From hiking through majestic gorges and relaxing by the beach to shopping at one of the open-air markets, you'd love the amount of attractions and things to do the island of Crete has to offer.
Fun Outdoor Activities
Caves Tours
Crete is home to an impressive amount caves and many of them are archeological sites with fossils and amazing rock formations. Exploring the island's caves is one of the most fun things to do in Crete and it's a great way to spend a fun day out checking out fascinating rock formations.
Cave tours in Crete are also relatively inexpensive which is why they're a popular attraction. One popular cave that worth exploring it's the Sfendoni Cave, located in the village of Zoniana.
Hiking
Hiking is one of the most popular fun things to do in Crete. Two of the most popular hiking trails in Crete can be found along the Samaria and Imbros Gorges. The Samaria Gorge is a ten-mile trail that begins on the northern entrance of the Samaria Gorge National Park and ends in the Agia Roumeli village.
The highlight of the Samaria Gorge trail is the Iron Gates stretch where the gorge closes in to a width of only four meters and rises to a height of five hundred meters. The Imbros Gorge is a five-mile trail that runs parallel to the Samaria Gorge, and begins in the village of Imbros and ends in the village of Komitades. The highlight of the Imbros Gorge is a two meter stretch that rises three hundred meters.
Water Activities: Beaches
Spending time at a beach is one of the most popular fun things to do in Crete, and even though naturism is not permitted in Crete, if you are a naturists you can head to the remote or seclude beach areas of Crete. Some of the ‘known’ nudist beaches in Crete include Marmara, Preveli, Komos and Red Beach. The top three beaches in Crete include:Georgioupoli Beach
Georgioupoli Beach, located between Chania and Rethymnon, is a popular beach destination due to its good transport connections to Crete’s major cities. Apart from great transportation, Georgiopoli offer opportunities for beach sports as well as secluded areas for privacy.
Elafonisi Beach
Elafonisi Beach, located on the southwest of the Chania prefecture, is one of the most popular beaches in Crete and one of the best in Europe.
Elafonisi Beach is home to turquoise crystal waters and pinky-white sandy beaches, as well as a good transport connection to the city of Chania.
Makrigialos Beach
If you are traveling with the family and kids, Makrigialos Beach is home to shallow waters ideal for the little ones.
Makrigialos Beach, located in the southeast coast of the Lasithi prefecture, is one of the quieter beach destinations in Crete and most of the accommodation there comprises of self-catering villas and cottages.
Day Trips in Crete
No matter where you plan to vacation in the island, one of the most fun things to do in Crete is to enjoy a day trip to a nearby city and exploring one of the charming villages. Three of my favourite spots in Crete include:
Chania
Taking a day trip to Chania is one of the most popular fun things to do in Crete due to Chania's charming Venetian streets. The old Town in Chania is the main point of interest in the city and it is where you’ll find the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and the old Venetian Harbor which features the 16th century Venetian lighthouse.
The Topanas district, also in the Old Town, is a great place for a walking tour or stroll to explore the charming shops and bars.
Heraklion
Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is where you’ll find the bulk of the museums in Crete which include Heraklion Archaeological Museum, The Battle of Crete and National Resistance Museum, Nikos Kazantzakis Museum, the Lychnostatis Open Air Museum, and the Historical Museum of Crete.
Other points of interest in Heraklion include Lions Square home to the Morosini Fountain, the Ottoman Vezir Mosque and Kornarou Square where you’ll find the Turkish Sebil and Bembo Fountain.
Rethymnon
The city of Rethymnon is the third largest city in Crete and the Old Quarter is one of the best places in Crete to see Venetian and Turkish influences. Taking a walking tour of Rethymnon Old Quarter is one of the best ways to experience the Venetian-Turkish influences and get a feel of the Old Venetia.
Other points of interest include the Venetian Fortress, the Rimondi fountain, Rethymnon Beach, the Neratze Mosque and the Rethymnon Archaeological Museum.
Shopping
Shopping for souvenirs and local goods is one of the most fun things to do in Crete. The island offers great shopping opportunities that range from small shops to street markets selling local produce as well as handmade crafts.
For instance, Heraklion central market is home to street vendors and shops selling souvenirs and handmade goods. The Old quarter in the city of Rethymnon is another great place where you can purchase leather goods and pottery for souvenirs.
Nightlife & Entertainment
Experiencing the nightlife in Crete is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular fun things to do in Crete. The island has a vibrant and diverse nightlife that ranges from international clubs and bars, as well as traditional Cretan taverns.
The larger cities of Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania are where you’ll find some the best nightlife spots and entertainment in Crete. For instance, the capital city of Heraklion is home to modern bars and discos, as well as theaters and cinemas.
Events & Festivals
Visiting one of Crete's events and festivals is certainly one of the most fun things to do in Crete, and I would highly recommend making your trip coincide with one of Crete's popular events to really appreciate this charming island. Three of my popular events include:The Lasithi Potato Festival
The Lasithi Potato Festival, held in the town of Tzermiando in August, is a popular event where you can sample delicious local potato dishes, as well as other Cretan cuisine.
The Cretan Wine Festival
If you are a wine enthusiast the Cretan Wine Festival, held in the Rethymnon area in July, is a great event where you can sample lovely Cretan wine and enjoy traditional Cretan music.
The Crete Chestnut Festival
The Crete Chestnut Festival, held in the village of Elos in October, is another popular food event where you can sample a variety of chestnut-type dishes, as well as enjoying live entertainment.
Quick Overview
The island of Crete is located southeast of Turkey, north of Egypt and west of Cyprus.
Crete is one of the best places in the Mediterranean and a popular Greece holidays destination in Greece among outdoor enthusiast due to Crete’s amazing mountainous landscapes and beautiful beaches.
In fact, even though naturism is not permitted in the island, Crete is a popular destination among naturists due to the many natural secluded beaches that can be found in Crete.
Apart from the many fun things to do in Crete, the island is an ideal holiday base for exploring the nearby Greek Islands of Kassos Island and Karpathos Island.
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