Regional Guides

Crete is one of the easiest places in Europe to keep children happy, partly because of what it offers and partly because of how it treats them: Cretan culture puts children at the centre of life, and a family walking into a taverna will find the kids welcomed rather than tolerated. The island's range does the rest. Here is what actually works with children, organised by type of day, with the honest caveats most guides leave out.

In the heart of the Peloponnese, just under two hours from Athens, lies Nafplio: A city that combines centuries of history with a contemporary, high-quality lifestyle. Once the first capital of modern Greece, Nafplio is today one of the country’s most sought-after locations for those dreaming of a second home by the sea. With its cobbled alleys, elegant neoclassical houses, Venetian fortresses, and vibrant waterfront, this is not just a beautiful place to visit; it’s a place where you can truly have a quality of life

For an island of its size, Crete is well served by public transport along its main routes. The KTEL bus network connects the major northern cities reliably and affordably, and reaches many popular destinations during the summer. The picture is different in the mountainous interior and along the south coast, where services thin out and a car becomes more practical. This guide covers what to expect and how to plan around the network's strengths and limitations.

Crete is not an island that shuts down after dinner. The two main cities, Chania and Heraklion, both have active evening scenes, but they feel nothing alike. Knowing the difference saves you from ending up in the wrong place for what you actually want.

In a word: no, and for most people who fall in love with the city, that is precisely the point. Chania offers some of the most atmospheric evenings in Greece, built around a Venetian harbour, candlelit alleys and music drifting out of buildings that have stood for centuries. What it does not offer is the sunrise club culture of Mykonos or Ios. If you are weighing up Chania as a holiday destination, or considering a home in the area and wondering what your evenings would look like, here is an honest picture.

Yes, Chania is definitely touristy, especially during summer when millions visit its iconic Venetian harbour and stunning beaches. However, smart timing and local knowledge can help you experience authentic Chania beyond the crowds. Peak season runs July-August with cruise ships adding thousands of daily visitors, but shoulder seasons offer the perfect balance of good weather and manageable tourism levels. Discover hidden neighbourhoods like Koum Kapi where locals live, authentic morning markets, and traditional workshops that showcase genuine Cretan culture away from tourist routes.

Completely, and that is the point of it. Chania's old town is a knot of pedestrian lanes only a few hundred metres across, pressed between the Venetian harbour and the line of the old city walls. Cars barely enter it; most of it they physically cannot. You can cross the whole quarter on foot in fifteen minutes, and you could spend a week doing so without exhausting the detours. Here is what walking it is actually like, including the parts the brochures gloss over: the cobbles, the luggage problem and where the cars really are.