| Where should I be based? | | | | the coach parties that arrive later in the morning. |
| There are four major towns or cities in Crete, | | | | From Knossos it is worth going up to Archanes |
| which are roughly equidistant. Starting in the west, | | | | for a coffee in the main square, (you will have to |
| with Chania, it is 55km to the smaller, but equally | | | | park the car and walk to it) This is the wine |
| charming city of Rethymnon. A further 78 km | | | | growing centre of the island. Several wineries in |
| takes you to Heraklion, the capital and from there | | | | the area have tasting rooms and audio visual |
| to Agios Nikolaos is 66km. The driving time from | | | | presentations which are well signposted. From |
| each one to the next is around an hour but | | | | Archanes take the road to Kastelli. |
| remember that there are other smaller towns | | | | Agios Nikoalos and Lassithi |
| beyond the main towns, 70km to the east of | | | | From Kastelli, take the road to Hersonissos for |
| Agios Nikolaos (Sitia)and 42 km west of Chania | | | | about 8km and then turn towards Avdou. Follow |
| (KIssamos). | | | | this road up to the Lassithi Plateau, the legendary |
| West Crete | | | | birthplace of Zeus. When you drop down to the |
| Base yourself in Chania for the first night and | | | | plateau itself, turn right and take the |
| enjoy the ambience of the old town. Chania is a | | | | anti-clockwise route around the base of the |
| large bustling city and many people are suprised | | | | prehistoric lake, now one of the most fertile areas |
| that it resembles the tourism photos only in a | | | | in Crete. It is astounding to realise just how high |
| very small area around the old harbour. A major | | | | up in the mountains you are. The cave of Zeus, |
| consideration in planning your trip to Crete should | | | | the Dhiktean cave, is reached by a turning off the |
| be, that if you are in the west, there are just | | | | road and you can treat yourself to a donkey ride |
| four roads running from the north coast to the | | | | if you don't fancy the walk to the cave. The cave |
| south coast. If you plan to visit Elafonissi you | | | | itself is very cold and can be quite slippery so |
| cannot just cut along the coast to Paleochora. | | | | make sure you are prepared. Amazing stalagmites |
| You will need to go at least halfway back to the | | | | and stalactites abound in the cave and it is easy |
| north coast before you can cut across to the | | | | to see why it was a place of worship to the |
| next road, joining it at Kandanos. It is possible to | | | | earth godess in earlier times. From the cave |
| take a pretty "interesting" road from Paleochora | | | | continue ant-clockwise via Agios Giorgos to Agios |
| to Sougia but probably best to take the main | | | | Konstantinos. Turn right, following the signs to |
| road out of Chania if you want to get there. The | | | | Agios Nikolaos for a fabulous view over the |
| road to Samaria Gorge will take you to the head | | | | plateau from a taverna at the top of the hill. |
| of the gorge but the only way out when you get | | | | Follow the road down through Potamos for a |
| to the coast is by ferry to Sfakia. This really is a | | | | spectacular 30km drive down the side of the |
| case where it is better to use an organised trip | | | | mountains. |
| via a local travel agent. In order to visit Sfakia (or | | | | Agios Nikolaos is an excellent place to stay for a |
| Chora Sfakion) it is best to leave the National | | | | night, with a great cafe bar culture and excelent |
| Road at Vrises and head for the spectacular drop | | | | tavernas and restaurants. It is no longer an |
| down to the coast. Turn right at the bottom for | | | | "18-30" resort and suprises many people with its |
| Sfakia, or left for Frangokastello, with its | | | | cosmopolitan atmosphere. From Agios Nikolaos, |
| spectacular castle. | | | | drive 9km north to Elounda, great for a morning |
| Rethymnon | | | | coffee by the harbour. Drive on to Plaka and take |
| From Frangokastello, it is relatively simple to get | | | | the small boat to the Venetian fortress and |
| to Rethymnon, which is worth spending a night in, | | | | former leper colony of Spinalonga. This is the |
| if only for the fabulous restaurants and the | | | | quick way, but you can also get regular trips from |
| atmosphere in the old town. In the morning, | | | | the habour in Elounda or half day trips leaving at |
| re-trace the route but follow the signs for Spili, | | | | 12.30 from Agios Nikolaos. Go back to Agios |
| with its famous fountain and waters, down to | | | | Nikolaos and follow the signs to Sitia. Follow the |
| Agia Galini and on to Matala and the charming little | | | | road to Pachia Ammos and turn south to |
| villages of Pitsidia and Kalamaki. From here it is a | | | | Ierapetra. It is worth following the signs a few km |
| short drive to the major Minoan site of Phaistos | | | | down the road on the left, to Monastiraki, just to |
| and the Roman archaeology at Gortyna. The | | | | try the kafeneion in the village, which is a real |
| bustling market town of Moires leads to the road | | | | gem. The gorge, a huge cleft in the side of the |
| to Heraklion, much of which is newly built, making | | | | mountains also makes for a great photograph. |
| it a simple drive to the island capital. | | | | Ierapetra itself has a small Venetian fort but is |
| Heraklion | | | | probably best bypassed in favour of a run along |
| Imagine London, in the rush hour, on Christmas | | | | the Libyan Sea coast to Makrigialos, or a stop at |
| Eve, filled with irate taxi drivers. That is pretty | | | | any of the small coves such as Agia Fotia. From |
| much what you will find when you arrive in | | | | Makrigialos, you can cut north over the mountains |
| Heraklion, so don't say you were not warned. It is | | | | to Sitia and then back along the north coast to |
| better to stay on the outskirts and get a cab into | | | | Mochlos for an overnight stay and a lovely |
| the town if you want to see the sights like the | | | | harbourside taverna. The airport, via the National |
| church of Agios Minas, the Morosini Fountain, the | | | | Highway, is about one and a half hours away. |
| loggia, the (limited at the moment) Archaeological | | | | So there you go. Crete can be seen in a week |
| museum and the fascinating History museum. The | | | | but it is pretty hectic way of spending a holiday. |
| fortress on the harbour is well worth a visit and | | | | Two weeks is a far better option and it gives |
| you will be amazed at how big it is when you get | | | | you the opportunity to savour the true beauty |
| inside. The next morning, visit Knossos, a few km | | | | and the majestic landscapes of the island of |
| outside the city. Get there early and you will avoid | | | | Crete. |