When I was planning seven days in Crete , at first I wanted to include as many places as possible in the itinerary. But in the early days it became clear that the island was too big and interesting to constantly rush. Therefore, I decided to spend the first three days in the west of Crete, staying in Chania and leaving enough time not only for sightseeing, but also for regular walks, the sea and local food. The first acquaintance with Chania After the trip, I went for a walk around the old town. Chania immediately liked the combination of Venetian buildings, narrow stone streets and the sea. I spent most of my time at the old harbor and the Egyptian lighthouse, and then I just went wherever I wanted. It was these walks that turned out to be more interesting here than a pre-compiled list of places. The historical center has preserved traces of different eras, including the Venetian and Ottoman, so you can see a completely different Greece around one corner. In the evening, I sat down at a small tavern and ordered some local dishes. Greek salad, zajiki, souvlaki and fresh bread turned out to be an excellent end to the first day. It was nice to just sit outside, look at people and realize that there was no need to rush anywhere for the next few days. The road to Elafonisi The next day, I decided to go to one of the most famous places in western Crete, Elafonisi beach . The road took a significant part of the day, but the trip itself turned out to be no less interesting than the final destination. Gradually, the urban landscapes were replaced by mountains, small settlements and open views of the coast. Elafonisi Beach Elafonisi really looks unusual. There are shallow waters, clear water and patches of sand with a characteristic pinkish tinge, which is associated with fragments of shells. The area has a conservation status, so I tried not to touch anything and just enjoy the scenery. The third day is without a clear plan After a busy trip to Elafonisi, I purposely left the third day almost free. I walked around Chania again, looked at the market, drank coffee and went to the coast. This particular day suddenly became one of the most enjoyable: without schedules, tickets, and mandatory points on the map. After three days, I realized the main thing - I don 't just want to take a quick look at Crete . Here you want to stay at least for a few days in one place, and then continue on your way. But ahead of me were Rethymno, Heraklion and a completely different side of the island.

After the first three days in the west of Crete, it's time to move on. I left Chania and went east along the northern coast of the island. The plan for the next few days was completely different: fewer beaches, more old towns, fortresses and history. The main points were Rethymno, Heraklion and Knossos . Rethymno is a city where you want to stay. The first stop was Rethymno . After Chania, the city seemed to me a little quieter, but no less interesting. I left the car and just went for a walk through the old center, where narrow streets suddenly lead to a small square, then to an old house with balconies, then to a cozy tavern. I especially liked the combination of different eras. Nearby you can see Venetian buildings, Orthodox and Catholic churches, old Ottoman buildings , and the Fortezza fortress towers over the city. The historical center of Rethymno is considered one of the best preserved medieval cities in Greece. I went up to Fortezza , where I have a good view of the city and the sea. The fortress was built by the Venetians at the end of the XVI century, and today you can safely walk along its territory between the walls and bastions. After the walk, I returned to the embankment and had lunch in a small tavern. On this day, for the first time, I felt that Crete was no longer just an island with beautiful beaches for me. Literally every city tells its own story here. Heraklion is a completely different Crete The next day, I continued my journey to Heraklion . Everything was much more lively here: more cars, people, shops and city noise. After the small streets of Rethymno, the contrast was noticeable. I started my walk from the old port and reached the Kules fortress . It stands by the sea and once protected the entrance to the harbor. Then I just walked through the center, looking at the Venetian walls, squares and old buildings. Heraklion is interesting precisely because of the combination of modern life and traces of different eras. Knossos - meeting with the Minoan civilization But the main reason for stopping in Heraklion for me was not the city itself, but Knossos , which is very close by. The next day, I went there in the morning. Palaces, staircases, fragments of frescoes and intricate layout really bring to mind the legend of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur . Knossos was the center of the Minoan civilization and was located about 5 kilometers south of modern Heraklion. An archaeological complex has existed on this site for many centuries, and the palace itself was huge for its time - its area was about 20,000 square meters. What surprised me the most was not even the number of preserved ruins, but the thought of how developed this city was thousands of years ago. There were complex water supply and sewerage systems, large public spaces, living quarters and workshops. Then back to the sea After Rethymno, Heraklion and Knossos, I realized that the second part of the trip turned out to be completely different. The first days were about the sea, beaches and Chania , but now there are fortresses, ancient palaces and the history of Crete. But the last days of the trip were ahead, and I decided to end the trip the same way I started, by the water. The next point was to be Balos , one of the most famous beaches in Crete, and after that, my last evening on the island was waiting for me.

После Ханьи, Элафониси, Ретимно и Кноссоса у меня оставались последние дни на Крите. Я специально не стал забивать их десятком новых точек и решил оставить самое красивое напоследок - лагуну Балос , а затем просто провести последний вечер на острове без спешки. Балос - финальная точка маршрута Утром я отправился в сторону Киссамоса . Дорога постепенно становилась всё более горной, вокруг появлялось меньше домов, а привычные городские пейзажи окончательно сменились природой. Сам путь уже воспринимался как часть путешествия, потому что за каждым поворотом открывались новые виды на побережье. До Балоса можно добраться на машине по грунтовой дороге, после чего остаётся пройти пешком, либо отправиться на лодке из порта Киссамоса. Я выбрал первый вариант, потому что хотел увидеть лагуну сверху. Именно ради этого вида поездка и стоила всех усилий. Когда впереди наконец появилась лагуна Балос , я на несколько минут просто остановился. С высоты она выглядела совершенно нереально: светлый песок, мелководье разных оттенков синего и зелёного, небольшие островки и горы на горизонте. Официальный туристический портал Греции называет Балос одним из самых узнаваемых природных пейзажей Крита, и теперь я прекрасно понимаю почему. Я спустился к воде и провёл там несколько часов. Никаких планов, экскурсий и попыток успеть ещё куда-то - просто плавал, сидел на берегу и смотрел на море. После нескольких дней постоянных переездов именно такого отдыха мне и не хватало. Последний вечер на Крите Вернувшись в город, я решил не искать какое-то особенное место и снова пошёл в небольшую греческую таверну . Заказал несколько простых блюд, которые успел полюбить за эту неделю, взял свежий хлеб и долго сидел за столиком, вспоминая маршрут. За семь дней я успел увидеть совершенно разный Крит: старую Ханью, пляж Элафониси, Ретимно, Ираклион, древний Кноссос и лагуну Балос . В какой-то момент стало понятно, что остров невозможно по-настоящему увидеть за одну короткую поездку. Каждый новый район отличался природой, архитектурой и атмосферой, а между известными достопримечательностями оставалось огромное количество мест, куда хотелось бы вернуться. Семь дней оказалось мало На следующее утро я собрал вещи и отправился в аэропорт. Обычно в конце путешествия больше всего хочется домой, но здесь было немного иначе. Я уже начал строить в голове следующий маршрут - горные деревни, южное побережье, новые пляжи и места, которые не успел увидеть в этот раз. Крит оказался именно таким островом, куда хочется вернуться. Не потому, что за семь дней я не успел всё посмотреть, а наоборот - потому что успел понять, насколько он разнообразный. И если когда-нибудь снова окажусь здесь, я точно не стану пытаться увидеть всё сразу.