Another place which features a lot in our travels is Crete. My father in law lives there and we also got married there so over the years we got to know the place pretty well. We typically spend all our time on the Western side of the island and fly into Chania so I will concentrate on this part however there are lots of other places on the Eastern side of the island which are also worth a visit.
Crete is best seen with a help of a car. Public transport does exist however with so many breathtaking views on offer being able to stop whenever you like and take it all in is priceless.
The city of Chania is a great starting point on your journey around Crete. The biggest attraction is no doubt the old Venetian harbour and narrow streets of Old Town surrounding it. The thing to do here is to simply stroll around and take it all in! There are a number of restaurants and bars on the waterfront but we actually found that it’s better to go a little away from the harbour for a better value and quality food. There are a lot of souvenir shops and the whole Old Town area is quite tightly built which means a lot of shade which is very needed, especially if you come in the middle of summer (the temperatures can reach 40 degrees C easily!).
While you are in Chania area, I’d really recommend seeing Seitan Limania. It is a beach located about 20 odd kilometres from Chania. The beach itself is quite small and there is nothing there in terms of food or drink however it’s about the view when you get there! The beach is surrounded by high cliffs wchi are sort of zig zag shaped. It is truly spectacular! If you do wish to descend down to the beach please make sure you wear trainers, it’s super steep and rocky in places.
Heading West from Chania, you should definitely make time to see the Balos Lagoon. It is a bit of a trek and although the road leading up to it is not the best you should be able to do it a normal car however we opted in for a sturdier jeep type car to be on the safe side. Again, may be an idea to wear more sensible shoes for the walk from the car to the lagoon. It is all really worth it though, the view is incredible and I don’t think I have ever seen that many shades of blue. Truly spectacular sight!
There are some nice beaches to the east of Chania and that’s where we normally would stay. The little village of Almyrida has a really pleasant vibe and is home to a hotel where we got married – Almyrida Resort. It’s actually 3 separate hotels and you can pick whatever works for your budget. It’s a great hotel and I would thoroughly recommend it. We stayed in both the Beach part and the Residence part and both were exceptional.
The city of Rethymnon is also worth a visit. It is similar to Chania in a sense that it has a cute Venetian harbour and lots of bars and restaurants where you can easily spend a good few hours. It is also famous for jewellery and there are some great bargains to be had! The waterfront (not the harbour) is really lively and always full of locals and it’s worth stopping there for a drink and observe the daily life.
You can make a stop at Lake Kournas on your way to/from Rethymnon. It is the only freshwater lake on the island and offers some nice views as well an option to rent a boat or a pedalo. A good option to break up a long car journey.
Finally, I couldn’t write anything about Crete and not mention the food. I love the fact of how much local produce features on all menus and how tasty and fresh it all is. Greek salad is a must together with any seafood, it is so good and great value. The restaurants always give you some bread and dips/olives to begin with and also always bring you something sweet at the end so unless you are desperate don’t bother ordering a dessert. Warning – they will also give you a shot of their local tipple, raki. The stuff is pretty lethal but when in Crete… The best way to discover the food is to order a few things to share. Away from the cost you can find some tasty meat stews and grills like souvlaki (chicken or pork grilled on a skewer).
