Greece’s largest and southernmost island is a wild and rugged place with gorgeous beaches and landscapes, delicious food, incredible history and a sometimes-crumbling infrastructure. The people are welcoming and charming and diverse. Close to the Middle East and Africa not just geographically, the cultural influences and its Ottoman roots still feel present in hookah lounges, architecture and the political leanings of its graffiti.
We spent about a week and a half on Crete in the fall of 2025 splitting our time between Chania and the west and Agios Nikolaus in the east. We visited Rethimno on our way to the east and spent a day touring the Heraklion archaelogical sites at Knossos and its outstanding Archaeology Museum.
The Traveling Ridleys 