Crete - rest on the island of the Gods in 2018

The Greek island of Crete is a tourist center of the Mediterranean. The climate here is subtropical, very mild. More than 300 days a year on the island there is sun. The beach season here begins in mid-April and lasts until mid-November. The friendly and hospitable people of Crete will welcome all their guests who come here to be energized for a whole year.

How to get to the island

Airplanes of Russian airlines and charter flights fly to the island. In Heraklion is the main airport of the island. And the journey around the island usually begins with exploring this city.

The second largest international airport of the island is located in the city of Chania. Another option to get to Crete is to fly to Athens, and already in this city catch a ferry going to Heraklion. In this case, you get a trip by air and sea at the same time.

From the port of Piraeus ships go to the island of Crete. This port is located near Heraklion, so the island can also be reached by ship, although this route will be longer than by plane.

Crete beaches

Probably no one can ever count the number of beaches on the island. What they just do not have here - from world-famous to miniature secluded bays. And the northern part of the island is a continuous beach several tens of kilometers long.

The most famous beaches of Crete:

• Bolos
• Elafonisi;
• Wai.

Elafonisi Beach is famous for its azure sea and magnificent pink sand. A long time ago there was a pirate harbor on the site of the beaches of Vai and Balos, and now there are date groves near these beaches.

The beaches of Vai and Elafonos are very well equipped, there are parking lots. There are changing cabins, deck chairs, umbrellas.

Balos beach has white sand, and the sea is aquamarine. Due to its remoteness, this beach is equipped worse, but there are fewer people here. The ancient fortress and the sunken ships in the Balos lagoon indicate that pirates really lived here.

Island Accommodation

If the rest is supposed to be economical, then you should pay attention to the south or west coast of the island. Here you can live in a modest guesthouse or boarding house. But these zones have their advantages - there are fewer tourists on the beaches than in the northern part.

In the northern part of the island are the best hotels. Staying here costs from 50 euros per day per person. But in the northern part of the island you can rent a house in one of the villages, thereby saving a little.

For an additional payment in any hotel or hotel will provide two meals a day.

Food in Crete

Family taverns are common in Cyprus, where guests are fed home-cooked food. At the entrance to such a tavern hangs a menu with which the visitor can familiarize himself even before he sat down at the table. Tables are covered with checkered tablecloths. The food is very tasty, the portions are very large. The guest will certainly be offered a glass of wine and Greek coffee made in the sand. Such taverns always work until the last customer. Sirtaki dance to the live music that plays here. And those who are not familiar with this dance will be taught right there. To eat for two in a tavern will cost 40-60 euros.

In addition to family taverns in Crete, English pubs are also popular. The menu in these establishments, although simple, but satisfying:

• grilled fish and meat;
• steaks;
• appetizers in batter;
• local beer.

Fresh buns with butter are presented to each visitor for free - a compliment from the establishment. Sports games are usually shown on TV in such pubs, and rock and roll plays in the halls.

Coffee houses of world chains are found in large resort towns and cities.

Crete Attractions

The island is relatively small in territory, but it has a huge number of historical sights. It seems that on the island there are all conceivable and inconceivable buildings created by people and nature:

• monasteries;
• palaces;
• fortresses;
• parks;
• caves;
• bays.

Knossos palace

According to legend, here was the Labyrinth of the Minotaur. The palace was built during the heyday of the Minoan civilization by King Minos. This is a huge rectangular structure of several floors with more than 1000 asymmetric halls. Knossos was controlled from this palace.

Arkady Monastery

The monastery was built in the V century. He never stopped his activities, despite the fact that the Turks destroyed him several times. It was from here that a general uprising began against the Ottoman yoke. Now the Arcadia monastery symbolizes the independence and fearlessness of the Greek people.

City of Falasarna

This city is an ancient monument, which was founded in the VIII century BC. It was the largest city. Own money was minted here and the power of this city was spoken far beyond the island.

Fortress Frangokastello

The fortress was built in the XIV century. At that very turbulent time, it was erected to protect the city of Chania from raids by tribes and from pirate attacks.

Archaeological Museum

This is one of the most famous museums in Greece, which is located in the center of Heraklion.

Botanical Park

In 2009, near Chania, this park was opened, in which there are many date palms, orange trees, and vineyards. And in the crowns of trees and bushes hundreds of species of birds and butterflies live.

Things to do in Crete

The island is washed by several seas, so there are many marine aquariums. CRETAquarium is the largest in the whole Mediterranean. This is an exciting sight. The visitor feels deep underwater surrounded by thousands of different species of fish.

In the terrarium aquarium called Aquaworld, its owners accept all abandoned reptiles and animals. And excursions for guests are conducted in person and tell their guests life stories about their pets.

There are many water parks on the island. Water City is the largest of them. It has 23 slides and 13 pools, many game activities for children, several waterfalls.

On an area of ​​more than 1000 square meters. m is a family park "Labyrinth", which includes a cinema, an attraction with ATVs, a garden, a cafe.

Crete is a haven for diving. Who would not want to dive in the places of pirate glory? There are dozens of clubs in this area.

Advantages and disadvantages of relaxing on the island

See the homeland of Zeus and other Olympic Gods. What could be the flaws after seeing on the island of Crete? Everything here is saturated with a thousand-year history. Each historical attraction has its own legend and its own exciting story. Wonderful climate, hundreds of clean and beautiful beaches, a high level of hotel business, magnificent nature, excellent roads and delicious local cuisine. Well, it was not for nothing that the Gods chose Greece.

Greek is difficult to understand. This is a minus of relaxation on the island. The names of goods in the store, the names of streets and various signs - everything is written in Greek. But you just need to go to Crete.