Very popular team sports
Football. Throughout Europe, the boiling stadiums in Athens have earned the same reputation as those in Turkey. The Karaiskakis, home to Olympiakos Piraeus (historically the working-class club), or the Panathinaikos Olympic Stadium (the high-society one) promise visitors hell and the "derby of the eternal enemies" is always hot. But throughout the country, football is a real madness with huge political, social and financial implications. The Superleague Ellada (the 1st division) pulverizes TV audiences and drains gamblers into the Opap offices. The capital's demographic supremacy is being felt and more than half of the clubs are from the Athens metropolitan area. As for the national team, their main achievement was their surprise victory at Euro 2004 (after having beaten France in the quarter-finals)
Basketball. Basketball is the other great popular sport in the country and the two leading clubs are... Panathinaikos and Olympiakos! The selection was European champion in 1987 and 2005 and vice-world champion in 2006. And today the team is led by Athens-born NBA star Gianni Antetokounmpo, who plays in Milwaukee and was voted the league's best player in 2019 and 2020.
The tavli, a Greek passion
A true national discipline, it is mainly practiced on café terraces. The tavli is the equivalent of backgammon. It is the name given to this favourite game of the Greeks and Cretans. If they play it a little less than before, there is always a tavli in the smallest kafeneio. There are many ways to play, with different rules. The Greeks and the Cretans alternate between the three best known (plakoto, fevga and portès).
The sea, for a host of activities
It goes without saying that the "business" of tourism in Crete remains the numerous beaches of the island. Beaches where you can enjoy yourself.
Water sports
. In most resorts (especially on the north coast) it is possible to rent small catamarans, pedal boats, sea kayaks, jet skis and to go water skiing or wakeboarding. The south is a little less developed in such services, apart from Agia Galini, Plakias and a little towards Mirtos and Ierapetra. Note that the winds can rise very quickly and change direction frequently (relief effects in summer especially on the south coast). Finally, there are a few spots that will delight windsurfing enthusiasts: at Kouremenos Beach near Palekastro to the east of Sitia, at Almirida, near Hania or at Paleohora to the south.Yachting.
Few yachts cross in the waters of the Libyan Sea in the south due to the lack of infrastructure. In the north of the island on the other hand, things are different with a few possible stopovers (Hania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos...). Some yachts use this route to reach Rhodes, Turkey or the southern Aegean islands.Scuba diving. The waters of Crete are clear and warm (up to 27°C) and visibility can reach 35 m in summer. Even without diving, it is possible to discover a very interesting underwater world. The depths present a rich diversity of fauna and flora such as corals, sponges, ascidians, molluscs, crabs, lobsters, octopuses, moray eels, conger eels, seahorses. On the other hand, numerous caves and wrecks offer a fascinating spectacle such as the sunken ruins of Oloús in Eloúnda or those of Móchlos in Mirabelló Bay. The south coast offers crystal-clear waters with dives on wrecks, submerged archaeological sites or underwater caves. The diving clubs are generally serious and well equipped. They offer courses at all levels and some can organize special outings on request.
A superb hiking spot
Walking around Crete is surely the best way to discover, especially inland, nature and landscapes little touched by modernism and to meet a traditional rural Crete. The sea is never far away and the relief offers a wide range of possibilities that can satisfy both lovers of long hikes and those who wish to explore the countryside only with their families.
The European hiking trail E4
. It starts in Portugal and runs across Crete, crossing it from west to east, from Kastelli-Kissamos to Zakros. It is 320 km long and takes, with an average of 15 km per day, between 3 and 4 weeks to complete. Of course, you can choose to use only certain sections. It is regularly maintained and well signposted with yellow and black signs. At each stage, there are possibilities for accommodation and catering.If you decide to tackle its mountainous part, you may need to stop in one of the mountain refuges run by the EOS Heraklion Club. You should contact them beforehand to make reservations and get valuable advice. They organize hikes and other activities such as canoeing, caving, mountain biking, skiing or mountaineering.There are also a number of other choice hikes. The gorges in Crete are particularly spectacular and, apart from those of Samaria, the most famous and most visited, there are others less frequented but also located in an exceptional natural environment: Imbros, Aradena, Agia Irini, Topolia, Rouvas. Many other places also offer the possibility of tours with stops in picturesque villages.
To the summits!
In addition to hiking, the Cretan relief allows the practice of mountain biking and... skiing!
Mountain biking and mountain bike
. It is possible to rent bikes all over Crete (between 10 and 15 € per day). Some tour operators organise group tours, making your life easier by picking you up where it gets difficult, and even complete week-long stays.Skiing.
As incredible as it sounds, you can ski in Crete! Indeed, the island being particularly mountainous, some of its summits are snowy in winter. In particular, there is a ski resort on the Nida Plateau, at the foot of Mount Psiloritis (2,456 m).
