Europe's Most Mysterious Island
Crete is steeped in ancient history - authentic Minoan and Byzantine, mythological like King Minos the bull god - and with its exotic mix of European, African and Middle Eastern influences feels like a bygone Mediterranean dreamland.
Crete abounds with fascinating realities and myths
Sitting at the southernmost point of Europe in the middle of the Mediterranean, with a climate of almost perpetual sunshine and an African feel to the air, it has virtually zero sea and air pollution, a dramatic mountain landscape fringed with warm water sandy beaches and deserted beautiful islands.
Big Enough for Years of Exploration
Crete is big enough to be a country in itself, but still feels like an island culture. It is some 260 km long and between 15 and 60 km wide, with a coastline of over 1,000 km!
It is one of Greece's ten administrative regions but probably the most independent. The population is about 600,000 with the main concentrations of people being in Chania in the west, Rethymnon, Heraklion the capital and Ayios Nikolaos with Sitia and its new airport, in the east.
Agriculture and tourism are the main income generators, with fantastic growing conditions particularly for grapes, citrus fruit, all manner of Mediterranean herbs, vegetables and probably the best quality olive oil in the world, particularly in the east.
Unlike many island destinations you are unlikely to ever get bored with Crete. The landscape is constantly breathtaking and contrasting, with central mountains snow covered in winter and with the southern sea so warm and clear you can enjoy watersports year round.
Beautiful and contrasting scenery
The north coast has plenty of developed shopping and some large marinas, yet drift the short distance to the south east coast and all you will see is small villages, fishing harbours, traditional life and a feeling of old world values.
Crete excels in so many ways it is likely to suit you whatever your interests. Traditional healthy Mediterranean food and local wine, ancient history, sailing, hiking and exploring, great fishing, birdwatching and flora, rich local culture in music, song and dance.
 |
| Multiple architectural influences |
The Marks of Many Cultures
Crete has been ruled by an incredible range of powers. The Minoans the oldest, then came Doric Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Venetians, Turks and most recently the Germans in World War II.
Evidence of their presence is everywhere. From Minoan temples and Roman remains to Venetian style architecture still standing around harbours, together with a distinctly Middle Eastern flavour to some of the traditional music and food.
East and Southeast Crete. "Authenticity" and Best Climate
This region, till recently quite difficult to get to and therefore the most timelessly unspoilt, seems set to become the key area for enjoying well preserved real Cretan life yet with increasingly better access, improving general facilities like shopping, medical care, town hall services for foreigners and all those things that actually are important for day to day living.
Some key places to visit include:
Ayios Nikolaos
Major marina; shopping; harbour
The largest and a nicely developed harbour based "resort", with picturesque waterfront cafes and restaurants and currently the largest marina in east Crete.
Sitia
Traditional fishing harbour and marina, lost in time feel
A subtly charming and traditional fishing harbour bringing in Mediterranean delicacies like the king of fish, red snapper, octopus and delicate tasting prawns. Excellent traditional restaurants for every experience of authentic Cretan and Greek dishes, from country kitchen style to lavish lobster dishes and herb-grazed lamb.
It is growing, being the location for the new east Crete airport, and has a ferry terminal for exploring other islands, but always surprises with a so relaxed and low key sophisticated character typical of east Crete culture, as opposed to the more glitzy tourist feel of western areas.
Makrigialos
Best beaches and climate all year, traditional harbour, warmest and safest sea, excellent tavernas
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Makrigialos harbour | Fine sandy beaches | Waterside restaurants | Great sea and mountain views |
Quaint working fishing harbour with as yet only a few leisure craft, which typically go out to explore deserted nearby sandy islands, fish the tuna run in summer, and snorkel in the cleanest seas of the Mediterranean.
The general southeast coast area has truly incredible clarity of water and one nearby tiny waterside village is called Kalo Nero, literally "Good Water", after an ancient legend of having water that cures many ailments.
The sea at Makrigialos is very shallow and you can feel the warmth of the water over the soft sands most of the year. It is totally safe for all watersports and children, yet it has not developed into a rowdy place, just grown to now have a new 5 star spa hotel and a number of quality villa developments.
Kserocambos
The road down from the mountains behind this remote village on the far east coast offers some of the most spectacular sea and coastline views in the Mediterranean. A tortuous winding road takes you down to stretches of good sandy beaches.
Kato Zakros Palace
Kato Zakros itself is a delightful fishing village with good fish tavernas and nice beaches. But the main attraction is The Palace site, where you can visit the remains of a Minoan Palace built around 1600-1450 BC.
It is not the largest Minoan relic, but it is an easy one to understand in layout and use from this bygone age. It has yielded a great collection of treasures and daily life items.
Lasithi Plateau
High above the Ayios Nikolaos area lies a great plateau with hundreds of old windmills, some restored with working white cloth sails. The whole area is a spectacular window on traditional Cretan rural life and offers many attractions helping you see back to time of Roman and Venetian influence.
Toplou Monastery
This famous monastery looks like a defiant fortress from the outside within its desolate landscape of hills but inside has beautiful aspects like flower laden courtyards, arcaded walkways and a church with a masterpiece of Cretan art, an intricate icon with 61 scenes of amazing beautiful detail.
Moni Kapsa Monastery
In contrast to the open hills of Toplou, this smaller monastery, first constructed in the early Venetian period, sits dramatically perched on a cliff face. It has fine views over gloriously blue sea towards the deserted island of Koufonisi, itself the location of a little explored largely sunken Roman amphitheatre.
 |
| Cliff-hugging Moni Kapsa |
It has a colourful history, having been largely destroyed by Turkish pirates in 1471 (then rebuilt) and had a "Robin Hood" style monk hero and healer named Yerontoyiannis, who never actually conducted a service because he couldn't read!
Authentic Cretan Organic Restaurants
 |
| Enjoy! |
The whole southeastern region has a fine choice of traditional "kitchen" restaurants for your experimentation and enjoyment.
Produce is usually from the gardens, the local wine and raki (clear grape spirit rocket fuel) are home made, the fantastic lamb, chickens and pork are home reared, the fish is straight off the boat and the owners will typically sit in the dining area with you.
You will delight in finding which ones are best for the seafood, which for meat, which for old country dishes like wild rabbit in wine, and for vegetarians and general good health, which are seriously big on wild herbs and rocket style greens, day fresh vegetables and rarities like an iron-rich sea endive.