Crete: The Don'ts of Visiting Crete, Greece 

There are ruins of 4 Minoan palaces in Crete, in addition to Knossos, also Phaistos, Malia and Kato Zakros. Although Knossos is the most famous, it is also crowded with tourists. Moreover, the archaeologist who examined it, Arthur Evans, reconstructed it according to his own visions, which, even though more than 100 years have passed, are still considered controversial. The palace in Malia is poorly preserved and virtually invisible, it can only excite archaeologists. The coolest one is the one in Phaistos, I highly recommend it, it made a greater impression on me than the one in Knossos. The famous Disk of Phaistos also comes from here (also in the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion), with the mysterious, still undeciphered linear script "A". The ruins of the palace in Kato Zakros are hidden under the water, but you can see them by climbing a little to the hills picturesquely located above this charming village (in a remote place on the eastern coast of the island). In Kato Zakros there is also the famous Gorge of the Dead, a bit like a miniature of the Samaria Gorge - a shorter and less tiring walk than Samaria.

This is brilliant. Just arrived at Chania yesterday. Went to dinner and ordered a dish for everyone. The food could have fed our party three times over. Oh, the food here is amazing

Crete here! You could be the island's tourist ambassador! Greetings!!!

I live in crete, and i laughed so much with “DONT OVER ORDER”! 😂😂😂❤️

I went to Crete a month ago - I wish this was released earlier! Seriously though, I can say that this video is very accurate based on my week on the island..

Crete is wonderful 😃….particularly Knossos & Heraklion for history. Please try the local food….it’s outstanding! And Cretan honey is the best 😂🧡💚🇬🇧

I never go swimming without a quick-dry shirt on. If may be a fishing shirt, but it dries quickly, and that's great for swimming because you can make a short trip to a nearby restaurant and be dry before you get there.

I would make a different suggestion concerning renting a car! Do rent a car only if you are a good driver! If you are a frightened or a clumsy driver, please don't do it! People need to go to work, they don't need drivers who cause jams or ride the white line and stay there. Statistically more accidents in Crete are caused by tourists on the bad Cretan roads. Therefore, alternatively, there are good transportation and tourist services to enjoy the island !

Excellent video as always Mark!❤ Eating truly is a hazard in Crete! A couple of don'ts I would love to add. DON'T be surprised by lack of lamb gyros. In the USA, lamb gyros are the norm. In Crete, it's almost always pork or chicken. DON'T expect to see Kri Kri (Cretan Ibex). They are very rare, and usually only spotted in national parks. DON'T be scarred by the skin you will see on the beaches. Thongs are in style for all women of all ages, speedos worn frequently by men, some toplessness by women, naked children, and full frontal nudity on the south side of the island. DON'T be disappointed if you can't find free parking in town, especially Chania and Heraklion. Locals struggle to park too, so either pay for parking for short stops in town, or just take a taxi. Finally, DON'T misjudge distances between Chania, Heraklion, and Sitia. They are 2-5 hours apart by car, so don't have a 5am flight in Heraklion when you are staying in Chania, unless you are prepared for a €200 taxi. Cheers from Χανιά!

Yeah, Crete absolutely rocks! Gramboussa, Best restaurant in Crete. The foods is off charts, and so are the reviews. All so the hippie town of Matala very popular in the 60s and still popular today

I’ve used the buses to get around Crete while on holiday, and they worked ok. It’s a bit chaotic at the bus stations, and a bit of a scrum sometimes, but they worked. I generally stayed in Chania, and made bus trips to Rethymno, Heraklion, and Paleochora.

Love listening you talking and talking about everything that I crave to know. Thank you!!!

Don't forget to take plenty of water. Heraklion last August was a furnace.

i love this guy!!!

I've been to Crete last year and I really loved it ❤

This video is so helpful! We appreciate the tips about local customs and what to avoid to steer clear of common tourist mistakes. The advice on respecting the local culture and traditions is particularly important. Thanks for sharing these insights.👍👍👍

I enjoy your travel videos you’re an amazing tour guide and historic knowledge. I’m so glad you have returned in Crete my hometown I was born in Agii Apostoli, Chania 4 km from where you’re standing at 0:12 Kalamaki. I live in Montréal Canada over 59 years and visit Chania in September-October every year the last 20 years.. I recommend you visit Hora Sfakion, Chania just over the white mountains great people I go for a week very historic of the 2nd world war .enjoy your stay 🐬

I want to coment that you have great content and i would say very acurate information! Peple listen to that man he is spot on

I have never been to Crete but loved this video thanks for all the info ☺️

Funny you drop this video. I'll be in Crete in one week. Playing their golf course! Thanks for the insight❤

Fifth time in Crete. My tip: hit up the local street markets for the freshest, most incredible produce! And to meet the wonderful farmers that grow it.

Great video! Love Crete ❤

Hey Mark, awesome video

It would be nice to have a list to explore, I’m not renting a car , we went with a private driver . Mostly because I’m scared for my family and I don’t want to offend the people of Crete. The balance was private driver.

Nobody does octopus like the Greeks. I had some Greek octopus when I was in Tarpon Springs Florida, and it was amazing.

I'm critical of your advice on using those paid beach seats & umbrellas. Greek beaches are fundamentally public. But there are so many operators that all but fully cover beaches with their seats and make them quasi-private. This is a form of shady appropriation of public poperty that must be stopped. By using their paid seats & umbrellas, you support those actors. And even if tourists are willing to pay, many locals are not and this is effectively driving them off their beaches, at least the nice and clean ones.

There is a dog rescue shelter I support on Crete that I want to visit. The rough plan is to book in April or October/November so I can enjoy some sun and heat in the midst of the Canadian winter. Thank you for this video, I'm super excited to try the food!

Going in a few weeks, can’t wait!

Crete is beautiful. Besides Dakos and other delicious foods, I really recommend trying snails.

Lovely video, although I would love to hear a shout out about the old town of Rethymno and its Venetian - era fortress of Fortezza! Also, Phaestos is also s fantastic place to visit (south of the Heraclion region)

Nice video, thanks. How about a hotel review!

Crete is amazing!!!!!!!

I kind of wish this had been out earlier, having just returned from Crete. I liked it, but did not love it and have thought about not returning. However, having watched this, I may do so and maybe visit Chania. I was not as enamoured with the food as I thought I would be and we tried to avoid the overly touristy places to eat. I actually enjoyed driving in Crete and very quickly picked up on how it was done, however people should be aware of the smaller city roads and even the mountainous terrain. But all in all, if you are careful and abide by how people use the road, it is not all that difficult to pick up on. The fortress at Heraklion was a good visit I enjoyed and the people working there were lovely. All in all I felt Crete to be a very safe place to be visiting. But it certainly goes to show how one persons experience can be completely different to another’s. For example, we stopped in a small town whilst on a drive and went to a small cafe and it was just an awful, unfriendly experience. However, other reviews of this particular place were positive. Fundamentally a country is where people live, work and are getting on with their lives and do not exist just for the visitors to their place. But yes, would I visit Greece again? Definitely. I have been before to other places in Greece and had wonderful experiences and loved it so much. Would I specifically visit Crete again? This is debatable and at this moment, I am not so sure.

I love Crete. Been there twice for hiking tours and thankfully didn't have to drive.

❤❤❤❤

You're wrong about breakfast. At least on the western part of the island, there are many restaurants serving breakfast, either Greek or English/Continental. And you can get full lunch or dinner all day. But you're correct about the food in general - it's soooooooooo good :)

Greece is great, I was in Athens in May. Crete is on the cards too, along with other Greek islands. Hopefully in 2025!

I went to Crete once. It was fabulous. The Cretins were very friendly. Went to see the Minoan palace. How the minions built the palace so many thousands years ago is unbelievable.

Crete will not disappoint.

Crete, this was mentioned in the film The Guns of Navarone with Gregory Peck.

Pls do Corfu as well?!🙏🏼😊

Please make a video in Naples, Italy!

Hi, have you considered coming to Bulgaria since it is close to Greece?

@heathermichael3987 I found your comment really helpful. Where do you hire a private driver from? What's the approximate cost for a day? We will be staying in Chania for a week in September and I would like to avoid the hassle of driving.

I have one of those SPF swim shirts? I bet that would help. What is the best time to go to Crete? Is there a shoulder season where it's not so croweded or hot?

Hi Walter do you think its good idea to go to santorini om autumn the end of October and beggining of November ?

We don't serve chicken pilaf at weddings. It's made by boiling lamb meat and then we boil the rice in the juices of the meat. When it's ready we add butter made from sheep's milk.

the Samaria gorge was overtouristed already 30 years ago when I was there. It can only be worse not.

DON'T pass on visiting the south coast if you rent a car. Going to Plakias, Preveli Beach and the waterfall gorge on the way there may be your trip highlight!

I mean, if it's too hot, you simply CAN'T even really eat. On our greek holidays my mom and I would just drink coffee and eat some pastry or fruit in the morning and maybe some yoghurt and cucumber for lunch.

Loutro!!

*throw 20:26

Ever visit Ohird North of Macedonia? Beautiful and not expensive and great people.

please if you hire a scooter/moped wear a helmet. A old school mate didn't and had an accident he went from Olympic table tennis to Paralympic table tennis. He was on the Dutch team so go to Olympic.

Except it is so expensive 😢

when I was young and impressionable, the Nordic women turned chocolate and our friends from the U.k turned into lobsters(RED).

9 euro for a sunbed? In summer 2023 they asking 25 euros for each one so that's 125 for the 5 of use. Yes no thanks I can go and eat at 2 tavernas for that money.Its not been tight its making your dollar go further.

DONT call it konosos

What's wrong with you Wolter. Not a word about Rethimno?😢

Just don't Drop in unexpected like the German FJ's did back 1940's

Don’t call them Cretins?

Dear Mark why do you wear a t shirt and a polo shirt?

Don’t call Crete locals Cretins 😂🤣

As far as I know you cannot just reapply sun protection. It extends only once your skin's ability by a factor to sustain the radiation, after that you're not supposed to reapply and go into the radiation again. Because your skin's ability to absorb radiation is exhausted for that day. So stay in the shadow and wear a hat.

Hallelujah!!! I’m blessed and favored with $60,000 every week! Now I can afford anything and support the work of God and the church. For Your glory, LORD! HALLELUJAH!

Lived in Sitia 3 years from 2004 - 2007. Crete is fantastic as long as you can stay well away from the largest tourist areas. Since I lived in Crete in connection with building and operating a power plant in Atherinolakos, I never bothered about going to the western part of Crete. Malia was a place to stay away from with British drunks all over the place. People should try to drive into the island interior and simply just try to get lunch at small local places where tourists hardly ever go. Crete is, at least for me, probably the most complete place of all Greek island because you can always find places not overrun with tourists.