The Dikti mountains form the great highland range of eastern Crete, a high limestone massif also called the Dikti massif or Lasithiotika Ori. The range spans the Lasithi and Heraklion regions and rises to the peak of Spathi at about two thousand one hundred and forty-eight metres. Dikti cradles the fertile, ring-shaped Lasithi Plateau, feeds … Read more
The Milatos cave sits in the hills above the village of Milatos, on the north coast of Crete in the Lasithi region near Neapoli and the fishing village of Sissi. This wide, low stalactite cavern spreads through interconnected chambers rather than one tall hall, and a small whitewashed chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas stands inside. … Read more
Sissi is a small traditional fishing village and low-key resort on the north coast of Crete, set in the Lasithi region east of Malia and close to Milatos. A pretty little harbour lined with fish tavernas and cafes forms its heart, framed by low cliffs, with small sandy and rocky coves close by. The atmosphere … Read more
Stalis, also spelled Stalida, is a relaxed beach resort on the north coast of Crete, in the Heraklion region. It sits on the same coastline between the larger resorts of Hersonissos and Malia, giving it amenities and nightlife nearby without the loud fronts of its two busy neighbours. A long, shallow, gently shelving sandy beach … Read more
Malia is a lively beach resort on the north coast of Crete, set in the Heraklion region east of Hersonissos and the airport. A long sandy beach fronts the resort, and the town carries one of the island’s busiest nightlife strips, the bar street that draws a young summer party crowd. The older traditional village … Read more
Istron stretches along the Gulf of Mirabello in eastern Crete, a scatter of small resorts and golden-sand coves between Agios Nikolaos and the inland village of Kalo Chorio. Voulisma beach, known locally as Golden Beach, curves beneath tamarisk trees with soft sand and shallow turquoise water that ranks among the finest on the island’s eastern … Read more
Crete stands among the Mediterranean’s premier luxury destinations, offering five-star resorts that rival anything in the Greek islands. The sheltered shores of Mirabello Bay around Elounda have earned international recognition for their discreet, high-end properties featuring private pools, butler service, and sea-view suites. Flagship hotels dot the north coast near Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion, while … Read more
Heraklion International Airport, officially named after the writer Nikos Kazantzakis and carrying the code HER, stands as the busiest airport on Crete and ranks among the most active in all of Greece. Located just five kilometres east of Heraklion city centre on the island’s north coast, this gateway handles year-round domestic connections and welcomes a … Read more
Music runs through the heart of Cretan life like a pulse that never stops. The lyra, a three-stringed pear-shaped fiddle bowed on the knee, leads the melody while the laouto, a long-necked lute, drives the rhythm beneath. Together these instruments fill weddings, festivals and taverna nights across the island with sound that belongs to the … Read more
Melidoni Cave rises above the village of Melidoni in the Mylopotamos area of Rethymno, offering visitors a single vast chamber where geology and history intertwine. Known also as Gerontospilios, this cavern sheltered ancient worshippers and, according to legend, the bronze giant Talos who guarded Crete. Its most poignant chapter unfolded in the nineteenth century, when … Read more