Australian Traveller Magazine: Crete first of 6 best islands in Europe

 Traveller: Crete first of 6 best islands in Europe

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.

Heraklion, Crete

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

Elounda, Crete

Elounda is a small fishing village that became the most cosmopolitan place on Crete through the last 20 years. Luxurious hotels and resorts, small traditional fish taverns and restaurants, and traditional cafes are the main characteristics of Elounda.

Located in the Northeastern all that Elounda offers to visitor is a quiet and relaxed holiday. The main attraction in Elounda and to be more specific in Plaka is the Island of Spinalonga (Kalidon) which in the past was used as a leper colony. Many books are written about the Spinalonga with "The Island" the bestselling novel by Victoria Hislop to be the most popular one.

 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!