Where to go what to see

Balos beach-lagoon is located on the northwestern corner of Crete, 53 km from the city of Chania. Balos is an exotic beach-lagoon formed between the peninsula of Gramvousa and cape Tigani. Since the road to Balos is full of rocks and dangerous cliffs, Balos beach and lagoon can be reached ONLY by cruise ship that departs from the port of Kissamos. DRIVING TO BALOS BY CAR IS FORBIDDEN SINCE THE CAR INSURANCE WILL NOT BE VALID IN CASE OF ANY DAMAGES.

Giali Tzami was built during the 2nd half of the 17th century. It is a unique sample of Islamic art of Renaissance.

The Egyptian Lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in the world, prevails in the old Port of Chania.

An important place for walk and pleasure. It was designed in 1870 and planted with many evergreen plants and trees. The visitor can see animals like Kri-Kri, peacocks, ducks & many birds. In the garden the historic Café “Kipos”, member of the European Historic Café Association, has been operation continuously since 1870, having served as well, as the Parliament of Cretan State (9/12/1898).

A large building of 4000 m2 in the center of the city. Its foundation started on the 14th of August 1911 and the construction of the building was completed during the 2nd half of 1913.

Little known by foreign tourists the graves of Venizelos, located in a small park on a hill overlooking Chania are very much worth a visit, if only for the superb view that you get. The spot on the hill of Prophitis Ilias (after the name of the 15th century church located there) is the resting place of one of the most illustrious Greek (and Cretan!) stateman, Eleftherios Venizelos and of his son Sophoklis.

Located in Akrotiri with a panoramic view of the city of Chania. A meeting place for locals and a top rated hang-out by most tourist guides , "Koukouvaya" cafe was established in 1997 and has since become a landmark , together with the neighbouring Prophet Elias church and the Venizelos statesmen family graves. Only a ten-minute drive from the town centre, "Koukouvaya" serves coffee , drinks , salads , omelettes , pastries and ice-cream from 10am till late at night.

Once you try one of the desserts you will keep coming back for more!

A small peninsula is formed between the two beaches and there is a nice park, which is ideal for walking.

The Sand beach, in combination with shallow water and the protection from wind is ideal for families and children.

The lagoon-like bay has marvelous white sand and shallow turquoise waters. It is famous, because there was filmed scenes for the film “Zorba the Greek”, where Anthony Quinn danced the famous Sirtaki Dance in 1964.

Located in the western part of Cape Gramvousa, Falassarna bay is one of the most famous beaches in Greece, which has been awarded as the best beach of Crete and one of the 10 best beaches in Europe. The sand is Falassarna is white, making the water color tropical.

Elafonisi is a Natura 2000 protected area. The island is full of dunes with sand lilies and jupiners. The endangered turtles caretta caretta and several rare animals nest on the island and it is strictly forbidden to remove and plants, animals and sand from the area.

The sand is pinkish in many places, taking its color from thousands of broken shells. Near the “breaking” point of the peninsula, the water does not exceed 1m, creating a small lagoon, ideal for children. You can easily cross the lagoon in order to reach the “island”.

Nearly 20 hectares of land full of fruit trees from all over the world, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants in a park different from others, where the land’s formation and the region’s microclimate make it a paradise for hundreds of plants and animals.

In the midst of the colorful and vivid landscape stands a burnt centennial olive tree, a memorial and reference to dismal fires of 2003, the park’s history and origin.

The history village of Therisso is located at the top of the Therisso gorge. Thee 14km drive up the gorge is considered spectacular and is popular with Chania residents for the cooler temperatures. It is the birthplace of the mother of Eleftherios Venizelos who in 1905 organized the Revolutionary Assembly that precipitated the independence of Crete and its union with Greece.

The Samaria gorge is the longest one in Europe. It is an area of stunning natural beauty. Rare flora and fauna have survived in this area and are protected. The mountains that have formed it are wild, high and steep. One will pass through forests of ancient cypresses and pines and descend between vertical cliffs. The path starts from Xyloskalo (near Omalos) in the White Mountains at an altitude of 1230 meters and comes to an end at the village of Agia Roumeli at the Libyan sea. Walking through the gorge usually takes anything from 3 to 5 hours (excluding the breaks).

Lake Kournas os one of the only two lakes in Crete and covers a total area of about 160,000 square meters with a depth of up to 25 meters. The name is derived from the Arabic word for lake. Dense vegetation surrounds the scenic lake and the southeastern bank is lined with a beautiful beach.

Hora Sfakion is famous of one the centers of resistance against the occupying forces of both Venetians and Turks.

Fragokastelo is one of the most famous beaches of Crete, because of the Venetian castle on the beautiful beach and the legendary ghosts of the Drosoulites. The main beach is beautiful with sand and shallow turquoise waters, ideal for children.

The 3rd larger city of Crete maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its building dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, the small Venetian harbor and narrow streets.

Just south of Topolia, at an altitude of 400 meters is Cave of Agia Sofia.

The Chamber of the cave is very large and measures 100 by 100 meter and it is 20 meter high with beautiful (and some enormous) stalagmites and stalactites that come in different shapes. Artefacts from the Neolithic times were found in the cave.

There is also a small church in the cave named after an icon that originates from a temple in Constantinople.

The village of Melidoni and the cave were named after Antonios Melidonis, one of the protagonists of the rebellion against the Turks in 1824 when 250 unarmed villagers, including women and children, were suffocated when the entrance was sealed and fires lit by the Turks.

According to mythology Talos lived here!

Gerontospilios is very important due to the archeological findings.

The cave’s history goes back to the late Neolithic period, as indicated by the various Neolithic tools and items found inside it. Among the findings is double copper axe was found dating back to this period. During the Roman period the cave was used as a sanctuary of “Taleos Hermes” and sacrifices were performed here to honor him.

The centre of Minoan civilisation and capital of Minoan Crete lay 5km south of Heraklion. Knossos flourished for approximately two thousand years. It had large palace buildings, extensive workshop installations and luxurious rock-cut cave and tholos tombs. As a major centre of trade and the economy, Knossos maintained ties with the majority of cities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli or Plenix, is located at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotikos Gorge, where the Great River (Megas Potamos) is flowing.

During the 60s and 70s, it was a favorite destination for hippies.

The river forms a large lake, 1,5 km long, before emptying in the sea. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other cold ponds formed in the gorge.

At the exit of the river, a sandy beach with pebbles and sand is formed, with sea water being very cool due to the river.

Marathokefala in the community of Spilia, Kolymvari, is a few hundred meters away from the bear’s cave and a little higher than the bed of the gorge. It has a rich decoration in many places with large stalactites and stalagmites.

The Monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) of Tzagarolon monastery as it is known, is one of the most impressive monasteries you will see in Crete.

It is a Monastery which is directly under the control of the Ecumenical Patriarch rather than the local bishop of metropolitan. The Monastery of Agia Triada is really well worth visiting, combining your visit with Gouverneto Monastery just a few kilometers away.

Walking down the footpath from Gouverneto Monastery through the Avlaki Gorge in a wild and beautiful landscape, you will see, in about 40 minutes’ walk, the ruined Katholiko Monastery (Moni Katholikou) or Monastery of St. John the Hermit, or simply Katholiko.

The buildings probably date to shortly after 1600, but tradition says that there was a much earlier monastery here, the oldest in Crete. Next to the ruined but still impressive buildings is the cave of St. John the Hermit, who is thought to have come here from Egypt.

This was the retreat of St. John the Hermit, who lived off wild greens ion the winter and carobs in the summer. Legend has it that, near the end of his life, he was no longer strong enough to walk upright, due to his poor diet and the hardships of the ascetic life.

One day a distant hunter mistook him for an animal, as he was walking all crouched up, and injured him with his arrows.

The injured saint returned to his cave and breathed his last lying on a rock, not as “St John’s bed”. If you follow the path for another ten minutes you will come to the sea, in a tiny deep cove with aquamarine waters. It may once have been used as a harbor and has its own legend.