Expert advice on: Crete
Crete is arguably Greece's most beautiful island and the mountains, history, towns and culture all offer loads to see and do, on top of the great beaches.
The north coast, particularly between Iraklio and Agios Nikolaos and west of Hania, hosts most of the package tourists and can be a bit overwhelming. If you're looking for unspoiled, the rugged west coast is your best bet. Here are a few highlights:
- Hania's Old Town
- pretty Agios Nikolaos
- the Minoan ruins of Knossos
- the Samaria Gorge for awe-inspiring beauty
- Kato Zakros, a lovely little seaside settlement, perfect for relaxing for a few days
You can find more information on the official Crete tourism site.
What other iVillagers say:
I lived in Crete for a while. Chania is lovely and has a beautiful old harbour - it's excellent for buying leather. I lived in Malia but I would recommend staying away from there and Hersonissos, unless you are looking for the 18 to 30s scene - loud late bars and virtually no culture. Agios Nikolaos is very pretty too and there is a small island just off the coast, accessible by boat, which was the last leper colony. Depending on how long you stay for I would recommend an overnight trip to the tiny island of Santorini. There is a huge volcano here and some hot springs just off the shore that you can swim in. - jil_21
Eating out in Greece is so cheap and there are so many wonderful restaurants to enjoy that it is verging on criminal to go all inclusive and tie yourself to a hotel. - jules1037
Get more advice on this and other destinations on the Travelling on a Budget board or join one of the discussions below:
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Created: 13/07/2004 Updated: 09/08/2006
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