Highlights from Your Holiday Home in Crete: Swim in the Balos Beach Lagoon and Hike the Samaria Gorge!

On the Greek island of Crete, you can enjoy a sunny holiday with idyllic beaches and rugged nature. Discover unique highlights, from a lagoon in the west to a high plateau in the east. In between, you’ll find cities where Venetian architecture plays a prominent role. The charming harbor promenade in Chania’s old town creates the perfect vacation atmosphere, inviting you to wander through its photogenic alleys. Many tourists also come to Crete to take on the adventurous hike through the Samaria Gorge. Want to enjoy beautiful beaches, Greek hospitality, and spectacular nature? Book a holiday home in Crete and fly straight to Greece’s largest island!

Visit Rethymno and Chania from Your Holiday Home in Crete

The main cities worth visiting on Crete are mostly along the north coast. In Rethymno, you’ll discover vivid traces of its Venetian past. Wander through flower-filled alleys and enjoy colorful facades while relaxing at an outdoor café. Street cafés invite you to taste local specialties like the cheese pastry Sarikopitakia. Chania also offers a vibrant vibe. Along the old harbor, a row of Venetian buildings lines a long promenade filled with terraces. Whether by day or when the lights turn on in the evening, this area exudes lively holiday charm. Tip: take a horse-drawn carriage tour for a relaxed way to explore the city, especially if you have limited mobility.

Swim and Snorkel at Balos Beach and Relax on the Palm Beach of Vai

At the far west of Crete lies a lagoon where you can swim in shallow turquoise to azure waters across a wide area. This makes Balos Beach a top spot for swimming and snorkeling, especially with small children. The best way to reach it is by boat from the port of Kissamos, though it’s also accessible by car via an unpaved road. Note that parking can be busy depending on your arrival time, and the descent to the lagoon is fairly steep. The breathtaking view, however, makes the effort more than worthwhile.

Another great beach is Vai, where you’ll find shade among palm trees and a more vegetated landscape. There’s a small parking fee, and you can rent sunbeds and unwind for hours under straw parasols.

Richtis Gorge: A Lush Hike Past a Waterfall

Crete’s gorges make it a popular hiking destination for adventure seekers. Many hikes offer shade and cooling thanks to streams flowing through the gorges. One of the most scenic is the Richtis Gorge, where a waterfall offers a refreshing stop. Along the way, you’ll see oleanders and olive trees, and the route ends at a pebble beach where you can swim. Alternatively, you can begin at the beach and hike inland toward the gorge.

Hiking the Samaria Gorge from Your Holiday Home in Crete: Intense and Unforgettable!

If you rent a holiday home near Chania, you’re in the perfect spot for the famous Samaria Gorge. Known as one of Europe’s most stunning and narrow gorges, it draws hikers from around the world. You’ll walk between towering rock walls alongside a babbling stream. While the scenery is idyllic, the 16-kilometer hike is demanding—it takes about 6 hours to complete the descent. With good hiking shoes and decent fitness, it’s an unforgettable experience! Tip: bring plenty of water, or refill at the springs in the abandoned village of Samaria.

The Rustic Windmills of the Lassithi Plateau

A must-do in Crete is a jeep tour to the Lassithi Plateau, an 800-meter-high plain surrounded by mountains. The scenic drive rewards you with views of numerous white windmills dotting the valley. Originally used to pump meltwater from the mountains, the windmills have become an iconic feature and still stand today. Consider renting a holiday home in this area to enjoy peaceful evenings after the day-trippers leave.

Visit the Traditional Village of Loutro

Loutro is a car-free fishing village on Crete where you can truly relax in a picturesque setting. Sit on a colorful chair along the harbor and watch boats bob on the crystal-clear water. Loutro is a textbook Greek village, with whitewashed houses and blue doors and shutters. The village is not accessible by car—you can only get there on foot or by boat. In summer, a daily ferry from Skafia brings you to this tranquil and charming destination.

Rent a Holiday Home in Crete

Enjoying an ouzo at a café with views of blue waters and boats, a plateau dotted with traditional windmills, and hiking through river gorges—these are just a few of the highlights Crete has to offer. Want to relax on tropical beaches too? Book a holiday home in Crete to visit top beaches like the Balos Beach lagoon and unwind in the long shadows of palm beach Vai!