Although in Minoan times and Antiquity, Dia Island was the main port of Crete, today, the island no longer serves its navigational purposes. Instead, it is a protected nature reserve, part of the Natura 2000 ecological network. Dia Island: Natura 2000 Protected Site The island has a typical Mediterranean
October is the so-called “shoulder season” to visit Crete. The first half of the month will be sunny, with temperature averages around 24°C (75.2°F) and water still warm enough to swim, especially if you wear a full-length wetsuit. You can expect slightly lower temperatures, wind, and some
Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and the island’s capital. It is vibrant and lively in the summer months during the tourist season and seems like it never sleeps. Especially the tavernas and cafes in the historic city centre stay up until dawn, welcoming tourists with authentic Cretan fare,
August 15 is one of the most significant Greek Orthodox celebrations of the year: the Dormition of the Mother of God, known as the Assumption of Mary in Western Christianity. It is so important that in some parts of Greece, it is referred to as the “summer Easter” sometimes. Although
Fodele’s golden beach stretches on both sides of the river mouth of Pantomantris (Fodelianos) in the Fodele Bay, northern Crete. The western part of the beach belongs to Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort, while the east side is public. The entire beach is primarily sandy, with a few
When is Easter in Crete in 2022? Suppose you plan to experience the Greek Orthodox Easter in Crete in 2022. In that case, you should arrive early enough to observe the celebrations held on Good Friday – April 22 – and all the traditions culminating on Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Pascha)
Spring is the perfect season for hiking in Crete because the weather is mild, and trekking the mountains and canyons is more pleasant than in the summer when the scorching sun makes hikes challenging. The best spring months for hiking in Crete are April and May. While the first half of April may still
Heraklion itself is a living museum: as you stroll down its streets, you will discover fantastic street art created by foreign and local artists, sculptures, monuments, Venetian architecture, and much more. And all the museums in Heraklion are family-friendly if you are interested in visiting them, but
Vasilópita (Βασιλόπιτα), Greece’s famed New Year’s treat, is, depending on the Greek region it originates from, either a sweet bread or cake, always with a “lucky coin” or trinket at its core. This tradition is rooted in a legend telling of St. Basil surprising poor families with
Winters in Crete are usually mild but wet: it rains a lot along the coastline, but the deeper you adventure on the island, you will find snow on the highest peaks of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), Dikti Mountains, and on Mount Ida (Psiloritis). At lower altitudes, snowfall is rare, but you should
