Things to Do in Crete

For centuries the island of Spinalonga has been known for its Venetian fortress, and more recently it was the setting for the 2005 novel 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop.

The now-abandoned island is the perfect place to lose yourself for half a day. You’ll discover how the island was once part of the mainland, and was created by the Venetians to protect the Gulf of Mirabella. You’ll also see where salt was harvested by the Venetians, but the main attraction and dominating landmark is the fort.

The Venetian fortress was built in 1579, and over the years it’s been used as a Turkish bastion and leper colony. Built to watch over the neighboring mainland port of Elounda, the massive fort is surrounded by a circular walk passing ruined churches, homes, fortified structures and turreted walls.

Along the shore there are sheltered pebbled beaches for paddling, but that’s about it when it comes to facilities.

Chrissi Island sits about 9 miles south of the town of Ierapetra on Crete. It is 4.35 miles long and 1.25 miles across at its widest point. The island is a protected area and has been designated as a wildlife refuge. The largest naturally formed Lebanon cedar forest in Europe can be found here. Many of the trees are around 200 years old and 23 feet tall, though some are as old as 300 years old and 33 feet tall.

There is a small bar on one side of the island, a small tavern on the other side, an Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, and a lighthouse. The beaches are covered in bits of shells that give the sand a pinkish golden look. The relatively shallow waters surrounding Chrissi Island make for good snorkeling. Other popular activities include swimming and walking through the cedar forest. Due to its protected status, overnight stays are not allowed.

Crete’s gleaming white sea aquarium opened in the island’s former American Base in December 2005 and is the largest in Greece, showcasing the magical fish and marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea. As well as educating visitors on the mysteries of the deep, the aquarium plays a serious role in researching and conserving sea life and in caring for injured fish and marine life.

More than 2,500 fish from more than 250 indigenous species, ranging from sand tiger sharks to microscopic sea horses, can be seen in 60 tanks filled with 1.7 million liters of seawater, each carefully themed for a local Mediterranean marine environment. The aquarium has walk-through tanks with sharks, loggerhead turtles, comical groupers and velvety rays floating overhead, as well as 100 observation spots where entertaining and informative information is laid out for children as colorful shoals of fish flit in front of their eyes.

Situated at the end of the Heraklion’s inner harbor near the Old Harbor jetty is the Koules Fortress. Koules is the Turkish name for the fortress but the Venetians dubbed it the Rocco al Mare and the Castello del Molo in the 16th Century. It was a defensive mechanism, which stopped the Turks for 22 years and then became a Turkish prison for Cretan rebels. The harbor is now a drop off point for commercial and passenger ferries; the inner harbor is a concrete maze of apartments that now forms modern Heraklion.

The exterior is impressive, decorated with three stone lions of St. Mark (a symbol of Venetian imperialism), as well as embankments and cannonballs that will transport you to another century. Inside, you can find art exhibitions. Music and theatrical events are held on the upper level. Make sure to make your way to top for impressive views of the harbor. A thorough visit should take about an hour.