of Agios Nikolaos – an important administrative, cultural, and communication centre – is one of the most developed tourist areas in Crete and even in Greece. The town, beautifully situated in the Mirabello Bay, boasts not one but two harbours: a charming fishing harbour and, located right in the town, an inland harbour which is actually a lake. Bordered by outdoor cafes, this is said to be the lake where the goddess Athena bathed. Therefore, it would be… wise to visit it.

All these attractions, and many others in and around the town, make it one of the busiest places in Crete during the peak summer season.

Agios Nikolaos was also a prosperous place in ancient times, being the port of the city-state of Lato, located inside the island. It remained a port even under the Venetians, who named it Agios Nikolaos after a church built in the 10th and 11th centuries. The Venetians also named the bay, which they called Mirabello (Italian for “beautiful view”).

Lassithi Plateau 

If you like to visit places untouched by mass tourism, where the sound of your footsteps is the only thing disturbing the silence, a good choice might be the Lassithi Plateau, located about 70 km from Heraklion at the end of a winding road. The feeling this piece of land surrounded by mountains gives you is unique. You see only a few old Cretans in the almost deserted villages, and in the quiet tavernas, you rarely find tourists. The Lasithi Plateau is a balm for the soul of any tourist in search of heaven on earth.

Ideon Cave

Ideon Andron Cave or Zeus Cave is located on the Nida Plateau, 1499 meters above sea level. Ideon Andron is one of the four sacred caves on the island of Crete, and, according to legend, it was here that Rhea gave birth to Zeus to hide him from his father, Cronos (according to another version, this happened in the Dikteon Andron cave on the Lasithi Plateau). It is believed that the cave was used to worship Zeus until the 5th century. To get to the cave, prepare for a short but intense effort, and don’t think for a second about getting on the back of one of the poor donkeys that the locals use to transport tourists.

Vai Palm Beach

Vai Beach is the only beach with naturally grown palm trees in Europe and one of Crete’s biggest attractions. It is fringed by the Crete Date Palm (Phoenix theophrasti) and attracts thousands of visitors every year, not only for the forest itself but also for the large sandy beach at the foot of the palms. 

Vai lies 24 km east of Sitia and about 6 km from Palaikastro. Once in Sitia, you have to take the road to Moni Toplou (Toplou Monastery) and drive 8 kilometres past the monastery. If you are coming from Rethymno, the journey to Vai takes four hours, and from Chania, it takes four to five hours. Just beyond Vai rises the ancient town of Itanos or Erimoupoli, where archaeologists’ excavations have yielded numerous finds from the Minoan and Hellenistic periods. In this area, you can combine sunbathing with a love of history.

Picturesque villages of Crete

To spend quiet moments during your holiday, you can choose one of the timeless mountain villages of Crete, with their winding streets and whitewashed houses. Due to their remoteness, many preserve local customs, traditional costumes, and old dialect. 

The charm is enhanced by the locals’ hospitality and many churches, monasteries, towers, and castles scattered over the idyllically beautiful hills. Ravdouha is a small mountain village just 5 km from the fishing village of Kolimbari in western Chania. It has few inhabitants, and most houses are old and made of stone. The surrounding nature includes pine trees and olive groves, and there is a small secluded beach nearby where you can relax at your leisure. 

Traditional fishing villages with idyllic beaches and small bays will give you plenty of peace and quiet, away from the island’s crowded resorts. In Sougia or Paleochora, located southwest of Crete, you will find secluded beaches, only good for relaxation and even nudism.

Bonus – Spinalonga Island

If you want to take a trip off the coast of Crete, then the place to go is the mysterious island of Spinalonga, the one you’ll learn has a largely macabre history. Located near the village of Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga Island was a leper colony in the mid-1950s. This was where the leprosy patients were isolated from Crete and other Greek islands to spend the last years of their lives. The last person to leave this island was an Orthodox priest who stayed behind to perform Christian tributes to those who died of leprosy. He left Spinalonga seven years after his last death.

You can reach Spinalonga Island by boat from Elounda and Agios Nikolaos; the journey takes no more than 15 minutes. The original fort, however, is of Venetian origin. The Venetians named the island because of its elongated thorny appearance.

In the 4th century, the island was conquered by the Byzantines, then by the Saracens, and in 1200 it came under Venetian rule. It was the Venetians who built the fortress, which was virtually impregnable, on the ruins of an ancient acropolis. The Venetians defended Crete for several decades against the Turkish invasion, installing cannons and a whole arsenal of weapons. Following the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, the island of Spinalonga returned to the Cretan state.

Today, the island is a popular destination among tourists who want to take a trip into history. Some buildings have been preserved very well on the island due to the climate. Both the buildings from the time of the lepers and the original fortifications have been preserved.

It doesn’t take more than 2-3 hours to visit Spinalonga. The streets are narrow, the stone houses and the chapel are extremely well preserved, and the ruins of the Venetian fortress indicate that the island was once an important defence and observation point. Thousands of tourists come to Spinalonga every year, attracted by the island’s wildness, sobriety, and mystery. And even film directors have used the island’s ruins in their historical films. The Island (2011), Who pays the ferryman? (1977), Last words (1968) – are just a few of the productions filmed here.

There are plenty of reasons why you should spend at least one summer holiday in Crete. I’ve shown you just a few of them above, but Crete is an island on which there is so much more to see and do. And don’t forget that another reason you should visit Crete is because of the food – this is the paradise of organic Greek food. But about that, probably in another article.

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