What NOT to Do On Your Crete Vacation
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re sharing some of the don’ts of visiting Crete, Greece. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in Crete, we also want to share what you should NOT do on your Crete vacation!
Don’t Pick the Wrong Airport
There are three airports in Crete to choose from. The airport you use will likely depend on where you are coming from, but if you are coming from within Greece, you may have multiple options. When leaving Crete, make sure you give the taxi the right airport for your departure!
- HER is the Heraklion airport, which is the largest airport with the most international connections.
- CHQ is Chania, which sees a lot more flights in the summer months with low-cost carriers coming in from around Europe.
- JSH is the Sitia airport, which only has domestic flights. If you’re flying in from Athens or elsewhere in Greece, this will be a good option for you.
You can also take a ferry to Crete; just make sure you reserve a seat so you have a place to sit and keep your belongings. With so many flight options, sometimes the ferry just isn’t worth the time it takes.
Don’t Be Afraid to Rent a Car
To best explore all of these cool Crete attractions, you’re going to need a car. Some of the cities have public transportation for getting around, but to fully explore the island at your own pace, we highly recommend a rental car. There are plenty of places to rent a car, from the big international chains to smaller, local car rentals.
When you are driving on Crete, don’t forget that the locals sometimes use the shoulder as an extra lane! They will find any way to pass you, even when it’s not a passing lane. Also, be on alert for wildlife or people to run out into the road. Likewise, as a pedestrian, always be aware of your surroundings, especially near traffic.
Don’t Just Check the Big Booking Sites for Crete Accommodation
There are many different types of places to stay in Crete. From luxury resorts to apartment rentals, Crete has options for every budget. However, not all of them can be found on your usual booking sites like TripAdvisor or Expedia. You have to dig a little bit to find them, but make sure you’re searching specifically for Crete options.
If you choose to stay at an all-inclusive resort, make sure you still plan a few meals off property. The food will be fine, but to experience the true local food, you have to go into the towns and villages.
Or, if you choose to stay in an older property or private home, make sure you pay attention to the rules. Especially in the bathroom! Some of the older plumbing in Crete cannot handle toilet paper, so make sure you don’t flush TP unless it’s ok.
Don’t Think Crete is Just Beaches
Crete is known as a beach destination, and it does have beautiful beaches. But there is a lot more to Greece’s largest island than just the beaches. There are so many towns and villages, mountains and hills, and a ton of interesting history.
A few places you should NOT miss in Crete:
- Chania is a 14th-century Venetian port, with many beautiful scenes along the harbor
- Sitia is another port town that’s fun to visit
- Heraklion is the capital city which has a cool archeological museum where you can see some of the frescoes from the palace of Knossos
- Agios Nikolaos has several historic and cultural attractions
- Knossos has the Palace of Knossos, which is one of the places you must visit in Crete. Just don’t get lost in the labyrinth of ruins, and try not to go when all the tour buses are there.
- Samaria Gorge is in Crete’s only National Park. If you enjoy hiking, make sure you check it out. It can be a 4-8 hour hike, so plan a full day for this excursion.
So, when you’re planning your Crete vacation itinerary, remember you’ll need time to explore everything in addition to your days on the beach!
What to Know Before Visiting Chania Crete
Don’t Worry About Finding a Great Beach
That said, you definitely want to plan some beach time during your Crete vacation. But don’t worry about which beach to go to. The entire island is surrounded by gorgeous beaches. The West Coast has pink-sand beaches, which are exceptional. If you need beach accessories, pretty much every supermarket has chairs, towels, toys, and sunblock. You can even get good sunblock here!
Many times, you can rent chairs and an umbrella at the beach. It’s often very inexpensive, so that’s a great option if you don’t want to haul all of your own stuff.
Don’t Walk Around Town in Your Beach Clothes
At some beach destinations, you will see people in swimsuits walking around town and taking in the tourist sites. That will stick out in Crete. Make sure you have backup clothes when visiting the towns, especially the churches and museums. Just be respectful in how you dress. You don’t have to be fancy but cover up the swimwear.
Don’t Be in a Hurry
Island Time isn’t just a Caribbean thing. Things take a long time in Crete, especially when dining out. Every step in the process feels like it takes forever, so it’s best to just relax and enjoy the slower pace. Don’t plan your Crete vacation down to the minute; allow plenty of time for the slower pace.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate in Crete
Don’t Miss Out on Crete Food
The food in Crete is fantastic, and even more so in some of the smaller villages around the island. You’ll see tiny little mom-and-pop spots that might not even have a menu, but the food is bound to be amazing. Go where the locals live and eat, and you won’t be disappointed.
Although Crete is an island, it’s more of a shepherd’s island than a fisherman’s island, so you will see a lot of meat in addition to seafood. You will also see unique greens that are grown here and special to the island.
A few Crete food items to try include:
- Cretan Cheese is delicious! I think it’s the best cheese in Greece, so I have it on everything! (You can order saganaki, but they don’t light on fire here, that’s an American thing.)
- Dakos, which is like a Greek Bruschetta. It’s simple and it’s so fantastic!
- Cretan pies are popular and come in two versions. You can get them stuffed with greens or a cheese version.
- Salads in Crete are huge and delicious. They have a lot of fresh ingredients and salads are perfect for a hot summer night.
- Dolmades are stuffed grape leaves. Usually, they are stuffed with rice, but you can occasionally order them with meat inside.
- Snails are very popular here. They’re cooked in rosemary, and very tasty!
- Fried zucchini balls are a common appetizer that comes in many shapes and sizes.
- Stifado is a delicious beef stew that melts in your mouth.
- Lamb comes in so many forms and flavors, you will inevitably try some during your stay (just be on the lookout for bones; they don’t always remove them from dishes!)
- Pork and chicken are easily found in Cretan dishes. Gyros are great with pork, chicken, or lamb!
- Gemista, or stuffed vegetables, are also everywhere: zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes are all yummy!
- Of course, seafood is fresh and plentiful. Especially octopus, whether it’s grilled or fried. Calamari and squid, plus mullet, swordfish, and many other varieties.
- Gamopilafo is a Greek wedding specialty made with creamy rice, lemon, butter, and chicken broth. You might get lucky and find it at a restaurant, but it’s typically served at weddings.
- Pastitsio is like a Greek lasagna, with macaroni noodles instead of flat lasagna noodles.
The portions can be quite large, so take care not to over-order. We found that three entrees were enough for five of us, along with a few starters and desserts. If everyone at the table gets an entree, you will have leftovers.
Also, don’t plan to eat early while you are here. Breakfast is typically pretty light, maybe yogurt and honey with toast and some Greek coffee. (Drink your Greek coffee carefully; it’s usually served with the grounds at the bottom) Lunch is usually between 2 and 4, while dinner starts around 8 or 9 pm. People eat dinner super late, especially in the summer!
When it comes to drinks in Crete, there are some local specialties to check out:
- Local wine is good, so even if you just order the house wine, it will probably be pretty good!
- For a local liquor, Raki is a spirit distilled from grapes. Very similar to Grappa in Italy, Raki is often served at the end of your meal.
If you are staying a long time and you want some variation from the typical Cretan food, head to Chania or Heraklion, where you can find more international cuisines.
Don’t Expect Solitude in the Summer
July and August are the busiest times to visit Crete, and the most expensive. If you aren’t into crowds, the shoulder seasons are perfect. April through June or September and October are great. You might think winter is the perfect time to visit Crete, but a lot of things close in winter, so you might have too much solitude. Flights and ferry schedules are also reduced in the winter.
Don’t Be a Purple Tourist
You’ve heard me talk about purple tourists before when describing terrible sunburns. Crete is where that term originated! The sun is SO strong! Don’t skip the sun protection, and you have to reapply continuously throughout the day. Everywhere you look, there are purple tourists in Crete. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, too. It can easily be over 100 degrees in Crete.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
We love visiting Crete when we can! With so much more to offer than other Greek islands like Santorini or Mykonos, Crete is a fantastic family-friendly destination. It’s great for all budgets, too, so don’t let your budget keep you from planning an awesome Crete vacation!
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