Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands. It is located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea.
Crete can boast very many ancient monuments, a great nightlife , and some unique beaches. It sounds ideal for a holiday in the Greek islands, doesn’t it!
As well as very many ancient monuments, there are very many holiday resorts on Crete. One of them, Almyrida is a lovely fishing village and seaside resort in west Crete. You will find that most resorts were set up around or near the old traditional villages on the island. In Almyrida (as in many other resorts) there is highly-rated holiday accommodation available. Most hotels on Crete appear to have beautiful private pools right by the sea, for example.
The Almyrida resort is a good holiday destination for families. It sports quite a number of places to eat right on the waterfront, so for those holidaying Half Board, Bed & Breakfast or Self Catering it could be a very suitable and convenient place to stay. There are the usual traditional tavernas which serve the local catch of the day with homegrown salads and vegetables grown locally. You will find it hard to find fresher food than that anywhere else in the world. There are also several café style coffee bars at Almyrida which change into cocktail bars at dusk. This resort has remained small enough to still have quaint charm but is sufficiently big for a good choice of eating and drinking establishments. Is it sounding even more attractive now to you? In addition in Almyrida there are some water sports facilities like windsurfing, snorkeling and canoeing. Shops are dotted here and there in the fishing village for your daytime convenience, but in the evening village life is on the waterfront in the tavernas and bars. Traditional Cretan hospitality and friendliness is abundantly displayed there. You will be made to feel most welcome and treated well. Furthermore traditional Greek food is always served in generous portions so you will by no means go hungry either.
The beaches on Crete are well known for their beauty. Almyrida has two gently shelving ones which are perfectly safe for children. The beach is also very good for people with disabilities as it is easy to access from the road. The nightlife offers Karaoke, quizzes, live sport coverage and delicious cocktails, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. There is a Bank in a village 4 km away should you need one, which can be reached by walking along a pathway. This holiday would provide a really nice change from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life perhaps.
Elounda is a small fishing town on the northern coast of Crete. There is another of the very many holiday resorts on Crete here. Elounda is only 12 km away from the resort of Agios Nikolaos. It is a famous tourist attraction, frequently visited by VIP’s for its seaside luxury resorts.
Most of the holiday resorts on Crete offer the same facilities, accommodation and activities. It is for those planning a holiday on the island to take their pick really.
Gouves is yet another destination for holidays on Crete. It is situated in the east of the island. Gouves beaches are excellent and you will find many hotels and apartments there from which to choose your accommodation. Gouves is actually a large area which covers several smaller villages, including the popular holiday resort area of Kato Gouves (lower Gouves) and the traditional village of Pano Gouves (upper Gouves) which is built into the side of a small mountain. This position allows for spectacular views. Those from the zenith are breathtaking. The seaside resort is actually Kato Gouves. It is neither a village nor a town. It is an inhabited area which owes its development to tourism. In addition to all the usual holiday amenities, Gouves has mini golf, bike rentals and a medical clinic. Some of the rocky areas of the beaches at Gouves offer privacy, and there are wave-breakers to give smoother seas. Gouves is also close to the resorts of Stalis and Malia. The famous Crete aquarium is in this area too, and a former American Base, which may well interest you as a historical site. In addition (there are always additions!) there are Water Parks which will make the children happy. In the old village of Pano Gouves you will discover in the narrow alleys many old houses.
The resort of Horafakia is a tiny village with a big heart, about as far from the tourist trail as you can get, but it is a picturesque beauty spot of dusty mountains, seductive sands and brilliant blue skies. Horafakia is not very big but it has great charm. The beach has crystal-clear waters, where you could spend lazy days soaking up the sun.
Istron and Kalo Chorio holiday resorts in eastern Crete, close to the resort of Agios Nikolaos, are in another picturesque area. Accommodation in these resorts is highly recommended. Above the coast there are herb filled hillsides lying between orange groves. Live music is played at a couple of bars in Istron. The paced of life there is really slow. It is perfect and idyllic to take a holiday in Istron and Kalo Chorio. If you like donkeys too – most children do, don’t they – you will come across them in this holiday resort.
The resort of Kamilari is in south Crete. It is another traditional village there. It may not be on the sea but it is only a short distance from the local beaches. There is self catering accommodation in Kamilari which is very quaint and pretty and has a wonderful view of its surroundings. There is an archaeological site only 4 km away, and Kamilari is the ideal base to explore the lovely plain of Messara where there are more traditional villages, rich history and beautiful bays and beaches. The old houses of Kamilari are built of stone, with lovely courtyards, and brilliant bougainvillea climbing the walls. The village of Kamilari is typical of Cretan villages with a small main square, a church and a colorful kafeneia (coffee bar/coffee shop) full of character, frequented by locals and visitors alike. The holiday resort of Rethymnon is not far away. There are many cheap places to stay in Kamilari.
The holiday resort of Karteros is an organized beach area, and here too there is an archaeological site nearby. So many holiday resorts on Crete have archaeological sites nearby, simply because the island has so much history behind it. It is surely a great place to go for holidaymakers who are interested in ancient history.
Lyttos is an ancient Greek site. There was a considerable city there at one time, but Lyttos is now a village and a holiday resort called Lyttos Beach. Crete itself is a great island for site seeing. The resort of Lyttos is relatively newly built and does not have an overly party atmosphere, although you can find this nearly if you want.
Malia is one of the wildest holiday resorts in the whole of Greece. All of Europe’s young people go there on holiday. Once the sun has set Malia comes alive. It has a 5km coastline with some peaceful beaches. Needless to say, it has many, many places to stay with all sorts of accommodation, some with pool bars, DJ sets, pool table tennis and gyms. Many are ideal for young people to enjoy a holiday. A considerable number of hotels and apartments have balconies where holidaymakers can relax in the sun and take in the surrounding views. The staff in this resort are friendly, and there are some pools which have shaded areas around them to rest in. In addition some accommodation sites have lovely gardens with views of the amazing mountains behind and the deep blue sea in front. You could have a wonderful holiday here.
Piskopiano is another traditional old village with a panoramic view of the sea. This village lies on the slope of a mountain, so its very position alone makes for a great holiday resort. Go compare the deep blue sea of Crete with the grey sea of your homeland perhaps. Piskopiano is near Malia. The village itself is very, very pretty. There is a folk museum in this area which could be interesting to see. Piskopiano is surrounded by olive groves, the typical landscape of northern Crete. You could go bungee jumping and horse or donkey riding from this holiday resort amongst the many usual resort activities in Crete.
The resort of Stalis is only 3 km from Malia, but is more suitable for family holidays. The intensive tourist development of this area has resulted in three towns, which include Stalis and Malia, merging into a single coastal holiday resort about 10 km long full of hotels and apartments. Stalis does not share the wild nightlife of Malia however, but you can still have fun on holiday there, just at a quieter pace than that of its neighbor, Malia. Many of us might prefer this.
So there we have it – a mention of only some of the holiday resorts on Crete. There are many more but this is just a taste to tempt you to investigate further by yourself. Moreover, in most of the holiday resorts on Crete there is a plethora of accommodation to choose from. If Crete appeals to you, have a browse. You may well come up with a destination which grabs you.
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