Curator’s statement
I spent a magical week in Crete this summer exploring all sides of the island and absolutely fell in love with it. It is a completely different experience to other Greek islands, and is a great option to have a varied experience, without taking ferries!
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Where to stay on Crete
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Things to do on Crete
Seitan Limania beach near Chania
Food: I don't think any Greek holiday would be complete without fully indulging in the food. Crete has it's own cuisine, so in addition to popular Greek dishes, you can also have regional dishes, such as Cretan salad, dakos and kalitsounia.
Beaches: The Eastern side of the island is most popular for its beaches. These include Balos, Elafonissi, Falassarna, Kalypso and Preveli. But the water is clear and beautiful all around the island, so regardless of where you stay, you will have access to great swimming.
Hiking: There are many deep gorges that are known for hiking—Samara, Kourtaliotiko gorges, or hiking to caves and monasteries such as the Katholiko monastery which is situated in a gorge.
Boating: Self-drive boats are popular, and don't require a license, however my preference is to charter a boat with a captain so you can enjoy yourself and not have to worry about a thing. Boating is great for accessing hidden swimming coves unreachable by land
History: Crete is an island of immensely varied history. It has only been part of Greece since 1913. It has history from its time under Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman rule. There are sites such as Spinalonga that show this patchwork of influences in a really organic and beautiful way. Going even further back, it is the home of Minoan civilization which is best discovered through a visit to Knossos and the archaelogical museum.
Agriculture: The main export is olive oil, and their expertise shows in the product! Olive oil tastings, olive tastings, wineries, honey farms tthe farm to table options are extensive, and a visit to a farm to taste it at the source is worth it!
Places to eat & drink on Crete
Sunset dinner in the Venetian Harbor
Old Town Chania: These winding streets have incredible local restaurants tucked away in hidden corners
Venetian harbor in Chania. I would suggest one dinner here for the sunset, you will pay tourist prices, but it is worth it for the view. Canale and Pallas rooftop are great options!Beach tavernas: Get a gyro, skewer, grilled fish and salad steps from the beach. It isn't going to be gourmet, but it is going to be delicious. Look for the taverna with the most locals.
Agios Nikolaos: Go to the marina and have a meal overlooking the water and surrounded by the colorful buildings.
Heraklion: In the largest city in Crete you are spoilt for choice, grab bougatsa at a local bakery, have some octopus overlooking the sea, or find a small taverna away from the tourist traps.
Need to know
Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion are perfect places if you want a more central stay and to do day trips from there. Chania and Rethymno have very quaint old towns with winding streets, and a real old world feel. For Heraklion, it is the most practical point if you are arriving/leaving by ferry and there are museums and restaurants, but I would suggest staying a bit outside the city in a place like Agia Pelagia if you want a bit more of a remote retreat. Agios Nikolaos and Elounda are ideal for resort stays, great hotels with plenty of facilities, access to Spinalonga, but also built to just explore the restaurants in town for lunch and spend the rest of the time in the water. And finally small towns like Plaka and Kalypso in the south are great for a more off the beaten path stay, but could prove challenging if you want to get to some of the more popular sights.
Many people rent a car in Crete, and there is definitely an case for why it works. But if you don't want to, it is not a problem at all. I used private tours, and private transfers to get around the island and it saved me a lot of headaches looking for parking and having to reroute around construction, etc.
I do suggest at least two stays on Crete, the sides of the island have very different personalities and are worth exploring fully. I would suggest pairing an eastern resort stay with a cultural/exploration stay in Chania, Rethymno or Heraklion.
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Michelle Souza
Michelle Souza
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