Dreamlike bays and beaches

Whether all Cretans were really liars in ancient Greece, as the Greek philosopher Epimenides claimed during his lifetime, remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that the locals today are certainly not lying when they rave about "their Crete" as a travel paradise. Especially in the fall, the largest Greek island still attracts visitors with pleasant bathing weather and beautiful sandy beaches. Popular bays such as Matala in the east or the long beach of Frangokastello in the south invite you to sunbathe and stroll around on your vacation in Crete.

The island of olive trees

But nature lovers will also get their money's worth on a Crete vacation - Crete offers great excursions and hikes. Three large mountain ranges dominate the interior of the island: the Lefka Ori (the white mountains with the Samaria Gorge - the trekking highlight) in the west, the Psiloritis in the middle and the Lasithi Mountains in the east. And no matter which direction you take on Crete's mountain and coastal paths, the landscape can take your breath away here and there. The hilly hinterland along the olive groves (Crete has the most olive trees in the world!) and mountain villages can also be easily explored on the back of a donkey (guided tours, for example via www.walkwithdonkeys.com).

Casual evening stroll in Chania

It sounds unusual, but people on the island simply like to take it easy. Especially when the Cretans head out for the evening "volta" (meaning "stroll") to visit the many bars and cafés. The best place to join in the hustle and bustle and mingle with the locals on a vacation in Crete is in the alleyways of the romantic harbor town of Chania with its top restaurants. But beware: some tavernas in prime locations and right on the waterfront often only offer mediocre food and are overpriced. It's better to walk a few steps into the town center and order an eggplant platter or a café frappé in more traditional restaurants such as "Doloma" (Kapsokalyvon 5).

Crete: vacation in the birthplace of European culture

What is still missing to make the exploration tour perfect? Definitely a bit of culture. And Crete, which is often referred to as the "birthplace of European culture", has plenty of it. The archaeological museum in Heraklion (shining again in new splendor after a long renovation phase) or the historical excavation site around the palace of Knossos are just two of Crete's countless sights.

Greek wine - simply delicious!

And of course (!) you can't end a vacation on Crete without first trying a glass of Greek wine (as Udo Jürgens sang about so wonderfully) from the island. However, grapes are only grown in the northern part of Crete, where the dry climate is particularly favorable. A visit to the Boutari winery (entrance fee approx. 3 euros, www.boutari.gr) on the hill of the Fantaxometocho vineyard is great fun - panoramic views and quaffable local wine included.

There is simply so much to discover during a vacation on Crete, and that is exactly what makes the island such a wonderful destination. Anyone who says otherwise - to bring the ancient Greek Epimenides into play once again - is lying. Or has simply never been there.