Travel Guide of Crete providing information Why Go Crete which places are the Best of Crete, the endless Cretan History, the beautiful Cretan Beaches, the delicious Cretan Cousine , forms of Alternative Tourism Crete. Moreover visitor can find suggestions about Excursions Crete ways of Transportations and Car Hire Crete at all prefectures Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania and Agios Nikolaos. Crete has the full package..!
Australian traveller.com.au rates Crete, Greece as top of six best European Islands.
Crete island is a hidden gem which waits to be discovered and the renowned Australian travel site describe’s Greece’s largest island as follows:
Crete, Greece
Of all the Greek Islands, Crete is both the largest and most varied. Historical sights are topped by the ruins of the Knossos Palace, the pinnacle of the Minoan civilisation. It’s just to the south of Crete’s capital, Iraklio (also called Heraklion). There are also some tremendous beaches – particularly Elafonisi in the south-western corner – while Samaria Gorge offers one of the continent’s great canyon hikes. The island’s also large enough to have substantial mountains, dotted with picturesque monasteries such as the culturally symbolic Moni Arkadiou. Stay at Casa Delfino (casadelfino.com), a 17th-century mansion in Hania, Crete’s most attractive city. Doubles cost from 137 euros.
Full of astonishing landscapes and continuously changing
natural pattern the discovery of the Cretan land “Krissa Gi” among the four
seasons gets never boring. Guests have
the opportunity to experience the nature, history and cultural richness of the
island, while they can enjoy the high quality tourism services. In the present
text we will try to Why Crete and rent a car Crete
is the ideal destination.
Crete has the best climate in the world, with almost
300 days of sunshine each year is the sunniest island in the Mediterranean. The climate
of Crete is temperate and is regarded as one of the nicest, mildest and
healthiest in Europe. The main factor that configures the Cretan climate is the
sea that surrounds the island and reduces the suns intensity during summer.
As a result it has warm, dry summers and mild winters. Crete is the ideal place
for holidays, relaxation, sports, entertainment and car hire Heraklion airport all year long. Pleasant summer, sweet sunshine
in spring and autumn, mild winter (without missing the snowy landscape) cold
North winds and warm South are the main characteristics of the Cretan year.
Cretan nutrition is famous all over the world. Sources
in Minoan Crete and is an important element of the cultural heritage of the
island. Transferred from generation to generation through the housewives of
Crete was prevented among the centuries till today and shows us the way to a
better quality of life and wellness.According to UN
figures no other region of the Mediterranean has had such low levels of
mortality as Crete. Cretan diet is healthy and tasty and consists of the high
quality pure ingredients of the blessed Cretan land. What is the secret of the Cretan
nutrition? The answer comes from the fact that Cretans feed with products grown
in their own land, they eat plenty of vegetables, herbs, legumes and fruit and
flavor food with herbs and plants from the mountains of the island, such as
thyme and basil, while almost always accompany the food with wine from local
vineyards and extremely tasty bread, traditionally baked. Pride of place has
the olive oil which is considered to be the biggest secret of the Cretan diet
and the Cretan longevity.
The coastline of Crete is 1046km long with popular
fully organized areas and also isolated scenic and pristine areas. The northern
coast consist of large sandy beaches which are affected by the north winds, are
easily accessed therefore are the most popular. However the real beauty is
hidden in the calm south beaches which are difficult to access.
Visitor can escape in one out of the many organized
beaches of the north side with the large touristic resorts. These entire offer
guest a large variety of services, comfort and safety such as cafes, bars,
restaurants, water sports, lifeguards, and various car hire Crete companies. Most of them are awarded with the EU blue flag
because are clean are fully organized.
Nature has given the Cretan landscape its best gifts.
Monuments standing here, carved in time, recounting events among centuries. The
changes in landscape are impressive!!
This island is blessed with an excellent mix of
landscapes. Snowy mountains, canyons, caves, hills, valleys, plains, countless
citrus trees and olive groves, rivers, lakes, natural and artificial ports and endless
kilometers of coastline.
Full of traditional mountain villages, excursions in
the Cretan mountains is a unique experience all year long.
The north coast of the island characterized by large
bays, many kilometers of beaches and largest natural port of Souda, while the
southern coast of the island located in the Libyan Sea has smaller beaches and
coves, caves and small ports.
Crete is the land of contrasts and satisfactionwhere the western side enclosed by olive and citrus
trees, alternating with plateaus and the east side with the vast expanse Palms.
The beauty of the natural envoroment provides guests motivation to explore the
island and discover its treasures regarding art, culture, gastronomy,
hospitality, traditions.
Cretans are world
known for their hospitality and the way that treat guests. Since the first moment
they make you feel most welcome by giving guests advises, directions, help and
sharing even their goods with visitors. It is most common in a Cretan neighbor
for locals to share fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables, homemade food, sweets etc. Locals
hold this principle in the same way as the virtue and honor, thus combining
ethical values that made both through friendship and through the family.
Crete is among the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. The
touristic infrastructure of the island can satisfy all preferences.
Accommodation of every possible category from large hotel units and luxury
resorts to small family owned apartments and camp sites.
The modern tourist infrastructures, the high quality of the services provided,
the friendly highly trained human resources, the unique historical and natural
wealth as long as the natural beauty of the island makes Crete a dream
destination for millions of people.
Deluxe resorts & spa, well organized hotels of all
categories, apartments and agro-tourism guesthouses, rent a car Crete offer modern facilities in combination with
traditional Cretan hospitality.
Being isolated in South Greece at the
crossroads of three continents Crete created and maintained a great local culture
while accepted and assimilated various influences from East and West.
Starting from the Neolithic Age, the history of Crete
today still forms an integral part in every place you found it.
The ancient Crete with hundreds of archeological sites
continues to inspire guest all over the world through the brilliance of museum
masterpieces and spiritual monuments. The past of Crete is reflected everywhere
and still flourishing, mainly through the delivery, customs, music and poetry.
60 museums and hundreds of archaeological sites
compose a historical and archaeological paradise with the Minoan civilization
dominating the center and its findings in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion to show the rich cultural heritage.
Alternativetourismintendstomakevisitorsfeellikehome, familiarizingwiththelocalvalues, landscapes, flavors, songs, dance, paintingandcreating. Alternative
tourism refers to those seeking a different kind of vacation, which is
connected with the protection of local culture, protection of the natural
environment and to avoid the use of services organized mass tourism.
The rich natural and cultural environment of Crete and
the perfect combination of mountain and sea have contributed to the creation of
structures for sports tourism, agro tourism, ecotourism, cultural, historical, religious
tourism, culinary, underwater tourism, winter tourism, conference,
speleological tourism, mountaineering, cruise tourism, etc. can come true by a car hire Crete
Free diving along gorgeous bottoms offered by hotels
and clubs. The European path E4 Alpine runs almost all the mountains of the
island, with trails that offer thrills for nature lovers and hiking.
It is often said that Crete is a whole
continent and not just an island! And why disagree with that, when at the same
time one can play with the snow in the mountains, someone else can enjoy the
sun and sea on a warm beach in the south or to taste wonderful subtropical
fruits of the “KRISSA GI”. And all these through a few tens of kilometers
distance using a car hire Heraklion airport…
The biggest island in Greece and the fifth largest in Mediterranean is Crete. With a car rental Crete guests can explore glorious sandy beaches, remnants of fabulous civilizations, endless mountains capes, step gorges, fertile valleys, and become a part of the famous Cretan nutrition. Crete an endless ocean of ancient treasures, natural beauties and unique culinary experiences that definitely bewitch every guest!!!
Crete is divided in to four prefectures with Herakion to be the largest of all and also the capital and main gateways of the island to be Crete Airports.
Chania (Hania) Chania is the western prefecture of the island, White Mountains and the impressive National Park occupies the largest part of the prefecture. Chania can provide visitors all kinds of tourist activities and services that can satisfy even the most demanding guests. To rent a car Chania airport is the most sufficient way to experience what people call culture. All the characteristics of the Venician Rule are maintained unaltered in the old city of Chania until today.
Rethymno (Rethymnon) The smallest region out of the four is Rethymno, synonymous with the sound of Cretan lyra, traditional celebrations, gastronomic surprices, deep red wine, and raki spirit, but also gorgeous mountain scapes, historical monuments, tensed nightlife and luxurious resorts.
Heraklion (Iraklion) The biggest and most populated prefecture in Crete is Heraklion. Rent a car in Heraklion to start an unprecedented quest of valleys, endless olive groves and vineyards, but also magnificent coastal sceneries, archeological sites and treasures, natural wealth and a lot more... Heraklion has the best organized tourist structure that can accommodate visitors all year long.
Lasithi The eastern and least mountainous part of Crete, inhabitants resides in semi urban centers like Agios Nikolaos and neapoli. The luxurious hotels in Elounda, the Gulf of Mirabello, the windmills in Lasithi plateau, the mythical palm forest of Vai makes this world more than fascinating.
Due to its geographic position Crete was the centre of the world since the Neolithic times. Crete, an island wealthy in ancient history with the Minoan civilization to be dominating among the centuries. The ancient ruins of the palace of Knossos and Faistos as long as the Archeological Museum of Heraklion compose the legacy one of the ancients and the most magnificent civilizations on planet Earth, and in combination with the rich Greek Mythology make visitor feel that became a part of a dream. A dream with envious ancient Gods, mythical monsters terrifying the ancient world and a brilliant civilization dominant in the whole Europe for a thousand years till its devastation from the explosion of the Santorin's volcano and the giant tsunami caused from it around the 1400BC.
With approximately 175,000 inhabitants Heraklion
is the biggest commercial, financial and scientific urban centre in Crete and also
the capital of region. Heraklion airport and
Heraklion Port are the main gateways in the
island where visitor can rent a car and start
the exploration of a city with a rich historical past and high cultural heritage.
Wealthy natural environment, monuments,
archeological and historical sites compose a scenery of unique beauty and
invite the thousands of quests in a journey through time and history of
civilizations.
Heraklion is one of the most attractive cities in Mediterranean, with its excellent touristic structure and services to satisfy all kind of guests, even the most demanding ones, and offer many interesting activities and a pleasant stay.
Sightseeing’s and monuments are many in
Heraklion with the most important one to be the palace of Knossos, base of the
most glorious civilization in Europe, the Minoan Civilisation.
Many monuments of the city are in the centre. The
main of them are Loggia, where City Council is accommodated. Saint Marcus
basilica built in 1239 is the cathedral church of Crete. The “Lions” fountain
with its exceptional sculptures. The Metropolitan Church of Agios Minas who is
the patron saint of Heraklion.
The city is surrounded from the huge Venician
Walls that used to fortify Heraklion against enemies and brought it to be the
best fortified city in Mediterranean. In the Southern Wall stands the Martinengo
bastion, where the famous Nikos Kazantzakis writer of Zorba and poet of Oddysey
is buried.
Countless commercial shops of any kind, all
kinds of hotels, night clubs, cafes, traditional taverns, gourmet restaurants,
and a big number of tourist agencies and car rental Crete compose the touristic scenery of the city with mission to
guide and make the life of the visitor easier.
Traveller: Crete first of 6 best islands in Europe
The biggest island in Greece and the fifth largest in Mediterranean is Crete. With a car rental Crete guests can explore glorious sandy beaches, remnants of fabulous civilizations, endless mountains capes, step gorges, fertile valleys, and become a part of the famous Cretan nutrition. Crete an endless ocean of ancient treasures, natural beauties and unique culinary experiences that definitely bewitch every guest!!!
