Crete
Crete had the perfect amount of a little bit of everything. Shocking nightlife, great food, hookah spots, Caribbean like beaches, hidden alley ways, and to top it all off- it's cheap! Here's how we truly thrived on Greece's largest island.
What part of the island should you stay in?
This was part one in the decision making process for Crete. As it is a huge island, you have to decide which area in specific you want to stay in because it is simply not possible to see it all unless you have at least 10 days or so. Heraklion is the main city with the largest airport and is closest to the historical sites of the island. Elounda is the touristy part of the island, more to the east, where you will find nice beaches and huge, high end hotels (see: Blue Palace). Then there is Chania, on the western side of the island, with historic charm, proximity to world class beaches and dramatic natural scenery. We stayed in the heart of Crete's second largest city for the three days we had on the island.
How to get to the island when you've been on too many planes: Blue Star Ferry
I love cruises, and this is just about as close as I have gotten to going on one in the past eight years or so. We drove down to Piraeus for our 9 pm ferry, arriving a couple hours before. I had never done one of these massive ferry trips in Europe before, so the whole process was new. Entering the boat means walking in through the back alongside the massive trucks and cargo loads, going up 3 escalators, then finally walking down a long hallway to the reception. Once we got there, we showed our passports, and just like at a hotel, they gave us our keys and a bellman escorted us to our cabin. The cabin gives you what you need, two beds, a bathroom and a TV, all for $90 for the 10 hour ferry ride. You could also chose to ride across the Aegean by booking only a seat, which honestly was not that bad for $30. We had an average dinner on board, walked around then called it a night to get ready for our early arrival.
Getting to Crete on ferry was a great choice, and I highly recommend it. Even my anti-big-boat girlfriend was a fan!
Where to have Greek food with Cheesecake Factory sized portions: 630 Mezedoscholeion
Walking around the town of Crete is a joy, but, just as is the case in any Mediterranean city, there are some parts that are much more touristy than others. That applies to the port of Chania, so we did our best to avoid eating there as much as possible even though our hotel was right behind the port. We ended up stumbling on this street, Chatzimichali Ntaliani (don't try pronouncing it, just use your imagination), that was literally overflowing with locals, along with a sprinkle of a few tourists. We decided to eat at this restaurant (I don’t feel like typing the name again, apologies) and we were not disappointed at all. The place was cheap, delicious and did not mess around with portion sizes. After a day of traveling, an excess of meat, tzatziki, khoumus (that’s how hummus should be pronounced in Greece otherwise the genius waiters will have no idea what you're talking about) was a very, very welcome site.
Where to go when you miss the Caribbean: Elafonissi Beach
About an hour and a half from Chania (if you don’t get lost) is one of the most beautiful beaches I have been to in Europe, if not the most (Sardinia provides stiff competition). Drive down a dirt road to the beach and find a spot, then make your way to the pink sand beaches that make Elafonissi famous around the world. The further you walk, the less crowded it gets, especially if you make your way to the island that is connected by a shallow channel. The water is perfectly clear and turquoise blue, but don’t expect to see anything underwater (wasted $10 on snorkeling gear). We ended up finding a cove almost entirely to ourselves and enjoyed a few hours lounging around, having mojitos and sandwiches that we bought on the way to the beach. Definitely, definitely a must visit while on Crete.
Where to sample the national drink in the middle of the mountains: House of Raki
This became one of the most memorable parts of our time in Crete. We stopped on the side of the road at a small stand because we had kept seeing them on the way to the beach so we figured why not. We were greeted by two charismatic Greek guys and ended up sampling about a dozen different types of Raki, along with different honeys, wine and olive oils. We bought some Raki for later, along with honey, and it was an experience I will always remember.
What to do when there's nothing to do: Get lost
Chania's Old Town is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe, with incredible architectural diversity, great food, colorful buildings, stunning views and a lively crowd. We fell in love with the city by finding hole in the walls everywhere, laughing with locals, singing with Greek musicians, and just engaging with this adorably small town. We walked basically every street possible in the town and at no point were we disappointed. Chania's natural beauty may lure you out of the town but because of how big Crete is, that will take a full day along with all your energy, so I definitely recommend leaving a day or two to do absolutely nothing. Walk into museums (the Archaeological Museum is nice), sample food at a market (the Old Chania Market is the largest in the old town), walk around to the lighthouse, see an art exhibit in a Mosque-just enjoy the beauty of the simplicity. And while the harbor may be touristy, it still is stunning, and we ended up getting drinks and hookah there on one of our nights out. Usually I like to be as active as possible, but I am so beyond glad we decided to enjoy the city in its entirety while in Chania.
Crete quickly became one of my favorite places in the world because of how surprisingly charming, entertaining and naturally beautiful it was. We actually skipped Santorini in order to see Crete instead and not only did we love Crete, but also saved a TON of money. Go to Crete!