Crete is not only the largest of the many Greek islands, but also the most interesting of them. It is the largest economic, cultural and historical center of Greece. It was here that the oldest civilization in Europe, the Minoan, was born. The first settlements on the island that arose more than 9,000 years ago attract thousands of tourists to Crete every year who want to join the pages of the ancient history of this beautiful island.
The most beautiful places of Crete will give vivid impressions with their splendor and stunning views. The island and its attractions will appeal to tourists who value a relaxing and relaxing holiday.
10. Knossos and the Palace of Knossos
The most beautiful and famous places of Crete include the ancient city Knossos and Knossos palace. They can be called a visiting card of the island. During its heyday, the city was the most influential settlement in the Mediterranean. Building technologies and engineering solutions used to create the city and the Palace of Knossos are amazing and surprising. The ancient Minoans built multi-storey buildings with natural and artificial lighting, a ventilation system, water supply, sewage and heating.
The Knossos palace, despite the fact that almost all ruins remained from it, and now it amazes with its grandeur and beauty. It is so huge that in ancient times it was a real city with a huge number of rooms, halls, terraces. In the palace were the bullring and the amphitheater. Knossos Palace is known to the whole world primarily due to the legend of the Minotaur, who lived in a giant labyrinth, built on the orders of the legendary King Minos.
9. Samaria Gorge
Samaria Gorge - one of the most beautiful places in Crete. This is the largest gorge in Europe, reaching a length of 13 kilometers. Now it is a national park, which anyone can visit. Among the many plants growing in the Samaria Gorge, you can admire the rare Cretan endemic. A popular tourist route runs through the gorge. It is better to visit this beautiful attraction of Crete in the spring, because in the summer the suffocating heat reigns in the gorge.
8. Lake Kournas
Some of the most beautiful places in Crete include Kournas lake. It is the largest freshwater body of the island. The lake with clear water of turquoise color is located among low mountains. For tourists on the beach there are sun loungers with umbrellas. Here you can spend peace and quiet all day, enjoying the surrounding views. Those who wish can go on a catamaran for a walk along the lake to see the turtles living in it.
7. Lassithi Plateau
Lassithi Plateau —One of the beautiful places of Crete, where you can admire the many windmills. Here is another popular attraction of the island - Dikteyskaya cave, in which, according to ancient legends, Zeus was born. Since ancient times, it was considered a cult place. The cave is famous for stalactites and stalagmites covering its vault and floor. The cave trail offers magnificent views of the Lassithi Plain.
6. Vulismeni
In the city of Agios Nikolaos, there is one of the most beautiful places in Crete - a lake with an almost perfect round shape. It's called Vulismeni and is the second largest freshwater body of the island. According to local traditions, it was this lake that the ancient Greek goddess Athena Pallas chose as her bathing place. The lake is fed by underwater sources, so after the construction of the canal connecting the reservoir and the sea, the lower layers of Vulismeni remained fresh. On the eastern side of the lake are numerous city restaurants and cafes.
5. The fortified island of Spinalonga
Continues the list of the most beautiful places in Crete fortified island of Spinalonga. The fortress has a long and tragic history. It was laid in the XVI century to protect against pirates and invaders. At various times, the island belonged to the Venetian merchants and Turks. With the onset of the 20th century, the fortress changed its purpose - it was turned into a leper colony, into which lepers were brought from all over Greece. When visiting Spinalonga, it is recommended to have a hat with you - there is no shelter from the scorching sun on the island.
4. Balos Bay
Balos Bay - A place of amazing beauty in Crete. As the locals say, the waters of three seas are found here, so at different times of the day the water in the bay acquires up to 17 shades. Here is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. Its bottom is completely sandy. Although the beach is “wild” and is not equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, it is very popular. Tourists are attracted not only by the beauty of the bay and beach, but also by the ancient Gramvousa fortress located here.
3. Elafonisi
Another of the stunning beauty of the beaches of Crete - Elafonisi. It is famous for its pink sand. Sand got a pink shade due to the presence of fragments of coral, shells and sea shells in it. Transparent clear water, a shallow depth of the sea and an unusual color of sand made the beach one of the most popular places on the island. The beach is located on a small island 100 meters away from the coast of Crete, which allows fording to ebb at low tide.
2. Matala Beach
Some of the most beautiful places in Crete include Matala beach. It is located in the bay of Messara. The beach is interesting because caves were cut down in the rocks surrounding it in antiquity. It is assumed that at first the ancient people lived in them, and later, in the Byzantine era, they were used for burial. In the period of early Christianity, caves became a refuge for followers of Jesus. Now the caves are deserted and open to the public.
1. Vai Beach
One of the most beautiful places in Crete - vai beachlocated on the territory of the national park of the same name. The park is famous for the fact that a unique forest of the endemic Theofrast palm trees grows here. There are several local versions of the appearance of the forest. According to one of them, it was planted in ancient times by the Phoenicians, according to another - by pirates. According to scientists, nobody planted a palm forest - date palms have been on the island since ancient times.
Vai beach is very popular among guests of Crete, despite the fact that the seabed is not sandy, but rocky.