The island of Crete in Greece is a famous travel destination. Crete is the largest and the most populous Greek island and is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. This beautiful island is present 160 kilometres south of the Greece mainland. It has a scenic coastline of over 1000 kilometres. The island of Crete has four amazing regions of Chania, Rethimno, Heraklion, and Lasithi. Crete’s administrative and political capital is the city of Heraklion.

The island of Crete has different types of landscapes like fertile coastal plains, rugged mountains, valleys, deep gorges, and picturesque hillside villages. Crete is also famous for its well-developed resorts, stylish hotels, amazing restaurants and cafes, pubs & bars, nightclubs, stylish marinas, and plenty of historic and cultural attractions.

Crete used to be the site of the Minoan Civilization in the classical period. Today, the island is full of historic remnants of the bygone glorious era. However, history is not the sole highlight of Crete. This beautiful island is also popular for its stunning beaches, scenic coastlines, lofty cliffs, charming villages, and towns. In this article, TravelUp presents a list of top 9 things to do in the Crete Holidays!

Top 9 Things to do in Crete Holidays

1. Knossos
2. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
3. Elafonisi Beach
4. Chania
5. Samaria Gorge
6. Agios Nikolaos
7. Rethymno Old Town
8. Heraklion
9. Frangokastello

1. Knossos

The Palace of Knossos used to be the epicentre of Crete and the main power centre of the bronze age civilization of Minoan Civilization. This historic palace lies 5 kilometres south of Heraklion. These historic ruins of Knossos have vibrant frescoes, crumbling staircases, and soaring columns still bear testimony of the long-lost glorious civilization. Visitors can see check out some of the restored frescoes including the Cup Bearer Fresco, the Prince of the Lilies Fresco, and the Charging Bull Fresco.  The Palace of Knossos is one of the most important archaeological sites on the island of Crete. The Minoans rose to power in the region of Crete under the leadership of legendary King Minos. The Palace of Knossos is believed to be the palace of King Minos. It was abandoned somewhere around 1450 BC either because of an earthquake following the volcanic explosion on Santorini or ravaged by the invaders.

2. Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Heraklion Archaeological Museum is home to a rich collection of ancient Greek artefacts. This unique two-storey building lies in the middle of the Heraklion and documents the island’s 5,500 years of history. The museum displays the rich collection of historic objects from the Minoan Civilization in 20 rooms in a chronological manner. The museum also houses several collections of pottery, jewellery, ceremonial pieces, and plenty of historical objects like liturgical figurines, vases, weapons, and armour that have been recovered in Crete. See the 3,500-year-old frescoes from Knossos and the glazed ceramic Snake Goddess those date to 1600 BC. See the Arkalochori Axe with strange inscriptions with 15 symbols. Another interesting display in the museum is the mysterious Phaistos Disc, which is 15 cm in diameter and covered with symbols arranged in a spiral.

3. Elafonisi

Elafonisi is a tiny islet that is full of scenic beaches which can be reached by foot from the island of Crete. This tiny islet is full of scenic beaches that are located on the west coast of Crete. The shallow waters of Elafonisi look turquoise blue in colour. Elafonisi Beach is often voted as one of the world’s best beaches. This stunning beach is also a nature reserve that is famous worldwide for its pink sand beach and dunes. The water around the beach is crystal clear, shallow, and azure blue in colour. Elafonisi is one of Crete’s least crowded beaches that stretches for a mile. There are several caves and rock formations around Elafonisi which is also full of green foliage and looks even more scenic. There is also a natural pool where visitors can swim and float in the ankle- and knee-deep water.

4. Chania

Chania is the main town in Western Crete. It was also the capital of the island till 1971 before shifting to Heraklion. Chania lies on the coast of the Aegean Sea and is backed by the White Mountains. The old town of Chania has a labyrinth of romantic alleys filled with pastel-coloured buildings that lie within the 16th-century fortification walls. Chania also has a charming picturesque pretty fishing harbour. It also has several Venetian mansions, Turkish minarets, and fortification walls. Check out the Municipal Market where you can enjoy fresh seasonal produce and look out for gifts, souvenirs, light snacks and wonderful Cretan cheese and honey. Check out the 16^th-century lighthouse at the entrance of the harbour which looks like Ottoman minarets. This old town has a wonderful Venetian style influence which is also visible in its food, architecture and art and culture.

5. Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge is one of the most popular places to visit for nature lovers and hikers. Part of Samaria National Park and a Global Biosphere Reserve, Samaria Gorge is famous for its 15-kilometre-long trek. The trek starts from the Xyloskalo which lies outside the mountainous village of Omalos and ends at Agia Roumeli on the south coast of Crete. Along the Samaria Gorge, runs the Tarraios River which dries up in the summer and floods during the winter. The hiking trail goes through various landscapes including rocky terrain and forests. On the way, hikers will get to see several churches and chapels such as Saint Nicholas Church and the picturesque Osia Maria Church. This amazing hiking trail takes between 4 to 7 hours to complete and is available only from May to mid-October. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes, good hiking boots, hiking poles and water bottles.

6. Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos is a picturesque small city that lies on the north coast of eastern Crete. It is about 65 kilometres east of Heraklion. The small city of Agios Nikolaos is full of scenic beaches which are popular for a much slower pace of life. Visit Lake Voulismeni, a beautiful lake that has plenty of waterfront cafes, restaurants and boutique hotels overlooking the nearby port. Lake Voulismeni is also the hub of nightlife in Agios Nikolaos.

Take a leisure stroll from the port to Kitroplatia Beach which offers stunning views of Mirabello Bay and the soaring mountains of eastern Crete. This beach has a reputation for stunning sunsets, which visitors can enjoy while sipping coffee or cocktails in one of the cafe bars. Visit the Diktean Cave which is full of limestone stalactites and stalagmites. Check out the mountainside village of Kritsa, where local artisans sell leather goods, ceramics, and hand-woven rugs.

7. Rethymno Old Town

Rethymno is the third-largest city in Crete and has the best-preserved old town on the island. Surrounded by fortified walls, Rethymno Old Town is a labyrinth of cobblestone alleyways that are set in the 14^th century during the reign of the Republic of Venice. Today, the Old Town of Rethymno has several Renaissance mansions, arches, and catholic churches and the Neratze Mosque which used to be a Venetian Church before 1925. The Old Town also has several Turkish architectures which were constructed during the Turkish rule of Crete. Several historic buildings have been converted into small boutique hotels, shops, restaurants, and cafes. Check out the small Venetian Harbour that has good quality restaurants and waterfront cafes. The mountains surrounding the Rethymno Old Town are also full of rural villages and agrotourism attractions. The area is also popular for Samaria Gorge and Mount Psiloritis.

8. Heraklion

Crete’s capital, Heraklion is a beautiful city with a typical Venetian influence. The Heraklion’s Old Town is a maze of lovely pedestrian streets that are full of shops, restaurants, cafes, and boutique hotels. The narrow streets are also lined with huge trees that offer plenty of shade in its beautiful public squares and are perfect to enjoy a cup of coffee in al fresco cafes. The city of Heraklion is also known as the base to visit the Palace of Knossos and central Crete. The island of Crete was under the rule of the Republic of Venetian and during this time, Heraklion flourished a lot as a major centre of art and culture. Here, visitors can enjoy plenty of amazing museums like the Historical Museum of Crete, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Visual Arts, etc.

9. Frangokastello

Frangokastello is a beautiful beach that lies on the southern coast of Crete. It is famous for a 14^th-century Venetian Castle that provides a historical backdrop for the beach. The beach has soft sand lapped by deep blue waters which makes it one of the trendiest beaches for both locals and international travellers in Crete. Check out the Frangokastello Castle and learn about the local folklore of Drosoulites, the ghosts of warriors who died in 1828. The area is remote, peaceful and had very few scattered travel accommodations around the castle. It is one of the best beaches in Crete for travellers looking for peace and tranquillity during their stay in the island.

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