One of the most iconic places in Crete is Arkadi Monastery. Its façade appears on all tourist leaflets that promote the island, together with the beaches of Balos, Vai, Preveli and the landmarks of Heraklion (Koules), Rethymno (Fortezza) and Chania (Venetian Harbour and Mosque). Arkadi (Μονή Αρκαδίου – Monastery of Arkadi in Greek) has played… Read More Arkadi Monastery – “Freedom or Death” (Ελευθερία ή θάνατος)
Spinalonga (Σπιναλόγκα or Καλυδών – Kalydon, as it is officially named in Greek) is an island in the Elounda Bay and the second most visited place in Crete (after Knossos). The origin of the name, although it sounds Italian (spina = thorn, longa = long), has its roots in the Greek phrase στην Ελούντα (stin Elounda)… Read More Spinalonga – the last leper colony of Europe
Agios Nikolaos (Άγιος Νικόλαος), literally meaning Saint Nicholas is a boheme town in the Lasithi prefecture, being also its capital city. It was named after the saint with the same name and it’s a common placename in Greece, as St. Nicholas is the patron saint of the sailors. It was first settled in the Bronze… Read More Agios Nikolaos – The St. Tropez of Crete
With approx. 320 sunny days per year, not a single hint of massive tourism and nice and cozy family tavernas, Mirtos is a place of relaxation at its best. It is located on the southern coast of Crete, only 15km away from Ierapetra. With a subtropical climate and surrounded by greenhouses, in Mirtos you will… Read More Mirtos, Crete – a traditional fishing village
Because I wanted to see as much as possible in my last vacation in Crete, while I was on the bus, on my way back from Preveli beach, I booked another day trip, to Kritsa and Myrtos. Man, I don’t regret at all! It was one of the most beautiful and soul filling excursions I… Read More Kritsa – a place where time stands still
I had Sitia on my list since I started to pen a 14 day vacation in Crete for 2021. Since that didn’t happen, I managed to see it 2 years later. Sitia (or Siteia, the literal translation in the Latin alphabet of its Greek name Σητεία) is a charming port town in the Lasithi region.… Read More Sitia – the charming city of Eastern Crete
When I booked the trip to Vai, I saw that a visit to Toplou Monastery was also in our schedule. I am not a religious person, but I know that all monasteries in Crete have a story to tell. And that usually involves hundreds of years of existence, the Ottoman resistance, earthquakes, WW2 resistance and… Read More Toplou Monastery
The city of Ierapetra (it is written with “i”, not L. So it’s not Lerapetra) is located in the southern part of Crete, approx 1h20 mins drive from Heraklion. It is the southernmost town in Greece and some say that in Europe as well (the southernmost point of Europe is actually the island of Gavdos,… Read More Ierapetra, the southernmost city of Greece
Ever since I started to look and read for my first vacation in Crete, Vai Beach was on my must-see list. The first year we stayed in Rethymno and it was a very long drive. Then, the next year, we only had 3 full days and we used 2 of them for Spinalonga and Samaria.… Read More Vai – the tropical beach of Crete
Yes, yes. You read that right. You can have a cheap holiday in Crete, but full of rich experiences. I am the type of person who just wants a room with a clean bed, shower and toilet. I am not a fan of super luxury AI hotels, with heated pool, spa and free massage. Also,… Read More Cheap holiday, rich experiences
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