Thrapsano is a large inland village in the Pediada region of the Heraklion district, east of Heraklion town. The village earned its reputation across the island as a place of potters. Families throw giant storage jars called pithoi here alongside everyday earthenware, and the clay tradition reaches back through generations. It echoes the huge Minoan … Read more
Tsoutsouros sits at the end of a winding mountain road on the remote south coast of Crete, far from the crowds and resorts that line the northern shore. This quiet fishing village rests below the Asterousia mountains at the mouth of a gorge, where a long curve of pebble and grey sand beach meets clear … Read more
Kali Limenes sits on the far southern coast of Crete, in the Heraklion region. It lies below the barren Asterousia mountains and faces the open Libyan Sea. The name translates as Fair Havens, and the settlement earns it. A string of pebbly coves, very clear water and a sheltered harbour define the shore. A long, … Read more
Gouves is a coastal resort area on the north coast of Crete, in the Heraklion region between Heraklion city and Hersonissos. The area splits into two distinct halves. Pano Gouves is the old inland village in the hills, while Kato Gouves is the beach resort on the shore, lined with sandy and pebbly beaches, hotels, … Read more
The Koules fortress is a squat stone sea fort guarding the entrance to the old Venetian harbour of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. The Venetians knew it as Rocca a Mare and Greeks call it Koules. It stands beside the old Venetian arsenali shipyards, a low block of thick walls that has become the emblem … 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
Agia Pelagia sits around a sheltered horseshoe bay on the north coast of Crete, just a short drive west of Heraklion. The main sandy beach fronts calm, clear water protected by headlands, with sunbeds, tavernas and water sports lining the shore. Hotels and villas climb the surrounding hillsides, offering wide sea views while the bay … Read more
Fodele unfolds in a verdant valley west of Heraklion, where orange and lemon groves cascade down hillsides and a cool river threads through the village centre. This small settlement claims fame as the birthplace of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, the Renaissance master known worldwide as El Greco. Visitors step into a restored stone house that serves as … Read more
Zaros rests on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis in central Crete, a green oasis fed by mountain springs that give the village its reputation across the island. The small Lake Votomos glimmers beside tavernas serving fresh trout raised in the clear water, and the Rouvas Gorge climbs through ancient oak forests to remote chapels … Read more
Crete is a big island, so the smartest question is not which hotel to book but which region to base yourself in. The west, the centre and the east each open onto different beaches, ruins and old towns. Driving from one end to the other eats a large chunk of any day. Pick a base … Read more
Heraklion, sometimes written Iraklion, is the capital and largest city of Crete, spread along the island’s north-central coast around a working harbour. It pairs a Venetian old town with a busy modern port, so a sea fort, a lion fountain, and pedestrian shopping streets sit within a short walk of ferries and cafes. The city … Read more