Villas in Crete

• Walk the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe’s longest gorges. It’s a full-day hike, but the changing scenery makes it feel like several different landscapes all in one.
• Spend time in Chania’s old town, especially in the early evening when the harbour lights come on and the stars twinkle overhead.
• Take a boat to Balos Lagoon and enjoy the shallow turquoise water and wide sandy stretches of beach, just be sure to go early to beat the midday rush.
• Visit Knossos Palace near Heraklion to get a real sense of Crete’s Minoan history.
• Drive into the White Mountains and stop at small villages like Theriso for a relaxed, traditional lunch.

Crete’s food is known for its simplicity and fresh, local produce. You’ll come across dishes like dakos (barley rusks topped with tomato and fresh feta), slow-cooked lamb with fragrant herbs, and just-caught seafood grilled with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.

Olive oil here is taken very seriously (in fact many tavernas make their own) and you’ll notice the difference straight away. Local wines are worth trying as well, particularly Vidiano and Kotsifali. The meals in Crete tend to be relaxed and unhurried, and are often finished with a small glass of raki, usually on the house.