Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
less touristy than you might expect, mainly because there are few decent beaches of any
size on the adjacent coast. To the west, mountains drop straight into the sea virtually all
the way to Réthymnon, with just two significant coastal settlements:
Ayia Pelayia
, and
the more attractive
Bali
. Eastwards, the main resorts are at least 30km away, at
Hersónissos and beyond, although there is a string of rather unattractive developments
all the way there.
Inland
, there's agricultural country, some of the richest on the island,
a cluster of Crete's better vineyards and a series of wealthy villages. To the south lie the
sites of
Gortys
,
Phaestos
and
Ayía Triádha
which can all be visited in a day, with a
lunchtime swim on the south coast at
Mátala
or Léndas thrown in.
Iráklion
Crete's biggest city,
IRÁKLION
(Heraklion) is a hectic place, a maelstrom of bustle,
noise and traffic-congested thoroughfares. On the positive side, though, the city
does have superb fortifications, a fine market, atmospheric old alleys and some
interesting lesser museums. Virtually everything you're likely to want to see lies
within the northeastern corner of the walled city. The most vital thoroughfare,
25-Avgoústou
, links the harbour with the commercial city centre. Further up
25-Avgoústou,
Kalokerinoú
leads down to Haniá Gate and westwards out of the
city; straight ahead,
Odhós-1821
is a major shopping street, and adjacent
Odhós-
1866
is given over to the animated street market, perhaps the best on the island. To
the left,
Dhikeosínis
heads for the city's main square,
Platía Eleftherías
, paralleled by
the pedestrian alley,
Dedhálou
, lined with many of the city's swankier fashion stores
and the direct link between the two squares.
7
Pireás
Thíra
CRETE
N
Dhía
Ayía
Pelayía
Fódhele
Paleókastro
IRÁKLION
Márathos
Pláka
E
7
5
Spinalónga
Knossos
Goúves
Váï
Týlissos
Mália
Neápoli
Eloúnda
Boutari
Toploú
Skaláni
Arhánes
Myrtiá
Tzermiádho
ÁYIOS
NIKÓLAOS
Palékastro
Géla
Sitía
Lato
Mókhlos
Vathýpetro
Peza Union
& Minos Wines
Sitia
Co-operative
Dhafnés
Péza
Psykhró
Kalloní
Kritsá
Ístro
Dhiktean
Cave
Pahiá Ámmos
Áno Zákros
Houdhétsi
Ayía Varvára
Kato
Zákros
Gourniá
Handhrás
Faneroméni
Dhíkti
(2148m)
Ayía Dhéka
Áno Viánnos
Xerókambos
Gortys
Pýrgos
Léndas
Gaidhouronísi
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
0
25
kilometres
