The most famous Greek island offers a best-of of the charms of our continent: the mix of cultures, the art of living, the gastronomy, the diversity of sublime landscapes. This compendium of happiness offers a pleasure of the senses undoubtedly unique in a continent whose cradle is Crete.
Your five senses will be delighted in the west of Crete. First of all, your eyes will be filled with the incredible palette of blue of the sea, the dazzling white of the small houses of Loutro on a background of ochre rocks, the sublime pinks of the sand of Gramvoussa and Elafonissi, the panel of colours of Hania... Your skin will be gilded by the bright sun, but you will also feel the sea wind, especially on the south coast. The Cretan climate is said to be the most pleasant in Europe. Your taste buds will certainly appreciate the local gastronomy, because you should know that the Cretan diet is not a myth! The islanders love to simmer their tasty dishes. They usually eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, good fish, goat cheese and of course delicious and healthy olive oil. If you take the time to choose your taverns, you will enjoy and perhaps dare to try the local snails and octopus. Your ears will be happy to hear the cultural explanations in the unmissable sites, but they will also undoubtedly appreciate: the calm of the steep gorges, the sound of the sea in a secluded cove, the soft Cretan music in the background in the taverns and the term "siga-siga" that the Cretans will throw at you to remind you with a smile that here we go "softly-softly", you have to relax! Your sense of smell will not be outdone, with the omnipresence of olive trees outside the cities. The Cretans also grow a lot of aromatic plants. In the harbours, you will obviously smell the smell of fresh fish
The inescapable charm of Hania
Let's start our visit with the most famous place on the west side of the island. Hania is a delightful port surrounded by a colorful maze and marked by a fascinating cultural mix. Also known as Chania, it is probably the most charming city on this blessed island. The view of the Venetian port at sunset is magical, it sublimates the pale pink of the Janissary Mosque and the ochre hues of the Firkas fort, from where you enjoy a splendid view. To better appreciate this spectacle, walk around to the lighthouse, where you will have another view of the port with the brown hills and mountains in the background that bring out the shimmering colours of Hania's buildings. This will give you a glimpse of the diversity of cultures and charms of this fascinating city. On the way back, enjoy the large Venetian arsenal and don't hesitate to let yourself be tempted by a romantic boat trip (tours of different lengths are available). Back on dry land, immerse yourself in the magnificent maze of colourful alleyways, where you will appreciate the small restaurants and typical shops that keep their authenticity despite the influx of tourists. Behind the old town, climb the Schiavo bastion to enjoy a new panorama. Another great way to feel the real atmosphere of Hania is to sit on one of the terraces of Platia 1821. The place is more frequented by Cretans than by tourists and is dominated by the amazing Agios Nikolaos Church, where a minaret was added next to the bell tower during the Turkish occupation: a beautiful symbol of the juxtaposition of civilizations peculiar to this island
To continue on the cultural heritage, take a detour to the Akrotiri peninsula to see the beautiful monasteries of Agia Triada and Gouverneto. Nearby, you will find an amazing site with the rock-sided ruins of the Katholiko Monastery and the cave of St. John the Hermit. A little further east, you will find beautiful and almost deserted coves, such as Ombrosgialos. The limpid blue contrasts beautifully with the grey and ochre of the rocks, a delightful place out of the tumult
The paradisiacal beach of Balos
The pleasure of the eyes will then direct you to the west towards the peninsula of Gramvoussa which leads to the superb beach of Balos. You can reach this paradise lagoon by boat or by car, with a magnificent road lined with orange rocks. Once there, you will be breathless: a sea of turquoise to dark blue tones and a tongue of white and pink sand on the beach of Balos. On the land side, the contrast is striking with the fort overlooking an arid island. To add to the magic of the place, it is said to have been a pirate's lair! Indeed, during the Turkish occupation, the inhabitants of the island would have plundered the boats that passed by there, thus amassing many riches. Legend or not, you'll tell yourself that the (natural) treasure is at hand..
To continue in the same colour ranges, continue to Elafonissi, one of the most photogenic beaches in Europe. The pink reflections on the white sand come from mother-of-pearl particles. Swimming is a delight here, but we also recommend that you admire the site from a distance via the famous E4 path. It will be by this path that it will be easier, and above all more pleasant, for you to reach Paléochora at the end of a dozen kilometres of a marvellous hike. Once there you will have the choice between a fine sandy beach and a pebble beach, which is wilder. You will also find some ruins of a Venetian fort and ancient columns that surprise you on the shore. The picture is so romantic that Eros could easily invite himself to your trip ..
The most beautiful gorges in Europe
You'll have to take the boat or some tortuous roads to get back to the area of one of Crete's must-see sites: the Samaria Gorge. It is the deepest in Europe (16 km) with a width varying from 150 to 2.50 meters. The hike is simply magnificent and is rewarded by the arrival on the beach of Agia Roumeli. Less known and therefore less frequented, the Aradena gorges also offer a spectacle of choice, such as the Imbros gorges with their changing scenery and their impressive embayment: at times you can touch both sides of rock walls rising up to 300 metres: claustrophobic, don't!
Loutro: postcard village
If, when you close your eyes to imagine Greece, you see white houses and a limpid sea, open your eyes when you get to Loutro. Accessible only by boat, this port retains an authentic charm despite its heavy traffic. The site is surrounded by small ochre cliffs. To take a dream photo, take a step back on the path on the left at the entrance of the village, the overhang will offer you the most dazzling panorama. Take the boat back at the end of the day to see the golden rocks at dusk in the direction of Horia Skafion, a beautiful seaside resort with pleasant beaches and taverns. Plakias is also a very good choice to enjoy the Libyan Sea and its refreshing wind in summer
If the setting has seduced you - we have no doubt about it - you will be tempted by an excursion to the island of Gadvos, about 40 kilometres to the south. This was for a long time the southernmost site of the European Union before Cyprus joined the EU. There are beautiful beaches and the ideal calm to relax. Being far away is so good, especially when it's so close! To combine business with pleasure, you can travel to Crete by ferry and arrive directly at the port of Hania with your car.
Smart info
When? Flights from France to Heraklion and Hania airports daily between the end of April and the end of October, as well as ferries between the mainland and Crete. This is the best time to enjoy all the charms of the island, even though the sun shines all year round in Crete
Getting there. By plane, Heraklion and Hania are served all year round by many airlines. Count 3h30 non-stop. By ferry, Minoan Lines serves the ports of Heraklion and Hania from Greece (Piraeus and the Cyclades) and Italy on luxury ferries. Departures are daily. You can even take your car and/or motorhome on board to arrive in Crete with your own vehicle.
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