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.

After Chania, Elafonisi, Rethymno and Knossos, I had my last days in Crete. I purposely didn't fill them with dozens of new points and decided to leave the most beautiful one for last - Balos Lagoon , and then just spend the last evening on the island without haste. Balos is the final point of the route In the morning, I set off towards Kissamos . The road gradually became more mountainous, fewer houses appeared around, and the usual urban landscapes were finally replaced by nature. The path itself was already perceived as part of the journey, because every turn opened up new views of the coast. Balos can be reached by car via a dirt road, after which it remains to walk or take a boat from the port of Kissamos. I chose the first option because I wanted to see the lagoon from above. It was for this kind of trip that it was worth all the effort. When Balos Lagoon finally appeared ahead, I just stopped for a few minutes. From a height, it looked completely unreal: light sand, shallow water in different shades of blue and green, small islands and mountains on the horizon. The official tourist portal of Greece calls Balos one of the most recognizable natural landscapes of Crete, and now I understand perfectly why. I went down to the water and spent several hours there. No plans, excursions, or attempts to get somewhere else -I just swam, sat on the shore, and looked out at the sea. After several days of constant travel, this was exactly the kind of rest I needed. Last night in Crete After returning to the city, I decided not to look for any special place and went back to a small Greek tavern . I ordered a few simple dishes that I had grown to love this week, took fresh bread and sat at the table for a long time, remembering the route. In seven days, I managed to see completely different Crete: old Chania, Elafonisi beach, Rethymno, Heraklion, ancient Knossos and Balos lagoon . At some point, it became clear that it was impossible to really see the island in one short trip. Each new area was distinguished by its nature, architecture and atmosphere, and between the famous attractions there were a huge number of places where I would like to return. Seven days was not enough The next morning, I packed up and went to the airport. Usually, at the end of a trip, you want to go home the most, but here it was a little different. I have already started building the following route in my head - mountain villages, the southern coast, new beaches and places that I did not have time to see this time. Crete turned out to be exactly the kind of island you want to return to. Not because I didn't have time to watch everything in seven days, but on the contrary, because I managed to understand how diverse it is. And if I ever find myself here again, I definitely won't try to see everything at once.