Planning Your Time

Inviting as Crete's beaches may be, there is much more to the island than lazing on the sand. Archaeological sites in Crete open at 8 or 8:30 in summer, so get an early start to wander through the ruins before the sun is blazing. You may also want to visit some of the folklife museums that pay homage to the island's traditional past, or simply head out and explore the magnificent mountain and coastal scenery. An evening should begin with a stroll around the shady squares that grace every Cretan town and village, or along a waterfront promenade—those in Chania, Ayios Nikolaos, and Sitia are especially picturesque and jammed with locals. Most evenings are spent over a long meal, almost always eaten outdoors in the warm weather.