It was a last minute flight I caught to Chania, Crete in August 2013. I carried one hand luggage of 5 kg and I had no idea what I was going to do there, neither where my hostel was. As it turned out, the whole Crete adventure was one of the most exciting and surprising things that happened to me that summer (more in my next blog posts). I was seriously blown away by the scenery and landscape of Greece, its crystal clear turquoise water, soft white coarse sand and blue sky. Here are some of my photos from Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion I would like to share with you.
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Chania is located on the North Coast of West Crete. It features a perfect combination of stunning beaches, high mountains, deep gorges and small fertile plants.
Chania is a very historical place with the fast-growing tourist industry. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque cities of Greece for the sake of its Venetian Harbour and the Old Town.
Nowadays, Chania is the second most populated city on the island, a city which has preserved its traditional architecture and most of its monuments from Venetian and Turkish times.
Chania is also famous for its the narrow shopping streets and waterfront restaurants.
The Chania harbour is wonderful and at any particular time of day the light produces a different result, creating a very romantic atmosphere.
Postcards from Heraklion
Heraklion is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island. It is commonly known for its Knossos Palace which survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete.
Postcards from RethymnonÂ
Rethymnon is located on the north coast of Crete, between Heraklion and Chania. It is the third largest city of the island and is a fascinating combination of old and new- the Old Town vs. the New Town.
Rethymnon is claimed by many to be the artistic and intellectual capital of Crete and is rich in culture and history.
Rethymnon is famous for its long sandy beach that stretches for miles towards the east. Here you can find plenty of local hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and services catering for the summer tourist! Don’t forget to get a waterproof camera when you go snorkeling.
Have you ever been to Crete? What was your first impression of Chania, Rethymnon or Heraklion?
50 thoughts on “Postcards from Crete”
I’ve never been to Crete. Your photos are very inviting, Agness!
The Dry Octopus, however, doesn’t look pretty :)
You have to go there one day, no excuses!!!
This brings back so many awesome memories! We spent a week in Chania and fell madly in love with the place. Every day at sunset, we had cocktails at the little bar in the old fortress across the harbor. It was magical!
Chania was amazing!!
Looks so lovely, I’ve never been to Crete but it’s been on the list for a while! What I would do for that blue sky and sun now!
I would do many things you don’t wanna know about :D:D!
Wow! Great photos!!! Love all the colour of the buildings surrounding the Chania harbour. We hope to visit Crete on our next trip to Europe :)
Thank you! You really gotta make it there one day.
Lovely photos, Agness. If there’s anything more photogenic than the Venetian Harbour, it must be the palace at Knossos, or those beautiful parasols on the beach!
They water is gorgeous and the people are friendly. We have been talking about going back for a while now.
I know!!