Crete island
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Crete Island is one stop for your holiday you did want to miss ether you alone, with friends or family Crete offers endless variety entertainment. The friendly people, the history and monuments say allot for Crete.
It’s an all session holiday island with many options to start.
Summer
Crete is one of the best places for your summer holidays, the variety of beaches are more then plenty and the water is crystal blue.
There are two nice beaches very close to the old town: Koum Kapi to the east and Nea Hora to the west, whilst a number of others are in a very short distance in both direction (East: Akrotiri beaches, West: Hryssi Akti, Agii Apostoli, Kalamaki, Daratso, Agia Marina
(One of the most significant buildings is the large Venetian church of Aghios Frankiskos which today houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania)
Réthymnon (GR: Ρέθυμνον) is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and it is built between two other large cities of Crete.
It lies along the north coast, having to the east one of the largest sand beaches in Crete (12 km) and to the west a rocky coastline that ends up to another large sand beach after 10 km.
Rethymnon does not have an airport but the city is served by the airports of Hania and Iraklion.
Public buses can be used for travelling to Hania, Iraklion and most of the towns and villages of the Prefecture of Rethymnon.
Rimondi fountain
with rich decoration is situated at Platanos square, the centre of the Venetian town. It was built in 1626, by A.Rimondi, in order to provide the citizens with drinkable water.
Neratzes mosque
formerly the Holy Virgin church, was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans. Today it is used as a music conservatory. Outstanding elements of this building are the doorframe and the three domes. Next to the mosque there is the impressive minaret, built in 1890.
Folklore & history museum
Housed in a restored Venetian building with an interior courtyard. Eight halls with collections that include textile and basket weaving, embroidery & lace, costumes, ceramics, historic photographs and maps, weapons and coins. Over 5.000 items dating from the 17th to the 20th century are displayed.
The Fortezza castle
at the top of a low hill named "Palaiokastro" dominates the town. It was built in 1590 to protect the city from the pirates raids and the Turks.
The name "Palaiokastro which means 'The old Castle" was in use even by the Venetians which demonstrates the existance of an even older castle at this place. - Probably the acropolis of the ancient town of Rithymna.The view from up there is magnificent, especially at night.
Iraklion (GR: Ηράκλειον - also transliterated as Heraklion or Herakleion) is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island.
The Heraklion airport (HER), named after the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis, is one of the biggest in Greece and receives approximately 15% of the total tourist traffic of Greece. Heraklion's airport is about 5km east of the city.
There is a lot of hotels ranging from Luxury class to small rent-a-room and youth hostels operating all year round. Most of them are located in the old town.
Travel bureaus offering excursions and special events, car hire companies and other tourist related agencies are also close to the old town's center and the port.
Heraklion's long history and cosmopolitan character is reflected to its rich cultural life throughout the year. The major cultural event in Heraklion is the summer cultural festival, organised by the municipality. It is a three-month extravaganza of music, theatre and dance, both of Hellenic and foreign performers.
History is very much alive in Heraklion, like in most Greek cities.
From the old Venetian Harbour, the August 25th Str., leads to the old town's centre. The central square while surrounded by cafes, stores and restaurants, is dominated by the fountain of the Lions, built by Morozini the venetian governor in 1628.
Heraklion's main square where the Archaeological museum stands and to the right 'Kyrillou Loukareos Str" leads to Agios Minas cathedral and Agia Aikaterini Museum.
All around the old part of the city, a visitor can walk following the Venetian walls that meet at the old port, the fortress that dominates the old harbour of the city.
The visitor to Heraklion should definitely visit the archaeological site at Knossos and the Archaelogical Museum of Heraklion that houses most of the Minoan findings in Crete.
Crete Chania
Chaniá (GR: Χανιά also transliterated as Haniá or Khaniá) is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and the second largest town in Crete, with a population of 60.000 inhabitants.
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Chania area offers a large number of in hotels of all categories. There are also guest houses and hostels.
The old city is full of restaurants and taverns, housed in renovated houses, or even in the open-air remains of old buildings. There are also plenty of bars and night spots . Night life in Chania is very intense with most places staying open throughout the night.There are two nice beaches very close to the old town: Koum Kapi to the east and Nea Hora to the west, whilst a number of others are in a very short distance in both direction (East: Akrotiri beaches, West: Hryssi Akti, Agii Apostoli, Kalamaki, Daratso, Agia Marina
(One of the most significant buildings is the large Venetian church of Aghios Frankiskos which today houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania)
Crete Rethymno
Réthymnon (GR: Ρέθυμνον) is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and it is built between two other large cities of Crete.
It lies along the north coast, having to the east one of the largest sand beaches in Crete (12 km) and to the west a rocky coastline that ends up to another large sand beach after 10 km.
Rethymnon does not have an airport but the city is served by the airports of Hania and Iraklion.
Public buses can be used for travelling to Hania, Iraklion and most of the towns and villages of the Prefecture of Rethymnon.
Rimondi fountain
with rich decoration is situated at Platanos square, the centre of the Venetian town. It was built in 1626, by A.Rimondi, in order to provide the citizens with drinkable water.
Neratzes mosque
formerly the Holy Virgin church, was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans. Today it is used as a music conservatory. Outstanding elements of this building are the doorframe and the three domes. Next to the mosque there is the impressive minaret, built in 1890.
Folklore & history museum
Housed in a restored Venetian building with an interior courtyard. Eight halls with collections that include textile and basket weaving, embroidery & lace, costumes, ceramics, historic photographs and maps, weapons and coins. Over 5.000 items dating from the 17th to the 20th century are displayed.
The Fortezza castle
at the top of a low hill named "Palaiokastro" dominates the town. It was built in 1590 to protect the city from the pirates raids and the Turks.
The name "Palaiokastro which means 'The old Castle" was in use even by the Venetians which demonstrates the existance of an even older castle at this place. - Probably the acropolis of the ancient town of Rithymna.The view from up there is magnificent, especially at night.
Crete Hiraklion
Iraklion (GR: Ηράκλειον - also transliterated as Heraklion or Herakleion) is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island.
The Heraklion airport (HER), named after the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis, is one of the biggest in Greece and receives approximately 15% of the total tourist traffic of Greece. Heraklion's airport is about 5km east of the city.
There is a lot of hotels ranging from Luxury class to small rent-a-room and youth hostels operating all year round. Most of them are located in the old town.
Travel bureaus offering excursions and special events, car hire companies and other tourist related agencies are also close to the old town's center and the port.
Heraklion's long history and cosmopolitan character is reflected to its rich cultural life throughout the year. The major cultural event in Heraklion is the summer cultural festival, organised by the municipality. It is a three-month extravaganza of music, theatre and dance, both of Hellenic and foreign performers.
History is very much alive in Heraklion, like in most Greek cities.
From the old Venetian Harbour, the August 25th Str., leads to the old town's centre. The central square while surrounded by cafes, stores and restaurants, is dominated by the fountain of the Lions, built by Morozini the venetian governor in 1628.
Heraklion's main square where the Archaeological museum stands and to the right 'Kyrillou Loukareos Str" leads to Agios Minas cathedral and Agia Aikaterini Museum.
All around the old part of the city, a visitor can walk following the Venetian walls that meet at the old port, the fortress that dominates the old harbour of the city.
The visitor to Heraklion should definitely visit the archaeological site at Knossos and the Archaelogical Museum of Heraklion that houses most of the Minoan findings in Crete.
Crete Lassithi
Lasithi (Hellenic: Λασίθι) is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli.
Beaches in Lasithi
Agia Fotia
About 4km easternly of Sitia. A small coastal settlement with a clean beach and crystal waters, in the coastal street from Sitia to Vai. Here you will find simple hotels, certain umbrellas and deck chairs and a couple of good taverns, for a quiet and pleasant stay.
Elounda
About 11 km north of Agios Nikolaos. The former fishing village of Elounda, that gave its name in the seasonal, cosmopolitan region with the luxurious hotels, is today a small tourist destination, with simple hotels, restaurants, coffee and a lot of other services.
Istros
12 km southly-eastern of Agios Nikolaos. In the coastal street southernly of Agios Nikolaos there are 5-6 splendid sandy beaches with clean, crystal waters, from Agios Nikolaos to Mohlos.
Myrtos
About 15 km eastern of Ierapetra. Perhaps the best beach westwards Ierapetra, Myrtos is a resort suitable for families that attract mainly European tourists.
Vai
98 km easternly of Agios Nikolaos. Perhaps the most famous beach of Crete, Vai is worldwide known because of its palm groove.
Itanos
About 3 km northern of Vai. One small and quiet. Under the ruins of ancient castle.
Ierapetra Beach
About 38 km southernly of Agios Nikolaos. Ierapetra is the biggest town in the southern coast of Crete and the main commercial and rural centre of the region. Paradoxically its beach is a splendid, clean sandy beach that it is of equal beauty as the beaches of other resorts.
Ierapetra Beach
About 38 km southernly of Agios Nikolaos. Ierapetra is the biggest town in the southern coast.
Makrygialos
25 km eastern of Ierapetra the name reveals everything: long seashore, with light blue waters, sandy extents and quietness.
Beach of Sitia
In Sitia, 70 km easternly of Agios Nikolaos. Sitia is the last big town of eastern Crete. Here you will find certain appreciable small hotels and good taverns that offer very good food
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