Did you know that Crete is not only beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, sun and delicious food? Well, taking into account what I read on a daily basis on multiple FB groups, where people ask so many questions I wanted to share with you some things you can do here and that do not imply a sunbed, pina colada and laying like a lizard in the sun 😊
So, there are things that you can do all year round and some that you can do only during a certain season.
All year round:
1. Visit the museums in the major cities – Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Siteia, Agios Nikolaos
2. Visit the Venetian fortresses – Koules in Heraklion, Fortezza in Rethymno, Firka in Chania, Frangokastello
3. Visit the traditional villages – Margarites (the ceramic village), Piskopiano, Myrtos, Mochlos
4. Visit memorial houses or museums – El Greco in Fodele, Elefterios Venizelos in Halepa – Chania, Nikos Kazantzakis in the village with the same name
5. Visit the archaeological sites and Minoan palaces – Knossos, Malia, Gortys, Xerocampos, Phaistos, Eleftherna, Aptera. Also, in the Lasithi Region you will find a lot of archaeological discoveries and sites
6. Visit the beautiful monasteries and churches – Arkadi, Toplou, Agios Minas, Selinari, Preveli, etc. They all have a history to tell
7. Go to remote villages and enjoy the Cretan hospitality 😊
8. Visit Spinalonga, the last leper colony of Europe (it is open in the winter months, but subject to weather conditions)
9. Get lost on the small streets from Chania, Rethymno and Agios Nikolaos
10. Visit the beautiful caves – Melidoni, Cave of Zeus
11. Go to a wine tasting tour. Crete is famous for its viticulture and wines
12. Visit the local weekly markets. You will find a lot of delicious vegetables and fruits, directly from the local farmers. Trust me, those products are organic and they will never taste like plastic (or whatever taste those from our supermarkets have)
13. Book a night stay at one of those secluded resorts in the mountains, especially in the Lasithi prefecture and disconnect completely from daily worries
Spring:
1. Attend the Kathara Deftera (or Ash Monday) kite day 😊 it marks the beginning of the 40 days Easter lent, it is a public holiday and people go to the beach and raise kites. Also, special food is cooked for this day and it is delicious.
2. Attend the 25th of March celebrations. It is Greece National Day (or Independence Day) and also an important holiday in the orthodox tradition, as it is the day of the Annunciation (when the Virgin was announced that she will be the mother of Christ). It is exactly 9 months before Christmas.
3. Attend the festivals, street parades and carnivals. They take place in the 2 weeks before the Easter Lent (and they end on Ash Monday) and all towns and villages have their own way of celebrating. For example, Heraklion is decorated in Venice-like style, to remember their time under the Venetian rule (and let’s be honest, it was one of the best times Crete had. The fortresses are the proof)
4. Enjoy the green landscapes and the trees in full bloom
Summer:
1. Go hiking. There are so many beautiful gorges and hiking trails in Crete. Of course, only if you are used to and you have a suitable physical condition. Major hiking trails: Samaria Gorge (I will make a separate post about it), Imbros – combine it with Frangokastello, and Zakros – or Gorge of the Dead, you can combine it with Zakros archaeological site
2. Take a boat tour and go to secluded beaches or villages, such as Agia Roumeli – at the end of Samaria Gorge, Loutro, Glyka Nera (Sweet water beach), Agios Pavlos. Or you can hike to these hidden gems
3. Windsurfing. In August, the wind can be pretty strong, especially in the north and on large, open beaches
4. Book a jeep/quad safari tour. It will take you to some remote areas, off the beaten path, where you cannot get by foot or by car
5. Visit olive oil farms and factories, such as Terra Creta, Physis of Crete, the ones from the monasteries. They can only be visited during the summer!
6. Go and swim in the Preveli river, but inside the Koutaliotiko gorge
7. Hike in the small canyons, such as Karteros or Richtis
8. Visit the Lasithi plateau, with its windmills
9. Attend a pottery class in one of the villages from Lasithi Plateau
10. Go on a hot air balloon ride above Lasithi Plateau. This requires a booking in advance and is subject to weather conditions
Autumn:
1. Help the locals pick grapes and take part in the wine-making process. You can volunteer for this and in return you will get an unique experience, delicious food and memories for a lifetime
2. Attend Rakokazana. This is an important event in the life of every village, as it’s the process of raki making. It involves a lot of food and of course, first batch of raki. Attend with caution 😊 the fresh raki is the strongest and make sure you don’t inhale the vapors. We have a similar event in my country and I have attended some when I was a kid, in the countryside. Terrible hangover is guaranteed 😊
3. Attend the festivals, such as the chestnuts’ festival, which take place in the autumn. Also, the autumn months are filled with holidays, both religious and public. For example, October 28th is national holiday, also known as ‘Οχι day and parades take place in Heraklion and Chania. On October 26th Agios Dimitrios is celebrated and on November 8ththe Archangels Michael and Gabriel. This is also an important day for the Cretan people, as it marks the day when Arkadi Monastery siege started.
4. Book a flight in a small plane and fly over the island. Next to Heraklion airport is a flight academy and you can rent a plane and enjoy the views. Subject to availability and weather conditions. Why I mentioned this in autumn? Well, flight conditions are good all year round, but in winter and spring the winds and the rain might be an issue. Also, during the summer there are a lot of students enrolled and also the airport is extremely busy (they use the same runway). So, when big planes take off and land every 5 minutes, your flight might be scheduled very early in the morning. And by very early I mean 6 am 😊
5. Go to sports festivals, especially beach sports. They are usually held in September, to avoid the scorching sun of the summer
Winter:
1. Attend the Christmas and New Year celebrations and traditions. Christmas market, fireworks, carols and Epiphany traditions.
2. Go skiing. Yep, you can do that in Crete. Lefka Ori (or the White Mountains) are covered in snow and there are ski slopes
3. Enjoy the siga-siga way of life of the locals
4. Help locals pick olives. This is their season and they really need an extra pair of hands. Just like for grape picking, the experience will be worth it
Sooo, when do you plan to visit Crete?
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