Holidays to North East Crete

Heraklion is the modern capital city of the island and always buzzing. This Venetian port city and eastern capital is dominated by the 16th-century Koules fortress. Visit the famous Minoan civilization’s Palace of Knossos nearby and the Archaeological Museum. Relax and people-watch in the squares and swim at nearby beaches.

Elounda, one hour’s drive to the east of Heraklion Airport, is a well known small village resort with pretty pebble beaches, a relaxed upmarket atmosphere and a cluster of luxury hotels to either side. Visit Spinalonga island just offshore (an ex-leper colony) and swim over the sunken city of Olous. Close by is bustling Aghios Nikolaos with its pretty fishing harbour.

A very scenic 90 minute drive above the sea from Elounda, Sitia is a small working town in the far east and topped by a Venetian fort. Thankfully too far from the airport to have been developed seriously for tourism, the main income here is still derived from agriculture and fishing. Boasting a fine sandy town beach and a handsome harbour lined with cafes and fish restaurants, Sitia is an excellent base for exploring the far east of Crete, its hidden monasteries and beaches (famous Vai is not far away).

Zaros shows another face of Crete. Nestled in the mountains inland from Heraklion and famous for its spring water, Zaros is an attractive, very traditional Cretan village with several fine Byzantine monasteries in the area. It is an excellent walking centre (Rouvas Gorge) and local attractions include Votomos Lake and farm-raised trout.