The largest Greek island, Crete has the most diverse mix of landscapes and stands far to the south of most of the rest of the country, with its own unmistakable culture and atmosphere.

The north coast of the island is the most populated area and the most well-known to tourists. Heraklion is the island’s capital and main entry point. A working city, it can be off-putting at first, but it has a world-class museum. Rethymnon and Hania to the west are much more pleasant and retain a distinct Venetian influence. To the east, Agios Nikolaos (or Ag Nik to Brits), is one of the island’s major resorts but still retains some character.

The interior is home to the White Mountains, which soar to over 2,000m and offer some spectacular hikes and drives. The mountains are a bit more gentle to the east and, in their midst, they hide the extraordinary basin of the Lasithi plateau with its white windmills. The south coast is much more rugged and less visited than the north, criss-crossed with gorges and dotted with isolated villages and coves. It is also the stepping off point for the solitary islets to the south of Crete.

Getting there and deals
For details of how to get there, the best places to stay and the best tavernas see our online guide: gu.com/p/4v5g7.

Sunvil Holidays (020 8758 4758, sunvil.co.uk) has 15% savings on a week’s stay at the Mimayia Apartments in the delightful village of Paleochora in the south-west, near a kilometre-long golden beach and wide range of tavernas, and access to inland walking. Departing on 28 July, seven nights’ self-catering now costs £639pp (two sharing), down from £754pp, including flights from Manchester and transfers.

People wanting to travel alone could choose a week with Solos Holidays (0844 371 8860, solosholidays.co.uk) at the Iraklis Apartments in Gouves. It includes three dinners, welcome drink and information meeting, and costs from £859pp including flights from Gatwick, transfers and accommodation for single use. The 11 August departures are from £875pp and the 18 August departures from £869pp.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Crete enjoys a Mediterranean climate, where weather can be characterized by mild winters and hot, dry summers. Warm weather is enjoyed for nine months of the year from April to November and winter months are just December to March.

The coastal areas have a dry summer and mild winter. Good weather prevails throughout the season while it can rain sporadically from December through to March. Snowfall along the coast is a rarity.

In winter, the mountainous areas enjoy much snow and even when the weather warms sets in and swimming at the beach is possible, snow can still be seen on the White Mountains creating a stunning visual contrast! It is this Mediterranean climate which so graciously enhances the way of life on Crete and so positively affects disposition.

January to March: Crete’s winter months, which can only be termed as mild, when compared to other countries of northern Europe, is where we experience moderate cold and rain. Mountains are beautifully covered in snow and coastal villages are remote and peaceful. Liveliness is centered on the city and the mountain villages. Trips for lunches and meals at taverns with wood burning ovens become the focus. Temperatures remain moderately cool and sunny days are a blessing; locals are quick to make the most of them. In February, the first of the trees bloom – these are the almond trees, icing the landscape with white and pink colors.

April: Spring time on Crete; several days of which are very pleasant and a gentle reminder that summer is just around the corner. Day time temperatures are warm with cool and refreshing evenings. Dedicated swimmers start swimming in the sea, the soil (enriched with the winter rains)  begin to show its intent with several shades of green in trees, bushes and shrubs, wild flowers begin to blossom and citrus trees are full of fruit. This is also beginning of the tourist season – the start is well combined with the Catholic Easter. The Greek Orthodox Easter (most often one week after the Catholic Easter) is the most significant religious feast of the year allowing you to experience Cretan hospitality at its best.

May and June: In May, warm and sunny weather can almost be guaranteed and rain is quite unlikely. The sea is calm and warmer and of course beach activities and excursions by boat begin. This is described by many to be the best time of the year as tourists are still few in number, the weather is gloriously mild, flowers are in full bloom and the landscape is a beauty. For these reasons, these months are particularly preferred by those who enjoy hiking, walking and trekking. On May 1^st, locals decorate the entrance to their homes with wreathes made of wild flowers. In June it is sunny and hot and the beach is the place to be!

July and August: A busy time for this beautiful island; tourists aplenty and visitors from the mainland too. The sea is ‘bath-like’ warm and truthfully, spending every day at the beach, enjoying all sorts of water sports is just the thing. Swimwear, sun screen, ample fluids and your hat are all the essentials required for long days where the sun rises early and sets after 21:00.

September and October:  The heat of the previous couple of months have subsided, while the sea remains warm. The atmosphere amongst locals is more relaxed as the crowds too have lessened. Again, much like the month of May, hiking and other outdoor activities are blissful at this time of the year. Evenings are slightly cooler too. October is the month in which the traditional drink of Crete “raki” is distilled from grape skins. Days are noticeably shorter.

November and December: Autumn – the tourist season has now ended however good weather continues on. Sunny days are at times accompanied with southerly winds. Swimming in the sea is still possible. Few days of rain may be expected as the weather becomes unpredictable. It is these rains that wash away the summer dust, where nature assumes its responsibilities and where metamorphosis occurs; green grass carpets the island and Crete wakens from its dry summer slumber. Olive picking becomes the task at hand to ensure olive oil for the family and even to sell surplus production.

By car

For our guests on request by contacting us in advance, we offer the opportunity organizing to rent a car.

Free parking on the street just outside the hotel & on side streets.

Free municipal parking a couple of minutes walking distance from the hotel.

By bus

http://www.e-ktel.com/

By taxi

We organize transfers with co operating Taxi drivers

http://www.chaniataxi.gr/en/pricelist/

Coordinates:
35°30’59.8″N 24°01’24.9″E

GoogleMaps:
35.516605, 24.023570

Our physiotherapy spa & care center, where professional care meets relaxation, will look after you by a fully-certified trained physiotherapist. Located on the ground floor can custom therapy sessions and treatments to meet your needs. The spa & care center is available by appointment.

Turn to our reception staff to help you make the most of your stay at our City. We offer assistance for dinner reservations and insider tips on the city hottest nightlife. We are here in answering any queries and give you recommendations; walk you through map after map and bus schedules to show you all the little things that make this leg of your journey as fantastic as possible. For our guests on request by contacting us in advance, we offer the opportunity to rent a car, transfers with co operated taxi to and from the airport.

Both with friendliness and professionalism we take the time to discuss with you the sights and attractions of Chania, guidance on the weather etc and to recommend you the best of your daytrips in the island as:

Elafonisi beach

Located close to the southwest corner of Crete, Elafonisi is in fact an island taking its name from the Greek words ‘elafi’ and ‘nisi’ meaning ‘deer island’. The beach and island are quite tropical in style with fine white sand and clear turquoise waters. In fine weather you can in fact walk to the island through the shallow water. This beach is a destination in itself for travellers and locals alike.

While visiting Elafonisi you could include visits to the Monastery of Chrysoskalitissa (5km from Elafonisi beach), the nearby ancient city of Polyrinia which is considered to be the oldest city that the Dorians built in Crete (following the Minoan period) as well as the Archaeological Museum of Kissamos housed in a Venetian-Turkish monument.

Falassarna beach

Falassarna is an ancient Greek harbor and today serves as an agricultural area (with olive groves and greenhouses cultivating mainly tomatoes) and huge traveller attraction. Located on the northwest coast of Crete its beach highly visited as it offers a large stretch of sandy beach (wide section of sand before the sea) and crystal clear waters. Falassarna beach is also filled with activities such as kite-surfing, surfing and even paragliding from the mountain which faces the sea.

Balos lagoon & Gramvousa islet

Take a ferry from Kissamos port (depart daily from May to October) and spend a day sunbathing and swimming at Balos lagoon and the islet of Gramvousa. The tour includes a total 55 minutes spent travelling, while you tour the gulf of Kissamos viewing caves and dramatic landscapes. Arriving at the private islet of Gramvousa you disembark for 2 hours. A 20 minute walk will get you to the height of a Venetian castle from which you enjoy panoramic views and then continue on to swim at the beach.
A 15 minute ferry ride gets you to Balos lagoon – a uniquely beautiful beach with wonderful shells!

Samaria Gorge

A nature-lovers dream, the well-known gorge of Samaria, where thousands of visitors come to Crete to hike this gorge is a 16km (mainly downhill) hike. You can do it in one of 2 ways, either on your own by use of the local bus service from Chania central bus station or by booking an organized tour. Either way, this is a whole day event beginning early in the morning and returning between 19h00-20h00.

The Samaria gorge is a National Park of Greece (home to the Cretan goat ‘kri-kri’) and a World’s Biosphere Reserve located in southwest Crete. It was created by a small river running between the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) and Mount Volakias. This 16km long gorge starts at Omalos at an altitude of 1,250m and ends at the shores of the Libyan Sea at the small coastal town of Agia Roumeli. The most significant part of the gorge is the stretch known as the Iron Gates where the sides of the gorge have a width of just 4 meters and soar up to the height of 1100 meters. The only way back once reaching Agia Roumeli is to take a ferry (these run either to Chora Sfakion or Sfakia) where the regional bus or tour bus waits for the hikers and returns them to their starting point.

Akrotiri peninsula (Agia Triada Monastery, Gouverneto Monastery and Eleftherios Venizelos Tombs)

Explore the Akrotiri peninsula (this is where the airport of Chania is located). Just north of the airport, visit the Monastery of Agia Triada (open from sunrise to sunset) as well as Gouverneto Monastery (one of the oldest monasteries on Crete). From here you could even take a short hike to visit a chapel as well as see a cave. Seitan limania beach is located a short drive away towards village Chordaki.
On route to these monasteries, or perhaps on your return, you can also stop at the Eleftherios Venizelos Tombs – a historical site with wonderful views to the Venetian harbor of Chania – as well as at the Souda Bay War Cemetery.

Minoos hotel has made important environments improvements to its structure in order to minimize its impact on the environment. The hotel is an environmentally responsible lodging that follows the practices of green living.

We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our guests are staying in safe, non-toxic and energy efficient accommodation.

• Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning agents and laundry detergent\
• 100% cotton sheets, towels and mattresses
• Non-smoking environment on all internal areas of the hotel
• Renewable energy sources like solar panels are used
• Hotel recycles bins are used
• Energy-efficient lighting

Address:
13 Minoos St.
Chania 73100
Crete
Greece

Telephone: (+30) 6909375559
Fax: (+30) 28210 45302
E-mail: info@minooshotel.com
Viber: +30 6974313959

Set in the quiet maze of back streets, behind the eastern walls of the old town of Chania and behind the hustle and bustle of Chania’s harbor, on Minoos street which accommodates Saturday’s largest and most interesting open market of Chania City – really nice to visit if you want to enjoy normal domestic Cretan life, is the Minoos boutique hotel.
Koum kapi sandy beach is located a couple of minutes’ walk from the hotel, with restaurants and bars, all by the sea and overlooking the endless blue of the Cretan Sea.

Chania old town is considered the most picturesque urban district in Crete. The main square which is the starting point of the old town is known as ‘Syntrivani’ (Fountain) as there is a fountain there. This is the heart of tourist activities, restaurants, cafes, museums, galleries, historic monuments and is full of life!

Some of the more popular places there are the light house (which has been revamped and now you are able to enjoy a long walk to it), the Naval Museum, the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Museum, the Archaeological museum, the Turkish mosque (which now functions as an arts exhibit hall), the Municipal Art Gallery of Chania, the Jewish Synagogue and Halidon Street (the most famous street of the old town which leads down to the harbor front).

The old town has a heart-warming atmosphere with many narrow alleys, pedestrian streets, charming old buildings most of which have been wonderfully restored. The city center of Chania is alive with the hustle and bustle of daily life activity and offers every type of facility, store and convenience you may require. As well being in a quiet location, it is superbly situated to visit any of the sites and places of interest in the town.

Within just a few minute walk from the harbor, and close to the Municipal market, it makes the perfect base for today’s visitor to Chania. There are numerous excellent restaurants nearby. A couple of minutes in the other direction will take you into the heart of Chania’s shopping district, the leather market and the central bus station.