Crete informations

Greece is famous into world, especially as Athens,Santorini island.

But there is unknown in the far east except them.

Especially, Crete island is famous as history but unknown as travel information in the far east.

In Korea, there is no information except Heraklion.

So, I'd like to offer the information about Crete.

In Crete, the major administrative regions - Chania,Rethymno,Heraklion,and Lasithi. one of them, the region which I stayed is Panormos which is located in Rethymno AR(administrative region).

There are seldom even oriental people including Koreans. But over half of tourists were Russians in Crete. There was offered tour for Russians and shown cyrillic letters here and there. there were even several local people who can speak in Russian a little.

How to go to Crete

Flight: There are 2 airports in Crete, which is located in Sitia and Heraklion.

One of them, the most comfortable region to approach is just Heraklikon.

In summer season, Aeroflot and several European LCC(Low Cost Carrier) airlines go to Heraklion(Nikos Kazantzakis) airport.

It costs about € 100 from Athens to Crete.

Ferry: There are 4 main ports in Crete, which is located in Chania,Rethymno,Heraklion, and Sitia. Them of them, the most frequent places are Sitia and Heraklion port.

You can see the route at http://www.greekferries.gr

The fare(Pireus-Helaklion) depends on the seat types.

The cheapest fare is € 29, duration takes about 9 hours.

Transport

Crete is too wide to go on travels without the car.

If you wanna visit all regions, you'll need the car.

The rent fee is about € 30~40 per day by the Matiz.

Bus

Heraklion->Rethymno: About 1.5 hours(one way about € 5)

Rethymno->Chania: About an hour(one way about € 7)

Heraklion->Chania: About 2.5~3 hours

Local bus: I used usually the local bus in Rethymno,Heraklion.

The fare is about  € 1.2~2 per route.

You can buy the ticket at the kiosk or supermarket.

To get fit ticket, you have to mention your destination.

The special thing was giving driver the ticket and then let him tear the ticket, not punching. 

Climate: I was end of August through begin of September.

On the season, there was like the hell on day.(I thought Korean or Japanese one was a bit better.)

If I didn't drink water often, I could have been dehydrated.(the low water price was very comfort to me.)

The suncream was necessary! you could have burned yourself.

But after sunset, it was cool as I didn't need the airconditioner.

You can have caught a cold if you open door and sleep because of the strong heat on day.

 

Costs: Groceries are holly cheap except ice creams.

But fare is somewhat expensive.

It's about € 2~2.5 per fastfood. and it's about barely € 0.5 per a bottle of water(0.5 L). despite of overcharged price, it's about within € 1.

It's about € 0.5 per a can of beer. but it's enough to drink so much.

Frappe is about € 2 per cup. but an ice cream is about € 1.5.(expensive much by Korean. :( )

And there is also internet cafe in Parnormos and Rethymno. € 0.5 at 15 min, € 1 at half of an hour, and € 2 at an hour plus half.

 

Tour Attractions

Panormos

A small village near Rethymno, which I stayed as basecamp.

Because of calm atmosphere, it's the best place to enjoy your calm vacation.

So scale is small, you can go around all areas within 30 min.

There is local bus per 15~30 min, and starting point. and Rethymno is ending point.

There is little train at travel agency which is located west side of Parnormos, and the ending point is Iberostar Panorama Mare Hotel. it's per hour and ended at 9:00 PM. fare is € 2.

And make sure that there are diverse foreign staffs from Russia,Ukraine,Spain and so on at Iberostar hotel.(My best friend Katya was also one of them)

Trail in Parnormos

Little Train of Parnormos

Beach of Parnormos

Rethymno

There is located at central west of Crete, it takes about an hour from Parnormos by the bus.

You can the church right beside you at the ending point.

Attractions are Fortezza Fortress, Beach beside Sofoki Venizelou street, and Rethymno Culture and Historical Museum.

-Fortezza Fortress: The hot spot of Rethymno, and the ancient Roman building.

On the top of fortress, you can appreciate Mediterranean sea.

Enterance fee is € 5(students are for free, and the discount is applied for only unEU students.)

Old town in Rethymno

Rethymno City shown on the Fortezza Fortress

Fortezza Fortress

Beach of Rethymno

Chania

There is located west of Crete, it takes about an hour from Rethymno by the bus.

There is old town,harbour,fortress at the shore side, and the most beautiful region into me.

I've never been there in the night, but the night view is awesome fantastic as I heard.

Heraklion

The most known region and center of Crete.

There are many comings and goings from other regions.

Because there is the center of tour in Crete, there are somewhat many accomodations, and cheap hostels.

Attractions are Knossos Palace, Nikos Kazantzakis's Tomb,Venezian Harbour.

-Knossos Palace: Only Greek building in Crete, and only conserved despite of invasion of Roman.

There is famous palace in where the monster Mynotaurus locked princess in Greek mythology

As big scale as same as the Acropolis, you can appreciate life style of ancient Greeks obviously.

If you visited Crete, you need to visit there. enterance fee is about  € 6(€ 3 for students), discount is applied for only unEU students.

-Nikos Kazantzakis's Tomb: The hot spot to appreciate view of Heraklion. and also the best place to chill out. also to enjoy dating.

-Venezian Harbour: The best place to walk and thinking deeply. but I think this is not better than Chanian one.

Inner Knossos Palace

Shown Heraklion on Nikos Kazantzakis's Tomb

Sunset at Venezian Harbour