The vibrant seaside city of Heraklion, being a unique patchwork of different historical periods, provides excellent options for recreation, entertainment, educational walks and culinary adventures ensuring that its visitors will surely enjoy every bit of their stay.

If lying on a beautiful beach sums up your ideal holiday experience, then you are at the right place. The southern coast of Heraklion region features the most stunning beaches of the island, ideal for all types of travellers. Leave your worries behind and head towards the beaches Aspes, Kaminaki and Matala – offering beautiful natural settings, they attract every year visitors from all over the world.

Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is also known as the heart of the island’s civilization. Right in the city center, two extraordinary museums are waiting to be explored. Get ready for a strong cultural dose!

Heraklion is the perfect place for oenophiles, producing more than 70% of Cretan wines. Known for its long tradition in wine production since antiquity, Peza area id blessed with verdant vineyards and lush valleys. Its climate and soil guarantee the fine quality of its spirits and a visit there will give you the opportunity to indulge in wine tasting tours and seminars so that you become an exceptional connoisseur.

In just 20 minutes drive from Heraklion city, you will get the lifetime opportunity of visiting one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece. The beautiful Palace of Knossos, with its complex and unique architecture, invites you to explore the secrets and mysteries of the ‘oldest town in Europe’. The Palace was the administrative center of the Minoan civilization, one of the greatest civilizations that ever existed, and its grandeur created myths and stories that are still very much alive (just think of the myth of Daedalus and Icarus or Theseus and Ariadne – it all happened here). The site has been partially reconstructed by Sir Arthur Evans, the head of the excavations, at the beginning of the 20th century, giving an interesting (but, sadly, not accurate) idea of how the original Palace might have looked like.

Opening Hours:
– 01 Apr. – 31 Oct.: Mon-Sun, 08:00-20:00
– 01 Nov. – 31 Mar.: Mon-Sun, 08:00-17:00

If you are curious to find out how life goes by in a traditional Cretan village, then be prepared to blend in with women embroidering, men harvesting and students drinking raki at narrow alleyways. Pay a visit to the mountainous Village of Acharnes, a settlement that has been awarded as an archetypical village from the European Union for its long term restoration plan. Get impressed by its authentic atmosphere, beautiful houses, cobblestone streets and olive presses.

Heraklion is home to the most significant port of Crete, offering a wide range of cruises and sailing tours. If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and leave all your worries behind, then there is an exciting adventure waiting for you at the waterfront. Get in a yacht and experience the one-day sailing tour in the small island of “Dias” to explore the most unspoiled side of northern Crete. Dive in the crystal clear waters of this isolated islet right opposite Heraklion city and admire the beauty of the north coast while enjoying the breathtaking view to the infinite blue sea.

If you feel like tasting some local delights that would satisfy even the most selective connoisseur, then you just discovered your own little paradise.
Experience the authentic Cretan cuisine that has gained acclaim as one of the healthiest diets in the world.
Its secret lies in the fine quality of its fresh ingredients and intoxicating spices and herbs.
The renowned Cretan olive oil is known as ‘liquid gold’, while the island’s vegetables like tomatoes and peppers stand out for their mind-blowing taste. The wide variety of Cretan cheeses like “graviera”, “mytzithra” and “staka”, provide a solid reason why Crete comes first in the world cheese consumption. Toping it off with the famous Cretan wines and the typical local spirit “raki”, what more could you ask from a gastronomic paradise?

Among the numerous local recipes and delicacies, the absolute 3 must-try dishes in Crete, are:

• Kallitsounia: Delicious, small pastries, filled with mytzithra cheese, cinnamon and sugar. In addition to their classic recipe, ‘Kallitsounia’ can also be cooked with spinach inside.
• Ntakos: The original Cretan salad with Cretan rusk at the bottom, fresh tomato and feta cheese on top, seasoned with delicious extra virgin olive oil and local herbs like oregano. A truly unforgettable taste!
• Gamopilafo: A traditional ‘wedding’ dish, gamopilafo is among the most popular dishes of the Cretan cuisine. It is actually an alternative, creamy risotto, cooked in water in which meat was boiled for several hours. Add a generous amount of pure butter and get ready to experience an ‘explosion of tastes’.

From the Bronze Age and the mythical Minoan civilization to the rich history of the Hellenistic, Byzantine, Medieval and modern eras, the island of Crete in the middle of the Mediterranean sea has been captivating the human interest for centuries, developing a unique and unparalleled character. With its long and rich history going back to antiquity, Crete invites you to live an extraordinary journey back in time.

From North to South and from East to West, the Cretan beaches are countless and they truly are a sight for the sore eyes. Cleansing to the mind and thrilling to the soul, a dip in the crystal clear waters will leave you speechless. Just pick your favorite sandy spot and get ready to enjoy the Greek sun and sea at their best.

• Ammoudara, Matala & Limanakia in Heraklion: Just a stone’s throw away from Heraklion city, Ammoudara is one of the best organized beaches in Crete, ideal for families with kids. Alternatively, you could visit the beach of Matala – known for its imposing cliffs and secret caves, it used to be the shelter of hippies back in the 1960s! Limanakia (the place name means “Small Ports”) is an array of picturesque beaches close to the Crete Golf Club. They are among the few leeward coasts on the northern shoreline of Crete.
• Balos Lagoon & Elafonisi Isle in Chania: Both declared as protected areas under the European Network of Natura 2000, these exotic beaches are full of surprises.
  Elafonisi peninsula is full of sand lilies, dunes and junipers while the endangered species of the turtle Caretta Caretta nest on the isle.
  Moving northern, the lagoon of Balos is known for its turquoise waters and thousands of broken seashells that lay in its golden sand. With an impressive backdrop that forms the Cape Tigani, this is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece.
• Preveli & Bali in Rethymno: Maintaining the easy going character of Rethymno, the beaches of Preveli and Bali highlight the diversity of the region. The unspoiled beach of Preveli will bring you closer to nature, while Bali offers a more organized – but still peaceful – beach scenery.
• Vai & Istro in Lassithi: Just a few kilometers away from the city of Agios Nikolaos, you will find Istro, one of the best beaches of the region with white sand and emerald waters. If you are up for some more driving, then head to Vai Beach (90+ kilometers from Agios Nikolaos), known for the surrounding palm tree forest that will add a touch of tropical essence to your holidays.

Proud of its gorgeous and wild nature, Crete is the homeland of some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Gorges, caves, forests and valleys form the unique terrain of Crete – take a deep breath and keep your eyes open while you explore this beautiful land.

• Hiking in Cretan Gorges: Devote a couple of hours to explore The Gorge of Samaria, the longest gorge of Europe, declared as a National Park thanks to for its exceptional natural beauty. Its length reaches 18km that makes it a perfect passage for hiking – no wonder why every year thousands of hikers visit the gorge from across the world! Moreover, the widely unknown gorge of Aposelemis is only a few hundred meters away from The Crete Golf Club!
• Exploring the Secret Caves: The Natural Park of Psiloritis is the highest mountain of Crete, also a member of UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Wear your comfortable shoes and discover the secret Cave of Idaion Andron (according to certain mythological traditions was the place where Zeus was born), as well as the plateau of Nida and the astonishing gorges that spread between its peeks. The impressive Cave of Psychro (Dictaean Cave, Diktaion Andron) is overlooking the Lassithi Plateau, close to the Crete Golf Club; the cave was though by other mythological traditions as the birth place of Zeus too.
• On two wheels: For riders from all over the world, Crete has a selection of bicycle routes that combine adventure with amazing landscapes and beautiful nature. Pick a starting point and follow the recommended routes or dare to discover your own paths!

Starting from the Crete Golf Club, tour in the intriguing Cretan landscape heading to Lassithi Plateau. In the beginning, just a few hundred meters from the Golf Club, spot the stone-built pier of a former stunning aqueduct dated to the Roman times and visit the nearby church of Panagia Gkouverniotissa and the new museum there. Then stop to the newly constructed dam of river Aposelemis and enjoy the views to the half-submerged village of Sfendyli in the artificial lake. Walk in two traditional villages, namely Avdou and Krasi. Visit the Byzantine monastery of Panagia Kera and then enter to Lassithi Plateau. A ring-road connects every village of the plateau, so you can visit Dictaion Andron at Psychro, as well as many scenic villages like Tzermiado.