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Crete
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You are just one step away from discovering one of the best kept secrets of the Aegean Sea. The picture perfect Island of Crete. Covered by mountains and with over 8,300 km2 of surface area it is the largest island in Greece. With 1,040 km (646 miles) of coastline and a population of 650,000 inhabitants, this destination is ideal for an unforgettable holiday with family, your partner or friends. And for everything to fall into place why not stay at one of the top hotels in Crete with Iberostar Hotels and Resorts?
In addition to treasuring a dense past that goes back almost 5,000 years, this fascinating island of just 255 km (158 miles) end to end contains an inexhaustible list of natural beaches, rugged summits and breath-taking gorges. With all of this to offer it is not surprising that, according to Greek mythology, Zeus the king of the gods was born in Crete.
Birthplace of the Minoans, considered to be the first pre-Hellenic civilization, (3000 BC – 1400 BC), the history of Crete is marked by the passage of the Romans, who founded, the city–state of Gortina in 65 BC. After that the Byzantines, Venetians and Turks all left their mark, so the architectural and cultural heritage of the island is huge.
Considered to be one of the greatest holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, Crete is also a world of landscape contrasts and archaeological sites, some of which are among the most spectacular and ancient in Europe.
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Kids stay for free at hotels in Europe and the Mediterranean
At Iberostar, we want your holidays to exceed your highest expectations. And, of course, also those of the people you love most: your children. Our range of hotels where kids stay for free gives you the opportunity to enjoy the family holiday you’ve always longed for, with a wide variety of entertaining activities for kids.
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What to visit in Crete?
One of the places to visit in Crete is Heraklion, the island's capital. Surrounded by powerful walls, its focal point is Nikiforou Phoca Square, embellished in its central part by a 17th century fountain. Opposite this one, stands the Agios Markos church, built by the Venetians in 1239 and a currently venue for concerts and exhibitions. That same street houses a beautiful 17th century lodge that houses the City Hall. After passing this building, and in a square, you will see the Agios Titos church, from the 16th century and dedicated to the patron saint of the island. Obviously, one should not miss the Koules fortress, the History Museum of Crete, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Natural History, dedicated to the ecosystems of the Aegean. By the way: in the surroundings, you have the best golf courses in Crete.
However, the main tourist attraction of this insular territory is the unique Palace of Knossos, the main architectural testimony of the Minoan culture. Other key places to approach this civilization is Fourni Hill, where you can see a huge Minoan cemetery, and the archaeological site of Malia, whose oldest vestiges date from 2100-1900 BC.
Another place that deserves your attention is the nearby Lasithi plateau, full of emblematic windmills. There is the amazing cave called Dictea, a place plenty of fascinating stalactites and stalagmites that, according to mythology, witnessed the birth of Zeus.
Of course, in this list we must mention the town of Rethymno, where two Iberostar 4-star hotels are located. It is considered the third most important town in Crete.
From an architectural point of view, the town of Rethymno exhibits a beautiful restored lighthouse from the 13th century and, of course, the city's Venetian-era citadel, the Fortezza of Rethymno, one of the best-preserved castles in Crete. which dominates the city from the inner harbour. Designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli, and completed in around 1570, it served to defend the city from Turkish pirates. Inside, there is a mosque, a small church and part of the governor’s residence. In front of the main entrance, is the Archaeological Museum, which opens its doors in an old Ottoman ravelin and houses a late Minoan Sarcophagi among other treasures. Lastly, it is highly recommended to take time to get to know the old town located behind the Fortezza, which is full of narrow streets dotted with Venetian and Turkish buildings. Close by is the Neratze mosque (1657), which is considered the best-preserved in the city.
Near of the Iberostar hotels you will find 20 km (12.5 miles) of beaches running all the way to the town of Georgioupoli, an enclave which has managed to preserve the charming atmosphere of another era. Very close to there, Lake Kournas is framed between hills. This place is great for tourists wanting to practice water sports, such as canoeing or windsurfing. It is also an ideal place to get close to Moni Arkadhiou, one of the most venerated monasteries in Crete.
Book your hotel in Crete
What do you think of all these suggestions? Although it’s hard to believe, this is just a small appetizer of how much Crete has to offer. And so, you have no excuses, Iberostar offers you two luxury hotels in Rethymnon, and two beachfront resorts with all the necessary comforts to make your holiday in Greece just perfect.
In the first of these resorts, the Iberostar Selection Creta Marine, you can choose between stunning rooms with views of the Aegean or bungalows, from where you can take in the most beautiful sunsets. In addition, this is one of the best options for guests travelling with children and teenagers as it has a playground, several swimming pools (including a children’s pool) and an optional babysitting service, for a small surcharge.
The same could be said about the Iberostar Creta Panorama & Mare resort, a hotel with a private beach, swimming pools (including a heated pool), a hair and beauty salon, a sauna, hot-tub, children’s playground, meeting rooms and much, much more. In addition, its restaurants offer specialties inspired by Greek and Cretan cuisine, such as the gemistá (tomatoes and roasted peppers stuffed with rice), Horta (wild vegetables seasoned with oil and lemon) or the local Greek salad with cucumber, olives and feta cheese.
So, when looking for a place to stay in Crete, consider the Iberostar hotels on offer and visit all these places and more. Visit the Southernmost island of Greece, at the best price.
The beaches of Crete not to be missed
Crete’s beaches are amongst the Greek islands’ precious gems. Bathed by the bright Mediterranean sun and boasting crystal-clear waters, the beaches of Crete make the perfect stage for a dream-like holiday for couples, groups of friends or families with kids. Caressed by the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas, the Cretan shores invite tourists to enjoy the sun and the sea.
Main beaches in Crete
- Panormos beach: A quiet beach on the northern shore of Crete, to the east of the medieval town of Rethymnon and caressed by the warm waters of the Aegean Sea. A lively beach, it boasts all kinds of facilities and services, which makes it a haven of peace and quiet for couples or families with kids.
- Beaches across Mirabello Bay: On this harbour are some of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches and coves on the Cretan shore: the extensive Mirabello beach; Karavostasi, a sandy beach framed by olive and cedar groves; and Agios Panteleimonas, a white-sand beach that attracts water sports lovers and has many restaurants nearby.
- Bali beach: It owes its name to the village the beach lies in, a jewel of the Greek essence on the island, with calm, clear blue waters of mild temperature. Bali beach has a charming fishing port and offers stunning views of the northern coast of Crete.
- Balos beach: A sandy paradise with turquoise blue water, this beach is great for tourists who prefer a quiet secluded beach in a wonderful natural setting. Balos lies near Kissamos, across Gramvousa. There is a parking area but the beach is 2km away; it can be reached on foot or donkey only.
- Heraklion beaches: The beaches in Heraklion, the capital of Crete, are to be found on the north and south, and offer a wide range of bathing areas, from wild beaches for a romantic day on the sand to more crowded beaches for scuba divers or other water sports lovers. The most popular are Matala, Agia Pelagia, Hersonissos or Malia.
- Agia Galini beaches: In this lovely village by the mouth of the river Platys are some of the most beautiful Cretan beaches. Agia Galini, for instance, is a sandy paradise on Messara Bay. It offers a lively ambience and all the necessary services. A nice spot where nudists will be able to unwind in the sun.
- Vai beach: A secluded beach that is one of Crete’s best-kept secrets. On Mirabello Bay, in the charming village of Mochlos, between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, there stands Vai, an extensive sand beach at the end of a valley, framed by the largest natural palm forest in Crete. It offers comfortable facilities and services but is still an uncrowded beach, where you can relax with your family or partner.
What to do in Crete
Crete has a thousand and one things to do, hundreds of unforgettable experiences in its lovely coastal towns and villages. Riding a donkey, gazing at the sun going down in Crete on the sand of a wild beach, exploring underwater caves in Agia Galini, going on a tour to Lake Kournas or tasting the delicious Greek moussaka in a tavern... Crete has a wealth of tempting experiences for couples and families to enjoy.
Experiences in Crete: What to do
- Eating out in Cretan taverns: When the sun goes down, locals go out for a glass of wine or native liquor like raki or ouzo in a traditional tavern, while listening to traditional music. Foods you should taste before leaving Crete are moussaka, dishes with feta cheese, and tomatoes, at the core of Cretan cuisine.
- Boat trip to Gavdos and Chrissi Islands: Take a ferry in Crete to get to these small, uncrowded islands off the coast of Crete. Peace and crystal-clear waters guaranteed.
- Camping in Elafonisos: Elafonisos is a small islet connected to Crete by a coral reef you can walk on. The unspoilt beach is great to spend a delightful day in the sun. Camping is allowed.
- Sunset in Triopetra: Triopetra beach is best known for its lovely sunset. This beach in Crete adjoining Agia Galini and a pebble’s throw from Messara Bay affords views of the Mediterranean Sea. Lie back on the fine sand, far from the madding crowd, and take in the beautiful red and orange colours on display in the horizon.
- Tour to Lake Kournas: Protected by Crete’s White Mountains, Lake Kournas is the only freshwater lake on the island. An ideal place for a day out with your family, it invites you to ride a pedalo in its turquoise waters, eat out in a traditional restaurant, walk along the shore and enjoy nature.
Major events in Crete
Cretan feasts and festivals get inspiration from enduring traditions. They have dance, liquor and roast lamb, the dish that everybody eats on special days in Crete. The lyre and the lute resound everywhere on the island, and white garlands hang on house façades and canopies, inviting everyone to join in the celebrations.
Major events in Crete
- February – Carnival in Rethymnon: Carnival celebrations in Rethymnon are a hundred years old. There is a fancy dress parade that departs from the nice Venetian port of Rethymnon and then a treasure hunt for children and adults.
- 8 April – Greek Easter: Easter is a significant religious feast in Crete. Good Friday is particularly attractive in Heraklion, where they burn Judas dolls in the squares, and in Agios Nikolaos, where they burn them by the lake. On Saturday, they light holy candles and on Sunday, the families gather to eat roast lamb for lunch.
- 1 May – Anthonero Day: ‘Anthonero’ is the name given in Greece and Cyprus to orange blossom water. The main events take place in Fournes, in the region of Chania. You can see how they distillate orange and lemon blossoms and also you can try local cuisine.
- Early June – Sheep shearing: Sheep shearing is a tradition that has become a colourful and lively feast in Crete. Of Minoan origin, this feast is held in many Cretan villages, which get filled with traditional music, cheese and wine.
- June – Cherry Festival in Karanos: A must-attend festival for cherry lovers. With the best cherry orchards on the island, Karanos gets all decorated to hold this major popular festival.
- June/August – Kornaria Cultural Festival: Kornaria is a series of cultural events held in the charming village of Sitia from early June until late August. Events include theatre plays, music and dance performances, painting exhibitions and sports events like the Kornaria race, which gathers athletes from all over Greece.
- 1-15 July – Wine Festival: From 1 to 15 July, Crete plays host to the great two-week celebration of Cretan wines and other local products. Also in July, the island holds a well-known international chess tournament.
- 13 July – Sardine Night: Traditional folk music and dance… plus sardines. This is one of the liveliest and funnies summer events in Crete. Locals and tourists mingle in a relaxed atmosphere where good food and endless chatter are the protagonists.
- Late July – Elafonisi Festival: In July they hold one of the largest festivals in Innachori, an area of Chania. They pay tribute to the monument in Elafonisi and run athletics tournaments, open-air shows and traditional music performances.
- 15 August – Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Crete: There are celebrations nationwide. Local people play instruments like the lute or the lyre and drink the local liquor, raki. On this day, as on other festive days in Crete, the star dish is roast lamb.
- September – Tourist Day: The region of Chania celebrates the end of summer with a feast dedicated to the tourists that come to spend their holidays in this beautiful area in Crete. There are concerts, games and dance, and, of course, local food and wine.
- October – Raki Festival: The Raki Festival comes right after the grape harvest. People gather before the distiller’s place bringing grapes for him to make the season’s first drops of the traditional liquor, raki. While they open bottles from previous years, they eat traditional food and play music.
Sports in Crete that will make your holidays even better
Doing sports in Crete means getting to many a secret corner on this magic island. Underwater caves, jagged mountains, vertigo-inducing cliffs, hidden lakes, nice trails… You can go climbing, scuba diving, hiking, cycle touring and water skiing, or play tennis. Since Cretans do sports regularly, the island features modern facilities and great outdoor spots for active travellers.
Sports in Crete
- Diving in Agia Pelagia: Agia Pelagia is the best diving spot in Crete. There is the Big Anchor reef that runs along the seabed featuring diverse sea life; the Blue Cave, with its tunnels across the rock; and El Greco, a 30m-long cave with curious and abundant marine life. The site can be reached by boat. Autumn is the best time of year to go diving in Crete.
- Hiking in Crete: The White Mountains make a unique environment to go hiking in Crete. There are dozens of trails getting to such wonderful spots like Lake Kournas. All the trails are signposted and attract locals and tourists alike.
- Climbing in Ierapetra: In this area in the southeast of Crete, next to the Thrypti mountain range, is the village of Vasiliki. Here you can climb the Ha gorge, a very narrow and long gorge (1.5km). The climb is not easy, so it is only recommended to expert climbers, but it affords stunning views of the sea.
- Playing tennis in Mirabello: Mirabello Bay has different types of tennis courts by the sea in a number of fully-equipped sports centres. There are also clubs where holidaymakers can take intensive tennis lessons.
Activities in Crete
To get to know the real essence of Crete, there are activities you cannot miss, like visiting museums, archaeological sites and temples that reveal the secrets of the island’s past history and traditions. Across the island you will find archaeological sites, museums, cultural centres and, of course, lovely villages and towns whose streets give full account of the centuries-old history of Europe.
What to do and what to see in Crete
- Stavromenos archaeological site: Out of a total of 60 archaeological sites in Crete, this one, close to Panormos beach, stands out as one of the most important ones. In Stavromenos there is a marble tomb from the fifth century AD and numerous well-kept constructions on the hills of Kakavella and Tsikouriana.
- Ruins of Gournia: Gournia sits on the south of Mirabello Bay, in Ierapetra. The site, an ancient settlement dating back to the Bronze Age, is known as Pompeii of Minoan Crete. The panoramic views from the site are simply spectacular, and the findings are a fine sample of Historic Crete.
- Cretaquarium: The aquarium in Crete stands very close to the airport, on the outskirts of Heraklion, the capital of the island. It is one of the largest in Europe and has sharks, small seahorses, corals and interesting displays of the sea life on the coasts of Crete.
- Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos: In the centre of the main city on Mirabello Bay stands this archaeological museum that contains objects and pieces from the Neolithic Era to the end of the Greco-Roman period. Among the gems in the collection are the goddess from Myrtos and a vase with the shape of a goddess from Minoan Crete.
- Palace of Knossos: According to legend, the Minotaur dwelled in this palace, located 4km from Heraklion, the capital of Crete. Built in 2,000 BC, the Palace of Knossos is the largest of all the Minoan palaces on the island. The centrepieces are the throne room, the treasure chamber and the sanctuary.
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum: Crete’s rich archaeological heritage can be admired in this huge museum built in the late 1930s on the site of a Venetian monastery dedicated to Saint Francis that was destroyed by the earthquake of 1856. It contains artefacts and pieces from the Minoan period.
- Gorge of Samaria National Park: The gorge is in the western part of Crete, in a national park located in the region of Chania, and has been shaped by the river Omalos. Being 16km in length, it is considered to be among the longest gorges in Europe. It is so beautiful and well-preserved that it was designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Visitors are welcome only in the summer, as the water rushes powerfully down in winter.
- Venetian harbour of Rethymnon: Rethymnon has one of the largest populations on the north of Crete. It boasts elegant buildings from the sixteenth century that rise alongside ancient stone staircases linking the Old Town’s narrow streets. Its Venetian harbour, peppered with traditional barges, is wrapped up by buildings with white canopies.
- Paleokastro Hill: Located in the heart of Rethymnon, the hill of Paleokastro hosts a Venetian fortress erected in 1574. The fortified structure and its four bastions contrast with the Turkish quarter of Splantza, where there stand the churches of Saint Nicholas and Saint Roch.
- Lions’ Fountain in Heraklion: A must-visit site in Crete and one of the busiest in Heraklion, Lions’ Square features the fountain bearing the same name, wonderfully decorated with maritime scenes. It supplied water to the city for years.
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