Description

Crete is one of the thirteen peripheries of Greece. It is also the largest of the Greek islands. Crete was the centre of the Minoan civilization the oldest form of Greek civilization. It has two of the most important ports of the East Mediterranean Sea, the port of Heraklion and the port of Chania (Souda). In April and May Crete is covered by wildflowers like poppies, daisies, camomile, iris (Iris cretica), gladiola (Gladiolus italicus), tulips (Tulipa orphanidea), hyacinth (Muscari commosum) and various species of Cretan orchids but one of the most beautiful flower must be the Capparis spinosa and it must be seen. The Flora of Crete consists of trees and plants which can also be found in other regions of Greece and the wider Mediterranean area. There are around 2,000 species which can be found in Crete out of which 160 of them are found only on this island. Visitors can also try activities like wind surfing, paragliding, horse riding, cycling, bird watching, whale and dolphin watching. The local crafts are ceramics, leather goods, jewellery and embroidered linens make very popular holiday mementos and can be bought. Markets are lively places and are well worth a visit.

Shopping

Visitors should go to Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania and Agios Nikolaos for a wide range of shops selling local products such as the excellent Cretan honey, the famous Cretan Wines and the tasty local cheeses. Local embroideries and hand wooden articles can also be found in various shops and mainly in the villages of Zaro, Kritsa Anogia and Zoniana which are specialised in carving beautiful pieces of art. Potteries can be bought from the village of Margarites as well as in other mountainous villages. Wood carved objects of great beauty can also be found in those towns and in the many charming mountainous villages of Crete. Tourist shops selling various souvenirs and beach equipments are available in Crete.

Restaurants

There are a vast number of tavernas, cafes and restaurants in Crete which provide a wide range of food. The fish dishes are in abundance here, shellfish being the favourite among localities. The local wines are usually very tasty.

Night Life

There are tavernas and restaurants along the water front with cuisines to suit all tastes. There are peaceful areas where one can enjoy a meal and a glass of wine. Crete is well known as a party island and there are plenty of lively resorts mainly the wild resort of Malia.

Activities

There are plenty of gorges and ravines in Crete. During summer Gorges are a great opportunity for some trekking. The seabed in most beaches in Crete is rocky and this means a wider variety of sea life thus snorkelling is very popular. Visitors can choose from a wide range of water based activities likewater skiing, parasailing, banana, ringos or even a pedalo.

Communications

The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Athens is 21. There are often surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) offices for local and international calls. Calls can also be made from public card phone booths and cards can be bought from kiosks or OTE offices. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Coverage is exceptional. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels.

Contacts

Greek National Tourism Organisation, Athens: +30 210 870 7000 or www.gnto.gr
Greek Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 1300.
Greek Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7229 3850.
Greek Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 6271.
Greek Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 3011.
Greek Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 7351.
Greek Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 7254.
Greek Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 7775.
United States Embassy, Athens: +30 210 721 2951.
British Embassy, Athens: +30 210 727 2600.
Canadian Embassy, Athens: +30 210 727 3400.
Australian Embassy, Athens: +30 210 870 4000.
South African Embassy, Athens: +30 210 610 6645.
Irish Embassy, Athens: +30 210 723 2771.
New Zealand Consulate-General, Athens (also responsible for Greece): +30 210 692 4136.
Emergencies: 100 (Police); 166 (Ambulance), 171 (Tourist Police).

Currency

Eur

Attractions

Knossos palace in a beautiful site just southeast of Iraklio and is the most magnificent, intricate and reminiscent of Crete's Minoan sites. Phaestos was the second important palace city of Minoan Crete. Like the other palatial period complexes this one had an old palace that was destroyed at but parts of this old palace have been excavated and its ruins have been partially super-imposed. An exotic mix of Venetian and Ottoman architecture makes Hania Crete's most reminiscent town. The Venetian lighthouse and former mosque frame the charming harbour which is lined with restored Venetian mansions that have boutique hotels and restaurants. There are artisans at work and the shopping here is electric.

Language

Greek

Language Description

Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.

Tipping

A service charge is often included in the bill at a restaurant. If not, leave between 10 to 15%. Round up the bill to the nearest Euro in cafes. Taxis expect change as do cloak room attendants and porters.