Elounda, a small coastal town with an indigenous population of less than 2500, defies easy categorization. It flaunts several luxury resorts and high-end hotels and attracts the rich and famous in secret escapes priced at a whopping 10000€ per night or more. The settlement encompasses seven villag
If you visit Hersonissos by day, you’ll notice tourists walking around, sitting in seafront tavernas and cafes, or shopping. Yet the town keeps an appearance of calm and tranquility. But, of course, things change around sunset when the first beats fill the air: it’s time for techno, hous
Abandoned by its last inhabitant in 1962, Spinalonga is a monument of outstanding universal value, according to UNESCO. The World Heritage Convention describes the islet as “an important example of a seaward bastion-type fortress that portrays important phases of human history” and ̶
Agios Nikolaos is one of the prettiest seaside towns in Crete. Built upon the site of ancient Lato pros Kamara, the settlement takes its name from a historical landmark – the Early Byzantine chapel of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos), dating from the 7th century. The temple is one of the town&#
If you happen to be in Crete during Lenten or Easter, you will observe cherished customs and traditions that unite families and friends in observance of Christ’s resurrection. And, you probably do not know it yet, but Easter is the most important holiday in the Greek Orthodox calendar and, for
At the Lychnostatis Open Air Museum, Cretans celebrate their living heritage, traditions, and ethnology. Those visiting Crete for the first time and interested in folk culture and nature will find the museum’s structure and exhibits fascinating. The Lychnostatis Open Air Museum is in Thesi Pla
Of more than 30 million olive trees on Crete, 14 are sacred. Their sacrality comes from centuries of longing for the divine, justice, freedom, and absolution. The body in charge of classifying the olive trees is the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities (ACOM). Here are five of the 14 holy tree
High up overlooking Lassithi Plateau on Mt. Dikti (Lasithiotika Ori), where Amaltheia reared baby Zeus with her goat’s milk, the Katharo Plateau is a hidden wonder of Crete. At an elevation of 1150 meters above sea level, this is the island’s highest plateau and truly the table of the island’s
Many visitors to Crete do not realize the island offers hiking experiences like no other. In all, there are more than 440 hiking routes on Greece’s largest island. In the countryside surrounding Malia, you will find several unique footpaths leading past wonderful nature and sporting spectacular vi
Known as Sfakia to most, this village on Crete’s south coast should be on every traveller’s itinerary. An exhilarating drive through the White Mountains from Chania or Rethymno (the journey from either takes less than 90 minutes) there’s something uniquely welcoming about this former tiny fish
