Crete

Sights

• Knossos – The palace of the Minoan civilisation near Heraklion.
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum – The most important Minoan finds.
• Venetian harbour of Chania – A lighthouse, lanes and waterside tavernas.
• Samaria Gorge – A full-day hike through the gorge to the Libyan Sea, usually May to October.
• Balos and Elafonisi – Lagoons with turquoise water and pink sand.
• Spinalonga – A Venetian island fortress, by boat from Elounda or Plaka.
• Rethymno – An old town with the Fortezza and minarets.

Food & nightlife

• Dakos – Barley rusk with tomatoes, feta and olive oil.
• Raki (Tsikoudia) – A grape-pomace spirit, often offered on the house.
• Cretan olive oil – With almost every dish.
• Kalitsounia – Little pastries filled with mizithra cheese.

Day trips

• Lasithi Plateau – Windmills and the Diktaean Cave, birthplace of Zeus.
• Matala – Caves in the cliffs above a swimming bay.
• Santorini – By fast ferry from Heraklion.

Good to know

When to go

April–June, September–October

Getting around

Airports at Heraklion and Chania; KTEL buses link the towns, a hire car for beaches and mountains.

Tipping

Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.

Power

Plug type C/F, 230 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Plan your trip to Crete together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Greece

• Athens
• Santorini