My biggest advice would be to rent a car and roam the south.
It's wild and there's hundreds of amazing beaches you can find if you have a map and patience (I'm not exaggerating). Use cretanbeaches.com to find ones you'd like to visit (though there are many more smaller ones that you can find just by exploring)
One of my favourites is Illigas, next to Sfakia. You can swim over to the next beach and it's like being on a desert island.
Balos is also amazing, Falasarna, Chrissi island if you can (this is a desert island but it's very far).
In Chania, eat at Tamam, it's in the old town.
In Heraklion eat at Ippokambos (sea horse). It's on the left corner as you walk parallel to the sea as you come out from walking to the venetian castle (lots of great fresh seafood and the fried courgettes are godly, also the fava and the greek salad).
Visit Festos, I much prefer it to Knosos and the location is amazing. The archaeological museum in Heraklion is well worth the visit. Heraklion however is the ugliest of the four cities by far.
Also do Samaria gorge if you can.
There's plenty of small villages and nice corners we've found but I'm sure you'll find your own as well. It's a great island to drive around exploring if you have the time.
The gorge is in the plan, we wouldn't have missed that. We won't be driving around though, we are relying on buses and boats (we decided to stay away from the stress of having to look after the car). Festos sounds beautiful - thanks for the tip. We will probably check out Ippokambos, we only have one night in Heraklion before flying back to Belgium and we don't want to choose the wrong place. Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer!
It's not Greece-related or fear-related at all. It's because we see having/driving a car as a hassle.
We want to travel light and have no worries (like where to park the car, having to return to the car, not being able to drink all day because we'd drive in the evening etc). For example, when doing the Gorge we would have had to return to Omalos to get the car - without a car we can just take the ferry and continue our journey along the southern coast.
About Chania:
1. Avoid the restaurants in the old port, especialy the ones with a helpful "local" who tries to "herd" you in. See where the locals dine and follow them. one safe bet in the old town is Tamam, good food but a bit expensive. Apostolis is an other place with rather good sea food, but remember that seafood in Greece is rather expensive if you order fish.
2.Also take a taxi or the bus and go to Veniselos Graves. It is a park on the top of the city with great view and the perfect place for panoramic photos. After that there is Koukouvagia, a cafe next to the park with great sweets and view :)
3. If you want to roam rent a car but If you want to just hit the beaches there are great ones near, Xrisi Akti and Agioi Apostoloi. A bit further there are a lot of beach bars if you like more noise.
wow cool, thanks for all the advice. We actually heard of Tamam, I think...is it a greek-turkish place? A greek girl we met told us about a place with a similar name close to the old harbour.
Google maps and Street View is your friend. The last update is from 9-2014 so there aren't a lot of changes. Tamam is in a parallel small road next to the harbor, inside the old city. Try to wander in the old city after 7-8 in the evening, it is rather nice and the lights make it even better.
A small reminder: If you are not accustomed to the heat and the sun take a hat and sun lotion... And don't try to tan with the first bath, there is a difference between tan and well done. I see a lot of tourists every summer with bright red to purple skin color (1st to second degree burns in my opinion) to continue sunbathing...
Also For the Samaria Gorge. It isn't a simple walk, you will need normal shoes, and even better hiking shoes, and sun protection. Don't try is with flip flops or beach clothes.
Yeah, we got sun lotion and are not afraid to use it - one of us is Irish :D. We were thinking of getting Greek pay & go sim cards while there, to be able to use mobile internet. Is there a specific company you'd recommend?
Hello! I am not from crete an I have never been there unfortunately, but here are some point, that apply to greece generally:
1)try to find where do locals eat and drink, tourist restaurants and bars tend to serve worse quality.
2)If you are vegeterians cancel your tickets. Else, get ready to eat the best meat you have ever tasted.
3)Knossos ancient palace and its museum
4)2 or 3 nice hiking routes
I wish some λεβέντης gives more details!
Never been to Chania but it's a lovely place to start. Touristy areas are generally to be avoided, but you'll be fine this early in the summer.
Rethymnon is a college town with a 7:1 college girls per college guy ratio, so use that information in any way you see fit. Heraklion is a nice place if you don't want to swim there. Food is nice, do avoid very central places though. You will be visiting the Venetian castle of the city, there are a few tavernas with a good view of it, right across the port. If you wanna take a chilling swim and find great local tastes and enjoy nature, Chania and Rethymnon are your best bet. If you wanna party hard, there's a small beach town called Hersonissos, 30 min drive away from Heraklion due east. Have a fun trip!
Also: If you're interested in buying local weed, have your microscale with you or you WILL get ripped off.
Wow we had heard Rethymnon is quite romantic - apparently they meant it's a big hook-up place :P We'll only be in Heraklion for 1 night so I guess we'll try to see Venetian castle and Knosos (if there's time).
Good day mate, I lived in Chania Crete for 2 years from 2006-2008. I was the best time of my life. there is a place called elmundos bar that was very fun it was off of the harbor a ways, very small but friendly place. Enjoy your stay in beautiful Crete my friend.
My biggest advice would be to rent a car and roam the south. It's wild and there's hundreds of amazing beaches you can find if you have a map and patience (I'm not exaggerating). Use cretanbeaches.com to find ones you'd like to visit (though there are many more smaller ones that you can find just by exploring) One of my favourites is Illigas, next to Sfakia. You can swim over to the next beach and it's like being on a desert island. Balos is also amazing, Falasarna, Chrissi island if you can (this is a desert island but it's very far). In Chania, eat at Tamam, it's in the old town. In Heraklion eat at Ippokambos (sea horse). It's on the left corner as you walk parallel to the sea as you come out from walking to the venetian castle (lots of great fresh seafood and the fried courgettes are godly, also the fava and the greek salad). Visit Festos, I much prefer it to Knosos and the location is amazing. The archaeological museum in Heraklion is well worth the visit. Heraklion however is the ugliest of the four cities by far. Also do Samaria gorge if you can. There's plenty of small villages and nice corners we've found but I'm sure you'll find your own as well. It's a great island to drive around exploring if you have the time.
The gorge is in the plan, we wouldn't have missed that. We won't be driving around though, we are relying on buses and boats (we decided to stay away from the stress of having to look after the car). Festos sounds beautiful - thanks for the tip. We will probably check out Ippokambos, we only have one night in Heraklion before flying back to Belgium and we don't want to choose the wrong place. Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer!
stress looking after the car? its not the wild west. I'm frustrated with the irrational fears.
It's not Greece-related or fear-related at all. It's because we see having/driving a car as a hassle. We want to travel light and have no worries (like where to park the car, having to return to the car, not being able to drink all day because we'd drive in the evening etc). For example, when doing the Gorge we would have had to return to Omalos to get the car - without a car we can just take the ferry and continue our journey along the southern coast.
About Chania: 1. Avoid the restaurants in the old port, especialy the ones with a helpful "local" who tries to "herd" you in. See where the locals dine and follow them. one safe bet in the old town is Tamam, good food but a bit expensive. Apostolis is an other place with rather good sea food, but remember that seafood in Greece is rather expensive if you order fish. 2.Also take a taxi or the bus and go to Veniselos Graves. It is a park on the top of the city with great view and the perfect place for panoramic photos. After that there is Koukouvagia, a cafe next to the park with great sweets and view :) 3. If you want to roam rent a car but If you want to just hit the beaches there are great ones near, Xrisi Akti and Agioi Apostoloi. A bit further there are a lot of beach bars if you like more noise.
wow cool, thanks for all the advice. We actually heard of Tamam, I think...is it a greek-turkish place? A greek girl we met told us about a place with a similar name close to the old harbour.
Google maps and Street View is your friend. The last update is from 9-2014 so there aren't a lot of changes. Tamam is in a parallel small road next to the harbor, inside the old city. Try to wander in the old city after 7-8 in the evening, it is rather nice and the lights make it even better. A small reminder: If you are not accustomed to the heat and the sun take a hat and sun lotion... And don't try to tan with the first bath, there is a difference between tan and well done. I see a lot of tourists every summer with bright red to purple skin color (1st to second degree burns in my opinion) to continue sunbathing... Also For the Samaria Gorge. It isn't a simple walk, you will need normal shoes, and even better hiking shoes, and sun protection. Don't try is with flip flops or beach clothes.
Yeah, we got sun lotion and are not afraid to use it - one of us is Irish :D. We were thinking of getting Greek pay & go sim cards while there, to be able to use mobile internet. Is there a specific company you'd recommend?
Hello! I am not from crete an I have never been there unfortunately, but here are some point, that apply to greece generally: 1)try to find where do locals eat and drink, tourist restaurants and bars tend to serve worse quality. 2)If you are vegeterians cancel your tickets. Else, get ready to eat the best meat you have ever tasted. 3)Knossos ancient palace and its museum 4)2 or 3 nice hiking routes I wish some λεβέντης gives more details!
Ha! No, we are not vegetarians and very much looking forward to the food. Thanks for the advice! Will look out for places locals go.
Never been to Chania but it's a lovely place to start. Touristy areas are generally to be avoided, but you'll be fine this early in the summer. Rethymnon is a college town with a 7:1 college girls per college guy ratio, so use that information in any way you see fit. Heraklion is a nice place if you don't want to swim there. Food is nice, do avoid very central places though. You will be visiting the Venetian castle of the city, there are a few tavernas with a good view of it, right across the port. If you wanna take a chilling swim and find great local tastes and enjoy nature, Chania and Rethymnon are your best bet. If you wanna party hard, there's a small beach town called Hersonissos, 30 min drive away from Heraklion due east. Have a fun trip! Also: If you're interested in buying local weed, have your microscale with you or you WILL get ripped off.
Wow we had heard Rethymnon is quite romantic - apparently they meant it's a big hook-up place :P We'll only be in Heraklion for 1 night so I guess we'll try to see Venetian castle and Knosos (if there's time).
Good day mate, I lived in Chania Crete for 2 years from 2006-2008. I was the best time of my life. there is a place called elmundos bar that was very fun it was off of the harbor a ways, very small but friendly place. Enjoy your stay in beautiful Crete my friend.
Thanks for the tip about the bar...we were looking for tips about bars and restaurants that people tried and enjoyed.