If you rent a car or are planning to rent a car, please read previous posts about driving in Crete.

I am tired of driving and seeing ambulances stuck behind clearly terrified drivers on the National Road going 40kmh with a trail of cars behind getting more frustrated and doing more idiotic things like overtaking on bends. You are causing horrible problems not just for ambulances, but commuters, logistics, buses and farmers.

If you are scared to drive on the National Road, please simply don't drive on it. If you're only doing 40kmh, it won't take you any longer to drive on other roads without a queue of 30 cars behind you.

If you are a tourist who is comfortable on Greek roads, but your terrible rental Hundai i10 won't go over 70kmh, please take note of what other drivers do and pull right in to the side so other vehicles can pass safely. There is no need for you to be driving in the middle of the road. Or worse, swerving back and forth.

Also something I have seen more and more of in the last 3 years. PLEASE stop getting in your car after you have been drinking. Sure it was "only a few beers with lunch". It's very obvious and it's incredibly selfish.

Since summer is approaching, I decided to make a somewhat short “guide” on how to survive while driving on the island. Before we begging I have to say: Yes the driving culture sucks here, yes we drive aggressively and a lot of times dangerously yes we have tried to fix it numerous times. Did we succeed? A little. Can you do something about it? NO. Let me make it clear. NO YOU WONT. STOP DRIVING LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING IN YOUR COUNTRY YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN DANGER. DO YOU THINK THE SHEPHERD BEHIND YOU DRIVING THE LIFTED PICK UP-TRUCK GOING 50 OVER WILL NOT TRY TO OVERTAKE YOU EVEN IF YOU DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD? OF COURSE HE WILL. If anything try to survive, not be right(Of course this doesn’t mean disobeying common driving laws, like priority, stops, red lights, one way streets and so on and so forth) Now: 1) GO WITH THE FLOW not too fast, not too slow. Don’t want to go fast? No problem, but make sure you make way asap(WHEN IT IS SAFE) so the other drivers can pass you, don’t worry if you are not able to at that time MOST people don’t get mad. Just make sure to do it when it’s possible. 1.5) Speed limits here are confusing, sometimes they are too low, sometimes too high(Big reason Cretans don’t take the seriously). Again try to go with the flow. 2) When in cities, and touristy areas it can be hectic, if you want to figure out where to go stop somewhere safe where you don’t disrupt the traffic, then WHEN STOPPED and not in the way, figure out where you want to be. 3) Made a wrong turn? FOLLOW THE SAFE PATH, don’t sit there like a duck, continue, find somewhere safe to stop and correct course. DON’T PANIC and don’t try to correct, unless you are CERTAIN it’s safe. 4) Mountainous roads: They are really bad, follow the prior rules even more closely, let the locals pass you because they know the road, go at your own pace WHILE MAKING SURE YOU DON’T DISRUPT THE FLOW(or at-least as little as you can). 5)ALWAYS BE PROACTIVE: Driving in Crete, especially when you aren’t used to it needs you to always be proactive(NOT SCARED) always try to adjust to the situation. Conditions change drastically depending on you route, thats why you can find yourself going from main to back roads in no-time during your Journey. Thats why it of utmost significance that you are always ready to adapt. So check your mirrors, pay attention to the road, your surroundings and try to follow all the other tips. All-in-all driving in Crete will start to be better once you spend one to two days on the road and follow these rules. Take them with a grain of salt since conditions change but have them in your mind so you have a base of understanding. If you are an experienced driver there is no reason to worry, since it’s a minor but important condition and cultural change. I wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable stay! P.s. Of course you will encounter locals that are rude and drive badly, just as you would in any other place, as I said before, adaptability is your best-friend. Don’t take anything personally and forget it.

Dropping a Samaria Gorge experience to help with future travelers.

For starters I was super in between using GetYourGuide for the experience but chose not to because I read online it was not really needed. I am solo traveling so sort of wanted to do it with people but it wasn't make or break for me.

Woke up in Chania at 4:30 AM to catch the bus to Omalos (somewhere from 5-7 euro) only to realize there was a 6:15 AM bus as well :| . This bus route dumps you RIGHT at the beginning of the trail. I was up there by 6 AM and had to wait till 7 AM for the gates to open to the trail. Good thing about getting on the earlier bus is that the flood from the 6:15 AM bus didn't make it by the time the gates opened. Which meant I spent a LOT of the trail (80%) in solitude and I absolutely freaking loved it. Solitude in nature is special.

It chilly up at the top and I wished I brought a hoodie for the wait but was fine once we started moving. It cost 10 euro to get on the trail.

First 3-5 km was solidly downhill. It wasn't super intense but your quads feel a little like jelly at some point toward the end of the 3-5k downhill. You are walking on rocks the whole time, anywhere from sand to small boulders. Like the entire trail. All rocks. So you are required to pay attention to where you step or you'll twist ya ankle.

This goes to my next point - I read you needed hiking shoes for the trail. Absolutely not the case, but would have made the experience more enjoyable. I wore street style new balances and although they got the job done my foot felt like it was swimming a bit in my shoe over all the rock contours.

People say this takes 6 hours but it only took me 4 hours. Granted I only stopped a handful of times to enjoy the beauty (not to just break). I would I walked like I had somewhere to be for 70% of the hike (I like a workout what can I say).

Given that I was able to get in right at the start I wasn't really in the sun all that much and didn't need as much sunscreen as people mentioned online (but having some on hand never hurts). I also was the first one to finish which

Finished before noon and walked into Agia Roumeli. I was starving so ate the lamb chops and a greek salad and it was delicious.

Afterward I walked over to purchase a ferry ticket (only way you can leave Agia Roumeli as no roads lead to the village) and was informed the only ferry I could catch was a 5:30 PM ferry to Chora Skafion for 8ish euro. I also went ahead and purchased my bus ticket from Chora Skafion to Shania at the ferry station for 8ish euro. I read that people said it was exhausting to buy tickets day of and I thought it couldn't be easier.

It was now noon and I had 5 hours to waste lol. I hit the beach near the west end and they had chairs you could sit in for 10 euro (with 2 free drinks included). I snagged one of those and drank a beer and a really bitter lemonade. Swam and napped until the ferry left.

Ferry took about an hour and then the bus back to Chania was supposed to take close to 2 hours but we hit MAD traffic 40 min outside of Chania that added an extra 1.5 hours (BRING A SNACK...although they don't "let you" bring snacks on the bus just hide it).

And that's a wrap. The views were absolutely stunning. If you like nature that makes you feel small this is a must do trip. If you just "kinda like" nature this isn't really for you as it will probably wear you out more than you'll enjoy.

I definitely would have regretted not doing it given I now have experienced it.

Hope this helps somebody. If you have questions shoot!

Hey, just came to this club.

Hope anyone coming to this part of Greece reads this. This club is the most overrated, trash club I’ve been to. Me and my friends were told it would be a great night on a Friday for house music. All that was played is recycled frat music garbage. To make it worse all the girls that you think are cute are just here working for the club to make it seem full. I would 100% never recommend to any of my friends coming here. You’re better off drinking at the hotel.

Hope this helps!

P.S. EAT SHIT SENSO

Hello, we would like to have a hike in Samaria gorge, but the whole path is too long for us. Is it worth to take for example first 3 km and then head back? Won't those 3km be very steep? Is there any good views in those 3 km?

Looking for hiking options near Chania.. any recommended trails? I checked that Gingilos Peak is the more popular trail since it’s by Samaria Gorge but since the gorge is closed in November I think there are no KTEL buses there.. I’m having a bit of trouble finding info on which trails seem suitable and what are the transport options to get there from Chania, any help and advice?

Good evening, kalispera! I visited Crete for the 1st time in the first week of September 2024 (and it was just amazing). We stayed in Bali village, at the Livadi beach. The water was clear, we saw the little fishes, and bigger fishes too by the shore and further, swimming very close to us. I thought they are harmless and very pretty. However on day 3 I was bitten by one of them suddenly by the ankle area of the leg. The fish did take a chunk of it honestly (5 mm maybe, its small but not too tiny either), I screamed when I felt bitten and bl*od was pouring. The top layer of the skin was bitten lol... Anyway after that it did heal but also I went to the medical assistance to make sure it is not infected, as it looked that there is something white the next day (spoiler alert the doc extracted a fish tooth that got stuck in the wound). After this incident we stayed by the pool only and only on the last day I went for a swim but could stay about 5 mins in the water. There was this fear that it will happen again if I don't constantly move. My friend was also slightly "pinched" by smth and it leaved him startled. The other days we also kept seeing other people in water occasionally saying an "ah!" and looking down in the water.

Anyway my question is, how common are these fish attacks? How to avoid getting bitten? I really really wish to come back there because my experience was perfect in terms of hotel, food, relaxing, everything. Except the fish bite stress, that it can happen again. I want to enjoy the seawater since I want to come back to the sea. Also does anybody know if these fish are everywhere in the Crete and Greece beaches? It will be a shame if we will need to change our location just because of fishes lol 🥲😅 Thank you!

Hello!

I am 19 years old, and in 2 weeks I will move from a tiny town in norway (born and raised), to Chania, Greece. I definitely need some tips to get on my feet.

First off, where do I go to get used stuff? Facebook marketplace? Are there any websites?

Second, are there any norms or "unwritten rules" I should know about? The rules can be written aswell of course.

What should I do first? I will of course explore the town inside and out, but are there any things you recommend?

WHERE DO I BUY FOOD. I dont know how it is in greece, but in norway we have ex kiwi or REMA 1000, which have by far the lowest prices, and then Joker and Meny that are more exclusive and a lot more expensive. What stores should I pick?

How do I behave around the greeks? I am already on my way to learn greek and will do my best to blend and learn the culture, but are there any important do's and don'ts?

All help is appreciated, and if there are any more things I should know, please write it! And thank you.

Hello, has anyone made some experiences previously with taking e.g. olive oil from CHQ airport? Two years ago I was there and they didnt want to let me take it unless it was packed in a wooden box. What were your experiences, also with hand luggage? Id really like to take something but in Crete the airport stuff seems to make it especially hard for people to take goods to their home country

We are traveling to Crete for the end of our honeymoon in July and would like to take a day to do a road trip around the island. I’ve never been and would like to have the most scenic drive that we could achieve. We’re staying in Agios Nikolaos, and will drive back to Heraklion to pick up my cousins honeymooning there. I attached a map of the drive I’m considering doing but would appreciate any input on if there’s a better route, or if there are any stop we should definitely make along the way.

Thank you

as per title, would be good to know. ideally around chania ?

Hi all, I'm (26F) an Indian who recently got a research position in Heraklion. I'm curious to know how easy/difficult it is to manage without knowing much greek?

I plan to learn the basics so I can converse with shop keepers, conductors etc, but in terms of a social life, will I find many english speakers?

I'd love any general input or advice as well, thanks!

Wondering if anyone knows where I could train for a powerlifting competition in/around chania while I'm on my honeymoon there. Looking for a place with bars that won't bend a lot with weight on them and weight plates that are thin enough to fit enough weight on the bar. Proper powerlifting equipment would be ideal but I will settle for whatever is available. Appreciate any tips/advice : )

Are there any uphill mountain hikes in Crete for regular day hiking? Some scrambling is okay but not into rock climbing or needing mountaineering gear. Coming from the USA where we can hike up 1000-4000 (or more) feet mountains for a nice day hike.

I wouldnt want to buy some magnet or tourist bracelet for my friends but i dont know where to get stuff like that. What would you peeps recommend?

Hello! i am currently on this beautiful island for a working vacation and i love it SO much that i would like to stay a bit longer. Problem is that i have severe adhd and my medication will run out soon. It would be so great if someone could help me with some information. Can i go to a doctor here and get a new prescription? Or can my doctor at home send a new one? I have the old prescription and a document about the medical indication, also i wouldn’t mind to pay for a private consultation if it is reasonable. I am really grateful for any advice!

From crystal-clear waters to one of the most iconic sunsets in Greece. Filmed from the air and underwater. 📍 Falasarna Beach | #Crete #DroneVideo #Falasarna

Hi everyone!

I'm thinking of going to Crete to do some scuba in the beginning of May. Could anyone advise on what the diving conditions might be like?

I tried searching in this subreddit, but couldn't find any answer

Cheers!

Hello everyone ...

I miscalculated a bit about the plane flights and didn't really pay attention to the distance in Crete ... so I need help ... what is the fastest and best way to get from Sita (airport) to Chania ... it will land in Crete around 9am... it seems that the ferry to Heraklon runs only on Fridays... renting a car for 300 euros for one day is too much for me... is there BlaBlaCar or some other ride sharing platform Crete?

Thank you

As the questions say, are there any night clubs in Heraklion during winter time?

Καλησπέρα.. έκανα χτες μια αναζήτηση μέσω booking για να κλείσω να μείνω στο Ρέθυμνο.. αλλά τα πιο πολλά απ' ότι κατάλαβα ήταν airbnb και όχι ξενοδοχεία... Θα με βοηθούσε αν μου δίνατε πούμε 5 επιλογές ή έστω 3 απ' το κάθε ένα που να είναι κοντά στο κέντρο ή ακόμα και κέντρο....☺️

Which one is better for a 2 year old that’s not very patient and would like to interact with the animals more than just to look at them? Is the Rescue Center better for that, even if Creataquarium is bigger? What else activities do you recommend for toddlers? Thanks a lot!