Postcards from Crete

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.

Postcards from Chania

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.

The church in Chania, Crete
Local church in Chania
City center of Chania
City center of Chania

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.

Fountain in Chania, Crete
Fountain, Chania
The Old Town, Chania
Chania Harbour
Chania Harbour, Crete
Chania Harbour, Crete

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.

Lovely balcony in Chania
Lovely balcony
Local market in Chania
Local market
Venetian Harbour in Chania
Venetian Harbour

Chania is also famous for its the narrow shopping streets and waterfront restaurants.

Dry octopus in Chania
Dry octopus
Venetian Harbour in Chania
Stunning Venetian Harbour

The Chania harbour is wonderful and at any particular time of day the light produces a different result, creating a very romantic atmosphere.

Venetian Harbour
Venetian Harbour
Dry fruits sold at the Venetian Harbour
Dry fruits sold at the Venetian Harbour

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.

Ancient painting on the wall in the Palace of Knossos
Ancient painting on the wall, the Palace of Knossos
The ancient ruins, the Palace of Knossos
The ancient ruins, the Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos
Ancient writing on the stone, the Palace of Knossos
Ancient writing on the stone, the Palace of Knossos

Postcards from Rethymnon 

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.

Local church in Rethymnon
Local church
Charming restaurant
Charming restaurant
The Harbour
The Harbour

Rethymnon is claimed by many to be the artistic and intellectual capital of Crete and is rich in culture and history.

The Venetian Harbour
The Venetian Harbour
The Venetian Harbour
The Venetian Harbour
A fridge magnet in Rethymno

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.

The church in Rethymno
The church in Rethymno
Delicious pastries in Rethymno
Delicious pastries
Blossoming flowers, Rethymno
Blossoming flowers
Street art in Rethymno
Street art
A beautiful beach in Rethymno
Beautiful beach!

Have you ever been to Crete? What was your first impression of Chania, Rethymnon or Heraklion?

See also  Beijing's Calling 2/2

Share

Search
Close this search box.

We want you to know! Some links on this page may be affiliate links. We may earn a small commission from what you buy. 
It will never cost you extra, or make us bias, but helps us run this blog and occasionally get a good cup of coffee. 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Agness Walewinder
Agness Walewinder
Travel freak, vagabond, photography passionate, blogger, life enthusiast, backpacker, adventure hunter and endless energy couchsurfer living by the rule "Pack lite, travel far and live long!"
Do you want to contribute?
Publish your guest post on Etramping!

50 thoughts on “Postcards from Crete”

  1. Avatar of memographer

    I’ve never been to Crete. Your photos are very inviting, Agness!
    The Dry Octopus, however, doesn’t look pretty :)

  2. Avatar of Heather

    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!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *