Showing posts with label best places to visit in Crete. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best places to visit in Crete. Show all posts
Saturday, 25 July 2015
Friday, 27 December 2013
Best of Crete - Top 10 of Crete
Crete was the
centre of the European civilization since 7000 b.C with the Minoan civilization
dominating from 2700 b.C to 1450 b.C
Car Hire Heraklion to visit Knossos. Knossos is biggest and best
preserved Minoan Palace. Situated South of Heraklion was the home palace of the
legendary king Minos and the location of the mythical Labyrinth where Minos
held the Minotaur. 
The palace was unearthed
and restored from the excavations of Sir Arthur Evans in 1900. These findings
include also the small palace, the Royal House, the Temple Tomb and a hall with
murals.
The Palace is
open for the public to visit from 01/06 to 31/10 - 08:00 to 18:00 daily and
from 01/11 to 31/05 08:30 – 15:00 with a small admission fee.
Samaria Gorge is
a 16 Km route in South West Crete at Chania prefecture. Samaria is among the
biggest gorges in Europe with rare flora and fauna.
The route starts
from Xyloskala after Omalos Plateau on 1250 height among the White Mountains. The
gorge is accessible from the 1st of May till 31st of
October when closes for the winter period.
Shoes with hard
soles to support the ankle are necessary in this 6-hour journey on the hard
rocky ground and a small amount of water that can be filled in one of the many
sources that meets the path. The route ends
at the Libyan Sea, in Agia Roumeli. Enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters
of Agia Roumeli before taking the boat to Sfakia, where you will have the
opportunity to taste traditional specialties before boarding the bus that will
take you back to Chania.
Our advice for visitors
with Car Hire Crete is to leave the car at Chania Station take the bus
from Chania to Omalos and from Sfakia to Chania. It will be an endless,
exhausting day but believe me its worth, and you will have a lifetime
experience.
Rent a Car Heraklion, and visit the Archeological Museum of Heraklion which
is located in the centre of the city in Xanthoulidou str.
The exhibits cover a period of 5500 years from
the Neolithic to the Greco-Roman period.
In pride place among its collections are the unique masterpieces of
Minoan art, which can be admired in all its development. The collection of
Minoan antiquities is the largest in the world and the museum is justly
considered the pre-eminent museum of Minoan civilization.
The museum is open for the public to visit all year long with the
opening hours to vary according to period.
Chania are
situated in the Northwest Crete 170 Km from the capital Heraklion. With the old
Venetian Port to be the main attraction thousands of tourists are visiting Chania
every year. Take a stroll on the cobbled streets with the traditional fish
restaurants, cafes and shops with folk art. Historically, Chania was the first
capital of Crete.
Car Rental Chania Airport to visit the
archaeological and naval museum in the old city. Walk the narrow cobblestone
streets and admire the Venetian buildings, small workshops daggers (machairadika),
traditional footwear (stoivanadika) and enjoy a coffee or dining at the quaint
cafes and restaurants.
Along the harbor
you will see small fishing boats moored, catering daily fresh fish the taverns,
and certainly do not miss the opportunity to stroll through the renovated
lighthouse on the edge of the harbor.
Rent a Car Chania airport And head to Lake
Kournas. Lake Kournas is the only natural freshwater lake on the island.
Surrounded by lush vegetation and background of the White Mountains, is a
unique attraction.
A few miles from
Lake Kournas is the village of Argiroupolis This beautiful village is built on
the ancient site of Lappa and consists of two parts - the upper and lower
village.
Visit the
waterfalls surrounded with lush vegetation in the lower village, then the Roman
necropolis of Lappa, the ruins of Roman baths and the aqueduct in the upper
village.
Rent a Car Heraklion Port and spend a day in Lassithi Plateau. Lassithi
Plateau is the largest plain in Crete. An area of 25,000 square kilometers
surrounded by the Lassithiotika Mountains. Hundreds of white windmills used for
irrigation lie as relics of the past and compose landscape of the fertile
plateau.
Lassithi Plateau
is the highest inhabited plateau in Greece. A visit to this beautiful mountain
region should include stops at villages Krasi with a giant plane tree in the
square which is considered to be the oldest tree in Crete with age 2400 years,
and in Mohos, where the church of the Virgin Mary has byzantine icons and
murals.
The impressive Dikteon Andro (Psichro Cave), the mythical birthplace of
Zeus, located at an altitude of 1025m, west of the village Psichro. The cave is
accessed by a narrow entrance after a 20 minute walk up a steep path, entering
the interior of the cave follows a steep descent of 60 meters ending in an
underground pool and several rooms with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Rent a Car Heraklion airport For a trip to Anogia and Zoniana. The mountain village
Anogia situated at an altitude 700m on the side of Mount Ida in the hinterland
of Rethymno Prefecture.
The village
Anogia razed by the Germans during the Second World War, and all the men of the
village who had not managed to escape were killed in reprisal for partisan
fighters.
The village is
also known as the birthplace of Nick Xylouris one of the most famous Cretan
musicians of all time. He died in 1980 at the age of 43 and became a legend.
Every July Anogia organizes Yakinthia, a festival dedicated to music, theater
and art.
Do not forget to visit the nearby cave of Zoniana
(Sfentoni Cave), which is considered one of the best caves of Crete with
amazing stalagmites and stalactites.
Car Rental Heraklion Airport And live your dream vacation in Agios Nikolaos. Situated
in Eastern Crete, 70mm from Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos is the capital of
Lassithi Prefecture. The city is built around a beautiful lake, which is
connected to the sea by a small canal. Relax in one of the taverns and cafes by
the lake and admire the scenery while fishermen are working in their colorful
boats.
The city has a
cosmopolitan atmosphere and a modern marina that accommodates up to 255 boats
and yachts. Shopping in the town is a delight - small shops, crafts and
souvenir shops coexist with modern designer jewelry stores. Cafes, snack bars,
taverns and restaurants abound in every street corner.
The city even has its own beach area next to the
center - the beach Kitroplatia. The sandy beach is filled with cafes and taverns.
There are also many other beaches along the Gulf of Mirabello.
Just 10 km from
Agios Nikolaos is the bay of Elounda. Known for its luxury hotels is the place
that wealthy visitors, royalties and celebrities spend their holidays. The
picturesque harbor of Elounda still retains its traditional charm, with cafes
and restaurants to complement the scene.
Spinalonga (also
known as Caledon) is a small island located just off the coast of Elounda and
Plaka at the Bay of Mirabello. During 1200 AD the Venetians built huge
fortifications on it to guard the entrance to the bay and these fortifications
still dominate the north side of the island.
From 1903 until recently, in 1957, the island of
Spinalonga was a leper colony and lepers from all over Greece were sent to it.
The suffering of lepers who lived in Spinalonga is immortalized in the book of
Victoria Hislop «The Island" that enjoyed huge commercial success.
Today Spinalonga is uninhabited, but can be visited
one after a short boat trip from Elounda (30 minutes), Plaka (15 minutes) or
Agios Nikolaos (1 hour). Following the path around the island you will pass
through the small streets of the deserted ruins with its old stone houses,
fortifications, battlements, and of course the cemetery. Wander the
cosmopolitan Elounda and historic Spinalonga with Car Hire Heraklion airport
10) Loutro
Car Hire Chania Airport, for an
unforgettable holiday in Loutro. The small picturesque village Loutro is
located in South Crete, between Chora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli. The only way that
anyone can visit the Loutro is by boat or on foot as it is isolated which is
the main feature.
Arriving by boat at this beautiful blue and white
village will experience the tranquility and relaxation with swimming, iced
coffee and a relaxing meal at one of the taverns. The main activity at the Bath
is to watch the boats coming and going and carrying visitors and supplies to
the village.
The village is located in a small cove with pebbles
and consists of rooms, small hotels, cafes, restaurants, a few shops and of
course a kiosk with cigarettes. Trips to Loutro have 4-5 times daily from
Sfakia and the ride is 20 minutes.
Heraklion, Crete
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.
Elounda, Crete
Walk a little bit along the causeway you will ruins inside the water. It is the sunken city of Olous, many people believe that Olous was the mythical Atlantis with the walls of the ancient city to be still visible inside the water.
Many people that visited Elounda across the years loved the place so much that bought their own properties, and made their own holiday resort, others decided to make in Elounda their permanent home.
No matter where your accommodation is, rent a car Crete and pay a visit to Elounda, the wonderful landscape, the beautiful unwind beaches, the excellent tourist services and the hospitality of locals will definitely reward you!
Lasithi Plateau, Crete
Lasithi Plateau
The mountains surrounding the plateau which is 800m from sea level, a route that reminds of a safari excursion, the 21 villages that are around the valley which have not lost their traditional character and culture this area is a gigantic tourist playground.
The most famous sightseeing in Lasithi Plateau is Diktaion Andron a cave that according to mythology king of gods Zeus was born. Even if anybody can visit the cave whether local or tourist most of the founding's were transferred to the Archeological Museum of Heraklion.
Chrissi Island, Crete
It is the less populated island in the world with a 75 year old man to be its unique resident, an exotic virgin place 14 km away from the coast that will gives you an experience you have never dreamed.
It is covered by fine golden sand that ends in shallow turquoise waters while a forest of rare cedars on the sand hills complete the landscape harmonically. The highest spot is to the East on Kefala hill with an amazing vie of Lebanon cedar forest, probably the last one left in Europe. On the western part visitor can see the well preserved old chapel of Agios Nikolaos, the old salt pan and the light house.
Chrissi Island is protected by the European Network Natura 2000. Casting of litter, camping and smoking in the forest area is prohibited.
Leave behind the conventional everyday routine rent a car and head to Donkey Island. Enter a dream world of absolute relaxation and bliss. Give yourself the unique precious experience, car hire Crete, surrender in the magic of Chrissi and you will discover that paradise is not only for the few!
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