The monastery of Moni Kapsa is situated on a bluff above the sea overlooking the island of Koufonisi. A rock spring in the courtyard of the monastery provides the thirsty visitor with wonderful fresh spring water.
Fort-like, the monastery sits on a hillside overlooking the Libyan Sea and is an oasis of tranquility on Crete’s southern coast, an experience not to be missed if you’re in the area.
A road leads to the entrance of the monastery, of which the full name is Timiou Prodromou Kapsa. A staircase then leads from the entrance up to the monastery courtyard, where a spring refreshes the thirsty guest.
The view of the sea is unique and endless, as it is only about 400 km to Africa. In the distance you can see the island of Koufonisi.
The monastery was destroyed by the Ottomans towards the end of the 18th century and was rebuilt in the mid-19th century. Today it still houses a valuable icon and various relics. The church is dedicated to St. John and the Trinity.
Appropriate clothing is desired.
With around 16,000 inhabitants, Ierapetra is the largest city on the south coast of Crete as well as the southernmost city in Europe.
Ierapetra is located at the narrowest part of Crete, which is only about fifteen kilometers from the south to the north coast. Due to its proximity to Libya and Egypt, the climate here is African. The average annual temperature is twenty degrees.
It is worth a walk along the fishing port. Here fishing nets dry on the stairs, small kafenions and bars invite you to rest and have a refreshing drink. The pretty old town with narrow streets lies around the fishing port with the clock tower, the port fort and small churches.
From the old town it is only a few steps to the long promenade along the waterfront, with cafes, taverns and ice cream parlours. Except some parts Ierapetra is dominated almost exclusively by modern buildings.
The surrounding area is used for growing vegetables and fruit in greenhouses, the main occupation of the residents. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants are mainly grown here. Together with the income from tourism, the region became one of the most prosperous on the island.
With its 12,000 inhabitants, Agios Nikolaos is the fourth largest town in Crete. The town is located on the beautiful Mirabello Bay, some 47 km east of the capital Heraklion and about 30 km west of Sitia. Heraklion gets its name from a 10th century church with a small dome dedicated to Saint Nikolaos. Unique and enchanting is the freshwater lake “Voulismeni,” located in the middle of the city and connected to the sea by a canal. The lake is surrounded by rocks on which the city itself was built. On top of these rocks you will find restaurants and cafes with beautiful panoramic views, but also around the lake cozy restaurants and bars invite you. The central shopping street offers not only tasteful and natural artisan items, but also fashion boutiques and other stores. A visit to the folklore museum and the internationally renowned and unique mineral and fossil store Talos are highly recommended.
Located in western Crete, Chania is the second largest city in Crete and the official beauty of the island. Between the winding streets of the old town and the picturesque Venetian harbor you will discover shops, restaurants and cafés during the day and a vibrant nightlife in the evening. Chania was Crete’s capital from 1841 to 1971, when it was replaced by Heraklion, but for insiders, Chania remains the number one.
Chania’s old town is one of the most beautiful in all of Greece. In narrow streets, houses in warm colours are lined up, all decorated with flowers, there are taverns, cafes and shops. Many of the buildings are reminiscent of the Venetian and Turkish occupations.
In addition to typical souvenirs, you can also buy handicrafts, jewellery, clothes and Cretan specialties. A highlight is the leather street, in which one leather shop follows the other.
Another highlight is the market hall, which offers everything the island has to offer on 4000 m²: the best island specialties, fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, cheese, herbs, olive oil or wine. If you have more time, you should stop off at one of the restaurants and cafes and enjoy the hustle and bustle around you.
The island of Koufonisi is located in the Libyan Sea, southeast of Crete, about 3.5 nautical miles southeast of Cape Goudoura and 10 nautical miles southeast of Makri Gialos. The boat therefore also departs from Makri Gialos. The sight of the turquoise and crystal clear sea alone is worth the boat trip. The ship then anchors off the island’s coast, giving you the chance to swim in these wonderfully silky waters.
As the ship approaches the island you will have a view of the pristine beaches, the impressive caves and the magical bays with rock formations formed by the sea water over the centuries.
Our ship docks on a wind-protected beach. Enjoy the time in this untouched nature. If you choose to hike, be aware that not all areas are accessible. The last beach paradises of Crete are protected accordingly, which should be respected.
On the way from Agios Nikolaos to Sitia and near the village of Exo Mouliana, a deep ditch stretches from the mountains to the sea. Rychti Gorge is considered a good training for non-experienced climbers. With a hiking time of 4-5 hours for the round trip and approx. 4 km one way, an altitude difference of approx. 350 meters is mastered. The absolute highlight is the approximately 20 meter high waterfall in the middle of the gorge, where fresh spring water and a small bathing pond provide badly needed cooling – a phenomenal sight.
You can either start hiking from the parking located near the entrance of the gorge in Exo Mouliana village and return there, or you can drive from the village down to the beach and hike up to the waterfall and back again, which is correspondingly less exhausting.
The trail is hard to miss, but sturdy shoes are recommended as you’ll be forced from time to time to climb over rocks, cross a creek, or climb rusty stairs.
The small coastal town of Elounda on the turquoise shimmering Gulf of Mirabello has long been considered a jewel among tourist centers. Long a favorite of Hollywood celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Lady Gaga, this quaint fishing village is home to both unspoilt, traditional areas and luxurious vacation castles that will take your breath away. Sophisticated luxury and authentic Greek living are just a few hundred meters apart, giving Elounda the atmosphere to suit every traveller.
Elounda has some of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, which means that when you visit you should find time to enjoy at least one, for example on the Kolokytha peninsula in unique scenery.
Here the sea shines like a sapphire under the azure light of the sky, pink on summer afternoons, silvered on moonlit nights. It is a sea whose light penetrates you gently but quickly and has the power to touch you emotionally. Here lovers of film art, graphics, music and poetry will find an extraordinary sight and lasting inspiration.
Olous is the old name for “Elounda” and was a Minoan town of about 40,000 inhabitants. Due to a volcanic eruption on Santorini and the gradual sinking of the soil in eastern Crete, this town has now largely sunk under the sea. Archaeologists have recovered statues, vases and coins engraved with the name Olous, as well as ancient texts connecting the city to Knossos and the island of Rhodes. The town can be admired from the countryside, by swimming or snorkelling.
Starting from Sitia in eastern direction, you will find the monastery of Toplou in about 15 km distance. The monastery, lying on a plateau, can be seen from afar, looking like a fortress amidst the Cretan landscape. It’s fortified appearance also gave the monastery its name ‘Toplou’, from ‘top’, the Turkish word for canon.
The monastery of Toplou was founded in the 14th century, but had been destroyed and rebuilt several times during the past. In the fight against the Ottomans and later in World War II, the monastery served as a shelter for the
Greek resistance fighters. Today, however, the monastery presents itself to the visitor in renovated splendor.
In the monastery church, which is dedicated to Panagia Akrotiriani (Virgin Mary from the Cape of Rock), you can still admire frescoes from the 14th century. Moni Toplous greatest treasure is the great icon ‘Megas ei Kyrie’ (You are almighty, o Lord), by Ioannis Kornaros in 1770. The monastery museum shows more icons, manuscripts, church utensils and vestments. Products such organic wine, olive oil, honey, soap and raki of their own production are sold in the monastery shop.
The aquarium in Crete is situated in the place now called Thalassocosmos and it is a meeting point where science, discovery and recreation take place. Since the opening of the aquarium in December 2005, there have been more than 100,000 visitors.
Up to four thousand marine organisms were introduced into the aquarium where they will spend their lives within specially designed and constructed tanks containing 1.6 million
liters of seawater, and visible to the public through 300 m2 of glass or transparent acrylic materials. Some very small organisms, such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, eggs, larvae, are visible by means of gigantic screens that the visitor can manipulate without difficulty.
There are coffee shops at both the entrance and exit of the aquarium.
The Palace of Knossos was built between 2100 and 1800 BC., destroyed probably by an earthquake around 1700 BC. And rebuilt larger and more magnificent later. The ruins that can still be visited today are from the “new” palace.
The oldest European civilization, the Minoans, built this palace, which expressed their strength as an important sea power in splendor and wealth.
The palace was a superlative these days. The Palace of Knossos should have had an estimated 1300 rooms and up to 5 floors. The converted area was approx. 21,000 square meters. It is particularly noteworthy that the palace is said to have had running water. Living rooms were heated by hot water heatings. Bathrooms had hip baths and flush toilets installed. Every drop of rain was caught and collected in cisterns.
The tax receipts were also kept in the palace. Knossos was comparatively wealthy, so there was no shortage of honey, olive oil and grain, which were collected in ancient clay jars in the palace pantries.
It is recommended to combine the palace with a visit to the Archaeological Museum, which houses a model of the palace as well as numerous artefacts.
Opening hours:
November to March: 08:00 – 15:00
April: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m
May to October: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m
Entrance fee: 15 euros
To protect the port of Spinalonga, the Venetians built a powerful fortress in the late 16th century. Its massive walls still rise from the rocks, against which the water of the Aegean Sea crashes, sometimes smoothly, sometimes with tremendous force. At the beginning of the 18th century the castle was ceded to the Ottomans and by the end of the 19th century Spinalonga had over 1,100 Muslim inhabitants. However, when Crete declared its independence in 1903, the inhabitants had to leave the island.
At the end of the 19th century, the Cretan government decided to set up an isolated leper colony on the island, which brought Spinalonga a macabre notoriety. From its dissolution in 1957 to this day, visitors have flocked to the island for a glimpse of island life.
While many of the sick had to live as outcasts far from the settlements, they received treatment here and a roof over their heads among like-minded people. Medicine, mail and groceries were brought from Crete to the island every day and despite the illness, the islanders created a normal life in a village with infrastructure. The lepers lived on the island for many years without ever being allowed to go to the nearby mainland, until 1953, when the first effective drugs against leprosy were used.
Countless excursion boats commute every day between the island and the towns of Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and Plaka.
In Minoan times, around 3500 years ago, Heraklion was the port of the Minoan palace settlement of Knossos. Centuries later the Greeks gave the city its current name which derives from the mythical hero Heracles (Hercules). In Venetian times the city was called Candia and was the administrative center of the Serenissima. Between 1851 and 1971 it had to cede its function as the capital to Chania, today it is again clearly the administrative and economic center of the island. Its port and airport are the most important on the island; many international cruise ships also dock here.
The historic center is particularly worth visiting in Heraklion. The famous Lion’s Fountain from Venetian times, the Loggia and the churches of Agios Minas and Agios Titus are among the most magnificent buildings, all within easy reach by foot, especially since many previously busy streets have been turned into pedestrian zones.
On the way numerous, partly international shops invite you to stroll, and of course nothing can be better than having a rest in one of the small taverns or cafés and watching the hustle and bustle in peace.
At one of the last large bays of the north coast and in the far east of the island, the town and port of Sitia is located. The narrow streets and houses spread like terraces overlooking the fishing port, where colorful ‘Kaikia’, the local fishing boats rock smoothly on the waves.
Narrow alleys lead through the centre, crossing bigger roads and ending up at the Venetian castle “Kasarma” (Casa di Arma). For those, interested in history there is also an archeological and a folklore museum.
Otherwise the palm-lined promenade, the fishing port and the old town invite you to stroll.
Whoever rests in one of the small taverns will experience the famous Cretan hospitality close up.
A national airport is located on a plateau near the town, from the port ferries offer connections to Heraklion, Kassos and Karpathos.
The fishing village of Mochlos on a spit of land in the east of the Gulf of Mirabello, on the northeastern coast of Crete..
There’s not a lot going on in Mochlos, but that’s the main reason guests come. Mochlos lures with a relaxed Cretan atmosphere, hectic is unknown here.
This is also because there are no sandy beaches in and around Mochlos. Snorkeling fans, on the other hand, will have a lot of fun exploring the many rocky reefs around the place.
In Mochlos people are dedicated to guests. There are seaside taverns that are supplied by the local fishermen. In addition, the area is ideal for hikers.
In ancient times, Mochlos was a port city. At that time, paths were laid to connect the villages with the coastal town. Opposite the village is an island with the ruins of a Minoan settlement, so if you are interested in history, you should take a boat trip to the offshore island.
Malia is one of the major tourist centers of Crete, 35 km east of Heraklion. The fertile plain in which the town is situated is famous for its delicious small bananas, which are grown in the greenhouses in the area. The valley used to have many springs and windmills used to water the local potato crops.
The long and gently sloping sandy beach is legendary, as well as the very lively nightlife. In the early morning you may see mainly young British coming out of one of the numerous clubs, then either on their way to the hotel or directly to the beach.
Apart from the wild nightlife, Malia is famous for the archaeological site of the third largest Minoan Palace in Crete, which is located at the east end of the town. This palace belonged to Sarpedon, brother of the legendary King Minos.
In addition, in the old village of Malia (next to the church of St. Nektarios) you can stroll in the narrow traditional streets or visit one of the small traditional taverns.
Dolores sunt aliquid. Facilis eum eum quam. Perferendis est omnis quia voluptas quos rerum officia et. Qui rerum voluptatibus. Molestiae pariatur officiis ducimus excepturi. Mollitia dolorem aut et id aut vero harum optio expedita. Quas nulla aut laboriosam velit earum cum corrupti quibusdam alias. Reiciendis ducimus labore dolore consectetur aut. In provident voluptatem rerum est eum nemo. Eum aperiam sequi ex modi nisi perspiciatis vel ut. Qui eligendi aut et sed et unde vitae adipisci. Aliquam labore eum. Cupiditate ea expedita. Optio quo aut quidem. Error exercitationem sequi natus at nesciunt est ut vel. Cupiditate ut amet cumque impedit aspernatur.
