Getting around in Crete is simple! Crete is very well organised for travellers, and there are excellent coach, taxi and ferry services, as well as a good quality road system. The roads are a little smaller in the rural areas, and signage is almost non-existent, so you know you are having a real adventure. That’s fine, those experienced travellers amongst us wouldn’t have it any other way and actually look to get
off the beaten track. Well, one really can still do that in Crete, and because it is the
largest Greek island with large mountain ranges and undeveloped coastlines, you will sometimes feel you are the only ones around, or you are discovering something for the first time! Of course, being one of the first inhabited locations in
Europe, the odds of that are pretty small, but the feeling of freedom is still real and exhilarating.
Oh to visit Cretan beaches, lying peacefully in the sun! With so many wonderful beaches, it is hard to choose. Which is your favourite? Life on the beach can be busy, social or relaxed. There are wild beaches with surf, or calm inlets without a ripple. There are comfortable beaches with sunlounges, tavernas, cafés and restaurants, or isolated beaches with the wind in your hair. The beautiful Mediterranean sparkles and glows blue, blue, blue. Distances become fractured, the light plays with our senses and our memories... the atmosphere expands and shimmers, opening our hearts. Crete has many clean Blue Flag beaches where issues such as water quality, litter and environmental education are looked after to high standards. This rating also includes safety and environmental management issues, meaning a great beach experience for swimmers! Crete has
300 days of sunshine on average every year, so it makes beach going very high on our list of things to do. With swimming from April to November, Crete has one of the longest seasons in the region.
A large proportion of visitors to Crete arrive in Heraklion, the capital of Central Crete. This large town is mainly an important economic focal point in Crete. The hilly hinterland is well known for its abundance of vineyards.The region is very important archaeologically and not only because of the Minoan palace of Knossos. The whole region is dominated by the Ida mountains and Dikti in the eastern part. Central Crete and essentially the North coast is by far the main tourism centre of Crete with more than half of all the accommodation of the whole island located there.The region of Sfakia, in the South West of Crete is one of the more traditional regions of the island. Located on the southern slope of the White Mountains, it combines high mountains which drop steeply into the Libyan sea, deep gorges and a wealth of unspoilt natural beauty. Sfakia is the famous and most authentic region of Crete. Here you can find the last pieces of the old Cretan culture and nature, far away from mass tourism. Whether you are looking for peace and quiet on the natural beaches, or want to be active, with mountain hiking, swimming, diving and fishing.
Plakias is the perfect holiday spot, located on the south coast of Crete.
It is not too large, and so retains the traditional Cretan friendliness, but it is big enough to have a good range of accommodation, tavernas, shops etc. The beautiful south facing curved bay in which it sits is ideal for swimming and sunbathing (nudists / naturists are catered for at the far end of the bay). The hills behind provide wonderful walks, on trails through the olive groves and beyond. Chania (Hania) is a city of great history, since many Arabs, Venetians and Turks have walked through its alleys. As a result, the architectural influence of the Old Quarter of the city by these three cultures is obvious. Heraklion, is the biggest city and the capital of the island. The area, apart from the newly-built towns of Timbaki, Moires, Kasteli Pediados, Arkalohori, is one of the richest in sights in Crete with the amazing palaces from the Minoan Period of Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia and the city of Heraklion. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion houses the best collection of Minoan artefacts world-wide and its visit is a must. Further away there are also some wonderful Minoan palaces at Phaestos, Malia and Zakros.
Throughout Greece, naturism is only allowed in a few licensed areas but it is tolerated in a number of places. Most of these places are quiet, remote beaches or coves. The situation might change suddenly (often when a beach canteen is built a "No nudism" sign will appear) or seasonally (for example at weekends and in July and August when many Greek families go to the beach) so do use your common sense. Remember that you are a guest in this country and avoid deliberately shocking your hosts. Crete is still a deeply traditional place and being nude on a beach may embarrass the locals. Topless sunbathing is fine almost everywhere, unless the beach is situated right in a village. One of possibly the best areas to go is to
Plakias in the south of the island of Crete where FKK is usually permitted in the eastern part of the sandy Damnoni Beach. This nudist beach is located about 2km from the centre of Plakias, is surrounded by dunes and has a gentle gradient sandy beach running out to sea. It is ideal for families with children and attracts predominantly completely naked bathing. Another nude beach is Amoudi Beach which located 1km further along the coast
