A guide with 10 essential things you need to know before visiting Crete

Crete, the largest Greek island, boasts a rich history and mythology. According to legend, it’s where Zeus, the king of the gods, was born. From rugged mountains to pristine beaches, Crete offers a diverse natural landscape.

It’s the largest of the Greek islands and the 5th largest of the Mediterranean Sea. The island has an intense agricultural and livestock farming activity providing all regions of Greece with all kinds of premium Cretan products.

Have a better insight into the cultural and gastronomic identity of Crete and get prepared for your next trip to the island. 

Visiting Crete: 1. The oldest olive tree worldwide is located in Crete

In the small village of Ano Vouves, in the region of Chania (western Crete), is located the most ancient olive tree in the world. It’s estimated that it’s a 4.000-year-old monumental olive tree which is still fruitful. Olive wreaths (kotinos) made of olive leaves from this sacred tree have been given to the award winners in four Olympic Games (Athens-2004, Beijing-2008, London-2012, Rio de Janeiro-2016).

Greece is the 3rd largest producer of olive oil worldwide. Crete is a key player regarding the olive oil products and the varieties of Cretan olives (koroneiki, tsounati). The fertile soil of Crete Island and the cultivation methods produce an extra virgin olive oil of incomparable quality and taste.

Extra virgin olive oil produced in Sitia (Lasithi region) is a repeatedly awarded olive oil of superior quality, on a global scale, due to the very low levels of acidity (the least amount of fatty acids) and the delicate fruity flavor. The best way to taste the pure flavors and aromas of extra virgin olive oil is to drizzle it over bread.

Visiting Crete: 2. One of the global gastronomic cities is located in Crete

The capital city of the island, Heraklion, has entered the list as one of the global gastronomic destinations recognised officially by Unesco.

Greek cuisine reaches its zenith in Crete. Cretan gastronomy is an important chapter of the Greek cuisine. But most of all, Cretan cuisine is a humble cuisine. Not only is the island of Crete a key player in agricultural and livestock farming activities but it also has a rich culinary culture to show through the centuries.

Cretan cooking relies on seasonality and fresh ingredients. It is all about a few local ingredients, simple cooking preparations and distinct flavors. Vegetables and wild greens form the basis of Cretan cooking. There are lots of Cretan foods for you to taste if you follow a vegetarian-based diet.

Visiting Crete feels like traveling to a whole continent.

Visiting Crete: 3. Crete has two global geoparks protected by UNESCO

The region of Lassithi (eastern Crete) is a vast area with a scenic wild landscape. The Global Geopark of Sitia is a geological treasure to visit all year round. The area around Sitia, at the easternmost side of Crete, belongs to the Global Geopark of Sitia protected by UNESCO.

The wider area of eastern Crete and, particularly, around Sitia, is a natural geological gem in terms of ecology and biodiversity with an exceptionally rich fauna and flora. For outdoor enthusiasts, the region’s varied terrain as well as the wild beauty of nature may, also, appear as an exploration of cultural enrichment.

The land is covered with vineyards, olive groves and thyme fields offering distinct wines with protected designation of origin, extra virgin olive oil of premium quality and thyme honey of hugh nutritional value.

The Mt. Psiloritis, in western Crete, is part of the Global Geoparks protected by UNESCO. Geopark has developed several educational activities which are mainly implemented through its official partners, the Anogeia Environmental Educational Center and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

Through geotourism and other forms of alternative tourism, Psiloritis National Park actively participates in international initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting the environment, the natural and cultural heritage, and sustainable local development.

Visiting Crete: 4. The island has its own Cretan date palm

The palm forest of Vai is the largest palm forest in Europe and the palm trees constitute an endemic species known as Phoinix Theophrasti (Cretan Date Palm). An incredible natural setting covered with palm trees with a long sandy beach of crystal-clear waters. This special tree species can be also found at the famous groves of the Cretan Date Palm at Preveli beach (western Crete).

Visiting Crete: 5. Crete has 11 local wine varieties

What makes Cretan wines so special? The mild Mediterranean climate is ideal for the cultivation of grapes and the fertile soil in Crete produces wines of superb quality and distinctive aromas.

Crete is a prominent wine making area in Greece, providing all regions of the country with wines from grape varieties that are cultivated only in Crete.

Greece is one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world. The island of Crete, situated at the southernmost area of Greece, has always been a major player in wine production.

The Cretan varieties of grapes are the basis for a great number of local products. Crete counts 11 indigenous wine varieties and among them you will find Cretan wines of protected geographical indication (PGI).

“Liatiko” is the flagship wine of Lasithi (eastern Crete). “Vidiano” is the king of Rethymno (western Crete). Olives and grapes are the most precious fruits of the Cretan land. Lots of local products come from these treasures of nature. And they give tasty Cretan delicacies, both sweet and savory.

Read more about the distinct Cretan grape varieties and the favorite wine and food pairings and get ready for exciting culinary experiences next time visiting Crete!

Visiting Crete: 6. The island offers a unique kind of small-sized bananas

Have you ever tasted the mini bananas of Crete? Cretan bananas are particularly small in size and have a sweet, rich flavor. The sweetness and the soft texture make bananas a perfect ingredient for sweet delicacies, in the place of sugar.

They also have high nutritional value with a high level of potassium, which improves blood pressure level and promotes the general health of the heart. It’s a real nutritional treasure and they are cultivated in a few places in Crete, mostly in Heraklion and Lasithi areas. Sitia, in Lasithi, is one of those unique locations in Crete where these pure aromatic bananas are grown.

Cretan cheese is made out of local goat’s or sheep’s milk.

Visiting Crete: 7. Crete has the most cheese varieties with a protected designation of origin in Greece

Crete is a paradise for cheese lovers. You will be amazed by the local cheese varieties and the quality of particular regional cheese and dairy products. Among the most well-known cheese types are mizithra, anthotyro and graviera.

Around 14 different types of cheese can be found on the island today. In Rethymno, which has the longest tradition in cheese making, most of the modern dairy farms are located in the area between Mylopotamos and Amari.

Graviera is the flagship cheese of Crete. A hard-textured Cretan cheese made from local sheep’s milk (sometimes blended with local goat’s milk) which is aged for several months. It’s a yellow cheese of rich aroma with a strong savory flavor.

It can be consumed as a table cheese after maturation for at least 3 months and it becomes peppery as it ages for 12 months. A distinct variety of cheese that is a staple in Cretan cuisine, and its versatility makes it the star of countless traditional dishes.

A closer look will allow you to discover small cheese treasures from the west to the east of Crete. Xygalo from Sitia (Lasithi region) is a unique creamy white cheese with a distinct sour flavor, listed in the products of protected designation of origin (PDO).

Cretan cheese is made out of local goat’s or sheep’s milk. Crete counts more than 1.600 different kinds of plants and wild herbs and almost 170 of them are endemic, which means that they grow only in Crete. That is the purest, natural food for goats and sheeps grazing freely on the mountains. 

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the 5th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Visiting Crete: 8. The island is located between three continents

Crete is the 5th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica. The island is located at the southernmost edge of Europe in the middle of three continents (Europe, Asia, Africa). But, Crete is not just a large island, it gives the feeling of a whole continent.

More than 3000 caves and 400 gorges can be found on the island. The 2nd largest of the gorges in Europe is the gorge of Samaria, in the region of Chania (western Crete). Here, the landscape is full of mountains where goats and sheeps freely graze. 

The island has 4 prefectures and to better explore each one of them, at your own pace, you’ll probably need at least a week. The E4 European path, the international trail path starting from Spain, crosses the island of Crete ending in the small village of Kato Zakros in the prefecture of Lassithi (from there continues in Cyrpus where it ends).

Carob products are suitable for a gluten-free diet

Visiting Crete: 9. The carob is the nutritional treasure of Crete

The carob is also a unique fruit intensely cultivated in Crete. It’s used regularly in Cretan gastronomy, both in savory and sweet recipes. Various local products are made from carob and are regularly used in cooking, such as carob syrup with vinegar, chocolates with carob and Cretan Rusk made from carob flour. Carob flour is a great option for gluten-free recipes.

And, carob powder can substitute chocolate or cocoa because it’s a caffeine-free product. But what makes carob so special is that it’s a high fiber natural product, improving normal bowel movement and it’s, at the same time, a low-fat product, with important health benefits, as it reduces the levels of <<bad>> cholesterol. It’s considered a natural superfood.

Visiting Crete: 10. The Minoans were the first known civilization in Europe

Crete was home to the Minoans, Europe’s earliest advanced civilization. The Minoans emerged around 3100 BC and their civilization reached its peak between 1700 BC and 1500 BC. Their cultural influence extended beyond Crete to the eastern Mediterranean. Knossos was the center of all economic and cultural activities in eastern Mediterranean area.

Knossos seems to have maintained a remarkable social cohesion through the fair management and distribution of food resources. There was no discrimination based on gender or social status. This had a significant, positive impact on the social stability of the region.

Visit the Palace of Knossos to marvel at their intricate frescoes, labyrinthine architecture, and mysterious rituals. The first excavations of the site conducted in 1878 by the Cretan archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos. It’s estimated that the population of Knossos was around 80.000 inhabitants.

In 1450 BC, after the partial destruction of Knossos, the Mycenaeans settled in the city without rebuilding the palaces.

Taste the Local Crete’s Digital Travel Itineraries

Ready to explore? Connect with Taste the Local Crete’s self-guided itineraries. Whether you’re a curious traveler or an adventurous soul, these digital, ready-to-use travel guides will lead you to the less-traveled paths, away from crowds. Experience the local side of Crete, at your own pace and make the most of each season in Crete.