La Island of crete it is a place where you have to move to see the most interesting places. It is true that the vast majority of people come to this Mediterranean island attracted by its beautiful beaches and its great climate, but on the island we have much more to see and do than to spend every day lying on the sand.
We will tell you what to see on the island of Crete to make the most of your trip to this cradle of culture. A place that preserves remains of the Minoan culture in its archaeological sites and that also offers beautiful natural spaces, a delicious gastronomy and cozy towns to visit.
Knossos archaeological site
If there is something that represents the island of Crete in the whole world, that is the Knossos Palace, that famous palace of the minotaur's labyrinth discovered in 1900. It is a few kilometers from the city of Heraklion and it is surprising how well preserved everything is and how advanced this Minoan civilization was, since they even have water pipes and a path , which is the first in our history. Without a doubt, it is a place that we must see to learn more about European history. It is also possible to arrange some guided tours, which are sometimes better, since they can tell us the details of each place.
Elafonisi Beach
Elafonisi Beach is undoubtedly the most famous on the island of Crete. Not only because of those Mediterranean landscapes, the good weather and the crystal clear waters, but because it has a nice pink sand that makes it very special. It is in the Lafonisi Nature Reserve, whose name is due to the laphonisis, pink crystals that give that tone to the sand on the beach. It is the perfect place to rest for a day after visiting the island, enjoying only the beach and the clear waters.
Heraklion and the archaeological museum
Heraklion is the capital of Crete, and it is a city in which you should not miss visiting its famous Archaeological Museum. In it we can see all the original pieces found in the Palace of Knossos. It does not happen as in other places, that the remains are transferred to important museums in other countries. Here it has remained in the museum of the capital, so that in addition to visiting the palace we can see all its details preserved in the museum. Of course, it must be said that most are replicas for sheer security, but we can get an idea of the murals and the beautiful pieces that were in the palace.
The Samaria Gorge
This natural area is located between the White Mountains and Mount Volakias. It is the largest gorge in Europe and the ideal place for those who want to go hiking in Crete. There are routes that are also very well indicated, and that show us impressive places in the gorge. Of course, we must bear in mind that it is open to the public between April and October.
The island of Gavdos
The island of Gavdos is the southernmost place in all of Europe, forming part of the province of Selino. It can be reached by ferry from Crete and in it it is possible to enjoy a Nudist beach, and Krasti, the capital, where we can see small streets, picturesque houses and a place where cars will not bother us.
The cozy Loutro
If what we want is to make a stop at a cozy fishing village, typically Mediterranean, for that we have Loutro. This small town is between the sea and small mountains. Their white houses stand out with beautiful blue windows, which create a fairytale postcard. The best thing about this place is that it is not reached by car and there are no roads, but the usual mode of transport is by boat, in which we will arrive to enjoy small beaches and cozy restaurants.
Rethymno
In Rethymno we will be facing one of the most important cities in Crete and a really lively place. If after the beaches and quiet towns we want some hustle and bustle, we can go through the port area, which is where we will find bars, restaurants and many people having fun. In this place we can also visit the Fortezza, a fortress built by the Venetians, hence it is known as the Venice of Crete.
The island of Spinalonga
The island of Spinalonga looks like a small city seen from the air, but the reality is that it is a uninhabited place currently. This island only serves as a tourist place of passage, for those who want to know an impregnable fortress of the Mediterranean. From the highest area there are beautiful views of Elounda Bay. To get there you can take a ferry in Agios, Nicholaos, Elounda and Plaka.