Why Crete Island Must Be On Your Greece Itinerary

Despite being the largest island in Greece, Crete doesn’t get nearly as much attention as its flashy neighbors, Santorini and Mykonos. But with literally life-giving cuisine, unique beaches, and monasteries that double as wineries (yes, really), Crete Island must be on your Greece travel itinerary.

I knew nothing about Crete before I visited this past summer. But when Fantasy Travel Greece (the amazing tour company that organized this dreamy summer trip around Greece for me) learned I’d never been to Crete before, they scrapped our previous itinerary and insisted I make Crete a priority.

Whatever minimal expectations I had before the visit were blown out of the water, and Crete became not only my new favorite Greek island, but also one of my favorite destinations anywhere in the world. I have no doubt that you’ll love it too. In fact, Crete is one of my top recommendations for summer travel in Europe. Here’s why Crete Island must be on your Greece Itinerary.

1) Food that is, literally, the elixir of life

Although all Mediteranean diets tend to be fresh and healthy, there’s something extra magical about the food you’ll find in Crete. Decades of research have shown that the exceptionally high life-expectancy of Cretan residents — 82 years, which is one of the highest in the world — and extremely low rates of heart disease and cancer, are all largely due to the island’s diet.

The island’s un-spoiled Mediterranean soil produces some of the most delicious and nutrient-rich organic vegetables and fruits you can find anywhere, as well as plenty of olive oil (Cretans consume the most olive oil per person than anywhere else in the world), wheat, and herbs. You’ll find much more fresh seafood on the island than you will meat products; natural sweeteners rather than processed sugars; seasonal ingredients and herbs rather than modified or frozen products.

Be sure to try dakos (a tomato-based salad with barley husks, Cretan virgin olive oil, herbs, and creamy sheeps or goats cheese), sarikopitakia (an olive oil-fried pastry filled with cheese and drizzled with honey), chochlioi boubouristi (fried snails); lamb stamnankáthi (one of the few meat dishes you’ll find on the island), and of course raki (the Cretan equivalent of the Greek liquor ouzo).

I promise you, you will be hard-pressed to find any cuisine that can compare to that of Crete, and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve magically added a year or two to your life, somehow without adding an inch or two to your waistline.

2) The prettiest seaside old town

On the northwestern coast of Crete you’ll find the most colorful, charming, Venetian old town unlike anywhere else in Greece: Chania.

Pastel-painted buildings line the 14th century cobblestone harbor, lined with magenta bougainvillea, generations-old family-run restauarants, and unique handicraft shops selling anything from leather goods to art to local food stuffs.

I spent two full days exploring these streets, dining in tiny alleyways or on the bustling waterfront, catching the stunning sunset from the Chania lighthouse, people-watching as fishing boats and luxury yachts came and went out to sea.

You’ll also find really beautiful boutique hotels dotting the windy streets and harbor of Chania Old Town (no giant corporate hotel chains here), and I definitely recommend staying here so that you can also experience the quiet, quaint mornings before the world wakes up.

3) Incredibly unique beaches

All of Greece is known for its beautiful rocky beaches, deep blue waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Ionian Seas, and perfect sunny climate for idyllic summer days. But the beaches you’ll find on the island of Crete are really unlike anywhere else on the Greek isles.

Don’t miss Seitan Limania Beach, leaving early in the morning to beat the crowds and get this turquoise inlet to yourself. Keep an eye out for mountain goats scaling the cliff walls, and have yourself a go at cliff-jumping if you’re feeling adventurous. This trip can be done in a few hours in the morning.

The hike down to Seitan Limania Beach is steep; be careful!

Several beaches in Crete are a bit more difficult to reach, requiring a full day of adventure. The iconic Balos Beach requires either a treacherous drive or a boat excursion to reach the isolated scenic stretch of soft white sand.

If time permits, head south to the famous pink Elafonisi Beach, frequented by locals and tourists alike, and grab a beach chair on the sprawling blush-colored sands. Or pay a visit to a local favorite, Preveli Beach, which is lined with an oasis of palm trees against grey rocky mountains, and fed by a river on the southern coast of the island.

Better yet, fit them all into your Crete itinerary, because each is impressively unique and absolutely worth the trip!

Afternoon at the famous pink sand Elafonisi Beach

Sundown at Georgeopoli Beach, overlooking a small white church floating on the water… another must-see in Crete!

4) A historic monastery that doubles as a Winery

One of my favorite spots on the island of Crete is the Agia Triada Monastery. This stunning orange-colored monastery sits in the hills of northwest Crete, surrounded by vineyards and colorful bougainvillea. If anything, it looks more like a villa you’d see in Tuscany than a historic Greek religious site.

Whats particularly amazing about this place is that it still functions today as a monastery, run by a small group of monks who maintain the religious heritage and upkeep the grounds and vines nearby.

In the basement, you’ll find Agia Traida Vinolio — a stone-walled wine cellar filled with old wooden barrels, artifacts, and foodstuffs for purchase. Be sure to take the time to enjoy a free tasting of the wines grown and produced on-site by the monks, and purchase some of your favorites (for a very affordable price) to bring home.

Fewer and fewer young people in Crete are taking up interest in becoming a monk, meaning, unfortunately, it won’t be long until this monastery ceases to be in use and the stories and culture it contains may disappear with the previous generation. Don’t miss your opportunity to see it now, and to contribute to maintaining the stories and upkeep of this amazing site.

5) Wilderness adventure at your fingertips

While some of the most famous beaches can be found on the western coast of Crete, the southern coast offers a very different outdoor experience. The beautiful Samariá Gorge National Park can be found here, and you can spend a couple of days making the 13 km hike through the river gorge — a must-do for nature-lovers, hikers, and adventurers when visiting Crete!

While visiting the Samariá Gorge, keep an eye out for the rare kri-kri — a Cretan goat that only lives in this national park and one small offshore island. You’ll also likely encounter several unique species of birds and flowers, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to appreciate these surroundings.

A trek through this World’s Biosphere Reserve takes about 5-7 hours, and is typically finished with an overnight stay in the offshore village of Sougia or Hora Sfakion. These adventures will require proper shoes and hiking clothes, but bring a swim suit because you’ll eventually find yourself at the sea. You’ll be shocked to find this unique scenery in the Greek islands, which is another reason why Crete needs to be on your Greece itinerary.

6) A more authentic glimpse into Greek culture

Even Crete can’t escape the cruise ships and tour crowds that flock the Greek islands in the summer. But because the island is so large and not nearly as popular as neighboring Santorini or Mykonos, you’ll still feel like you’re getting an authentic Greek experience here with fewer tourist traps.

Despite it being peak tourist season, I had the Agia Triada Monastery virtually to myself in the middle of the day, and the crowds didn’t start arriving to the famous Seitan Limania Beach until nearly 10:30am. Mornings in Chania were peaceful and empty, and although the evenings along the harbor were energetic with live music, it still felt nothing like the crowds and touristic experiences you’d find in other travel hotspots in Greece.

I definitely recommend visiting one of the restaurants recommended above because they were recommended by locals in the food industry, or just stopping in any small village you pass through (trust me, the food will be delicious anywhere). Also stop at some of the stands on the side of the road selling homemade olive oils, which make the best souvenirs and are a great opportunity to strike up conversation with the friendly locals.

Travel Help

I traveled through Greece with Fantasy Travel Greece and 1000% recommend their travel planning services! They organized the perfect custom itinerary for me, including making sure all my flights, ferry trips, and private driver transfers went smoothly and comfortably. Plus, they are entirely responsible for insisting I go to Crete, and for that I am eternally grateful.

They also gave me 24/7 support, recommendations for local restaurants and fun activities, and access to their wide variety of tour partners all over Greece (including island sunset cruises, walking food tours, and more). The team also saved my Crete trip when I decided last-minute that I needed to rent a car — not an easy feat without an International drivers license and during peak tourist season.

You can check out their Greece itineraries here or contact them to discuss a customized trip all around Greece! Be sure to mention I sent you! ;)

Let’s Go.

Greece attracts a whopping 33 millions tourists per year, but only a small percentage of these travelers include Crete on their itineraries. But this is good for you, as you’ll get a less touristic experience on one of the most beautiful Greek islands, with world-famous cuisine, epic beaches, unique wilderness experiences, and more. You’ll definitely want to add Crete to your 2020 travel bucket list!

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Have any questions on traveling to Crete, Greece? Let me know in the comments below!

This post is in partnership with Fantasy Travel.

As always, all thoughts are my own.