⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

Iraklion (Heraklion or Herakleion) is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island. Hania (or Chania) is the second biggest town in Crete and is well known for its scenic old town and harbor. Rethymnon is built between the two other large cities of Crete. The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, fountains etc. Agios Nikólaos is the capital of the Lassithi province of Crete and is built around a picturesque lake on the north-western side of the Mirabello bay.

Heraklion

Heraklion is the largest city in Crete with a population of about 200.000. Heraklion houses the public services and the major scientific centers of Crete, being the commercial center of the island with the main port and airport. From a scenic city with unique traditional Venetian and Ottoman monuments in the early 1900s, as one of the most historical cities in the Mediterranean, Heraklion, unfortunately, turned into a bustling cement-dominating city, losing almost...

Chania

Venice of the East" is regarded by many, and not unjustly, as the most beautiful city in Greece. The picturesque city of Chania is the second largest city of Crete, after Heraklion, with more than 60,000 residents. Fortunately, it did not follow the same fate as the other cities of Crete, e.g.

Rethymnon

Rethymno is the most representative sample of a Cretan Renaissance city. Rethymnon is the third largest city of Crete with a population of about 30000, built on the site of ancient Rithymna (4-5th century BC). After the Byzantine era, Rethymnon was fortified and further strengthened by the...

Agios Nikolaos town

White-washed houses and beautiful buildings in Agios Nikolaos have the sea as background. The lovely serene little town of Agios Nikolaos is the cosmopolitan capital of the prefecture of Lasithi with around 20000 permanent residents. The town is built on the site Mandraki, on the west side of the Gulf of Mirabello, but the current name comes from the

Sitia city

Sitia is the easternmost city on Crete near the Cape Sidero, 64km from Agios Nikolaos. It is a city with about 10,000 residents, built on the west side of the bay of Sitia, on a warm and dry area. Sitia hosts the only airport in eastern Crete and the most important port, with ferries running to Piraeus, Milos, Rhodes,...

Ierapetra

Ierapetra is located 30km south of Agios Nikolaos, in the narrowest part of Crete, and is the southernmost city of Greece. It is a modern city of about 12,500 residents, who mainly deal with agriculture, as Ierapetra produces vast quantities of vegetables that are exported mainly to Europe. The city is also very well organized touristically...

Kissamos Town

Kissamos (or Kastelli) is a modern seaside town, 36km east of Chania, with a population of around 5000 people, whose economy is based mainly on agriculture – with its renowned olive oil and wine- plus tourism, and is still developing. The beauty of Kissamos is that it is a Greek town that has embraced tourism but not...

Paleochora Town

Paleochora is a small town located 77 km south of Chania, at the southwest coastline of Crete and it’s built on a small peninsula of 400m width and 700m length. The town is set along 11 km of coastline bordering the South Cretan Sea. Paleochora is built on the ruins of the ancient city of Kalamydi. It was the...

Sougia

Sougia is a small village located 75km west of Chania city, at the exit of the beautiful Gorge of Agia Irini. A favorite destination for hippies in the 70s', today it is a perfect choice for peaceful holidays in a beautiful landscape with all the basic...

Agia Roumeli

Agia Roumeli is a small secluded village, located 56km south of Chania city, on a wide bay shaped at the exit of the Samaria Gorge. Thousands of visitors, descending the gorge, reach this place every day. Agia Roumeli is a calm place in the...

Chora Sfakion Town

Chora Sfakíon or simply Sfakia is a town on the south coast of Chania in West Crete. It is the capital of the remote and mountainous region of Sfakia, and is a small town of almost 300 inhabitants. It lies on the south coast near the exit of the imposing Imbros Gorge, 74 km south of

Georgioupolis Town

Georgioupoli is a popular seaside resort located 38km east of Chania and 21km west of Rethymnon. It is a small coastal town, situated in a lush valley full with rivers and springs. Locals, apart from tourism, deal with...

Vrysses (Apokoronas)

Vrisses is a small picturesque town with less than 1000 inhabitants relatively close to Chania city and constitutes the administrative seat of the municipality of Apokoronas. The residents of Vrysses mainly deal with tourism and cultivation of citrus fruits and olives. Although a relatively modern settlement, the area has been inhabited since...

Argyroupoli

Argyroupoli is a small town in the province of Rethymno, built in a beautiful location at an altitude of 260 meters above the valley of the river Mouselas. The settlement has been characterized as traditional, as it preserves many of the architectural elements of the rich past. Argyroupoli is built on the site of the ancient city

Bali

The seaside resort of Bali is located in a large gulf, 30km east of Rethymno and 43km west of Heraklion. Next to the village passes the National Road linking Heraklion and Rethymno, making Bali accessible from any part of...

Spili town

Spili is located about 30km south of Rethymno, at an altitude of 430m, at the foot of Mount Vorizis, an offshoot of Kedros Mount. Its population is around 800 inhabitants, but this number increases during the...

Asites

Ano Asites and Kato Asites of the province Malevizi are two neighboring villages, built at the foot of the eastern Psiloritis range, in an area with many natural beauties, but also of historical importance. The inhabitants are mainly engaged in the cultivation of vines and olives, but also in animal husbandry. Their...

Agia Galini Town

Agia Galini is a popular seaside resort, located 61km southeast of Rethymno and 68km southwest of Iraklion, on the southern shores of Amari. The name of Agia Galini means “Holy Tranquility”...

Loutro in Sfakia

Loutro is a small seaside village situated approximately 71 km south of Chania city, at the end of cape Mouri. It was the site of the ancient town Phoenix and was the port of

Plakias town

Plakias is located 36km south of Rethymno, in the fertile valley formed at the exit of Kotsifos river, which has water all year round. Plakias was a small village in the late 19th century, which in recent decades has transformed to a...

Pahia Ammos

Pahia Ammos is located 20km east of Agios Nikolaos, on the road connecting Agios Nikolaos with

Anogia town

Anogia is located 36km west of Heraklion and 52km southeast of Rethymnon, at an altitude of 750m. It is built on three levels in the ridge of Armi, on

Hersonissos Town

Hersonissos is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Crete, located 28km east of Heraklion. Here you will find whatever you desire. During the day you can enjoy nice beaches or water parks, drink your coffee in the seaside road, visit the local archaeological sites, stroll in the villages of Ano Hersonissos, Piskopiano and...

Malia Town

Malia is one of the most touristic towns in Crete, located 35km east of Heraklion, on the outskirts of Mount Selena. Its name means “flat area”, because Malia is situated on a fertile plain. Indeed, it is famous throughout Greece for the delicious bananas grown in the greenhouses in the area. The valley has many springs...

Arkalochori Town

Arkalohori is located 33km south of Heraklion city, near the center of Heraklion Prefecture, at an altitude of 400m. It is a small town, which is continuously growing and its inhabitants are mainly engaged in agriculture, commerce and the arts. The bazaar held every Saturday in the village center has its roots in the Ottoman period. Also in the exhibition center Arkalochori hosts annually the largest Agriculture and Trade Exhibition in Crete. The city is relatively new and...

Kastelli Town (Pediada)

Kastelli is a small town in the center of the prefecture of Heraklion and the province of Pediada, in one of the most fertile areas of Crete. It is located 36km southeast of Heraklion and at an altitude of 350m. It is called Kastelli after the

Tymbaki Town

Timbaki is a small town located 65km south of Heraklion, on the plain of Messara. It is positioned near the beach of the Kokkinos Pirgos,...

Mires town

The town of Mires is located 50km south of Heraklion in the heart of the fertile Mesara plain. Its name (means “shares” in Greek) is taken after the land shares that were offered by the Venetians to the settlers who came from the Peloponnese, when it fell to the Turks. A similar deal was done in the Lassithi Plateau, which’s name comes from the latin world Lasciti, ie the share of land. Mires is a modern small city that is growing constantly, while its residents are mainly...

Lendas

Lendas is a remote coastal village located 74km south of Heraklion, on the southern slopes of the imposing Asterousia Mountains, and inside the area of village Miamou. It is a tourist resort, mildly developed, offering...

Zaros

Zaros is a small picturesque town of approximately 2000 inhabitants in the south slopes of mount Psiloritis, about 46km southwest of Heraklion. It is a place endowed by nature with many springs with crystal clear water....

Asimi town

The small town of Asimi in the province of Monofatsi is built on a fertile plain between the southern extensions of Mount Kasteriotis and the top of Kofinas in the Asterousia Mountains. The Geropotamos and Livaditis...

Archanes

Archanes is a picturesque small town, built at an altitude of 380 meters in the middle of a basin bounded by Giouchtas range and Kefala. It is run through by Kaeratos stream, that later forms the gorge of Knossos. Archanes is 14...

Ano Viannos

Ano Viannos, or simply Viannos, is a small town with about 1000 inhabitants, which is the capital of the Municipality of Viannos in southern Heraklion prefecture. It is built at an altitude of 550m on the southern slopes of Dikti, over a large and fertile plateau, where mainly olives are grown, while its inhabitants also deal...

Elounda Town

Elounda is located 10km north of Agios Nikolaos, near the northwest side of the bay of Mirabello. The area is a renowned tourist resort with luxurious hotels for the most expensive tastes. Each year Elounda hosts in utmost secrecy several heads of states and celebrities of the international economic, political, athletic, and artistic...

Neapolis Town

Neapolis is located about 54km east of Heraklion and 15km west of Agios Nikolaos, in a green valley with dense olive groves, from which the main road that connects Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos passes. It is a quiet town...

Kavoussi

Kavoussi is located 26km east of Agios Nikolaos and belongs to the Ierapetra province, below the wild massif of Thripti. Kavoussi is one of the most...

Kritsa

Kritsa is a small town of Eastern Crete, built at an altitude of 350m below the Kastellos Hill, very close to Agios Nikolaos city. What makes Kritsa special is the preservation of the traditional Cretan lifestyle that attracts dozens of visitors. The scenic narrow streets, the blooming yards, the textile shops, the traditional coffee...

Palekastro

Palekastro is actually the easternest town of Crete, located about 20 km east of Sitia. It is the economic center of a fertile large area with many sights of historical, archaeological and naturalistic significance. It has about 1000 permanent residents who are mainly engaged in tourism and olive oil production. The small town does not have any...

Makrigialos Town

Makrigialos is located 58km southeast of Agios Nikolaos and 23km east of Ierapetra. It is a large village, located near the exit of the lush canyon of

Zakros

(Ano) Zakros is a small quiet town located on the easternmost tip of Crete and about 38 km from Sitia. It is the administrative center of the area and has about 1000 permanent residents, while in summer the population increases mainly due to tourism. Its port is

Margarites village

The village Margarites in Mylopotamos district, Rethymnon, is one of the most beautiful villages of Crete. The colorful stone houses, imposing temples, and picturesque alleys attract visitors from all over the island. The proximity to Ancient Eleftherna and the

Cities

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