Camping on Crete

Europe's largest island lies to the south of the Greek mainland and boasts beautiful beaches, especially on its north coast. Most of Crete's campsites are just a few steps away from the water. Here you can go for a long swim and enjoy water sports. The hinterland fascinates with its enchanting mountains and secluded mountain villages.

Special features of camping on Crete

Most campers are drawn to the north of Crete. This is where well-known harbour towns such as Chania, Rethymno and Iraklio are located. On the outskirts of these municipalities, travellers will find numerous campsites with white beaches right on their doorstep. Many of the facilities offer extras such as swimming pools and sports equipment hire. Excursions into the hinterland by motorhome promise pure excitement. Mysterious caves and spectacular canyons await visitors here. In the south of Crete, the Samaria Gorge is one of the longest in Europe and is a true paradise for hikers. In the mountains, it is worth taking a trip to one of the small villages where locals prepare traditional food from fresh produce.

Getting there

To get to Crete by motorhome, travellers must take a ferry on the mainland. Most connections depart from the harbour of Piraeus, not far from Athens. The main destinations are Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Iraklio and Rethymno, all municipalities in the north of the island. Alternatively, there are ferries from Gythio on the Peloponnese and from Santorini. It is best to book ferry tickets online in advance. However, as the boats depart relatively often, you can also buy tickets at the local ticket office. With a motorhome, it makes sense to be at the harbour about an hour before departure.

Holidaymakers travelling to Athens have to cross the Balkans. It is about 2,000 km from Munich to the harbour. Berlin is around 2,300 kilometres away from this intermediate destination. Those travelling from eastern Germany first travel to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They then travel via Hungary, Serbia and Macedonia to Greece. From southern and western Germany, it is shorter to travel via Austria and the western Balkans. In the Alpine country, you should plan for comparatively high toll charges, which have to be paid in the form of a vignette.

Destinations on Crete

The beautiful beaches of Crete are located in the north of the island. Here, municipalities such as Rethymno, Iraklio and Chania await holidaymakers with their small seaside resorts on the outskirts.

Rethymno

Rethymno is an attraction above all because of its old town. Around the harbour you can admire the buildings from the Venetian era, especially the massive fortress. Numerous restaurants and clubs along the waterfront invite you to go out. For a holiday with camping on Crete, it is best to travel to one of the suburbs, for example to the wide beaches of Platanias.

Heraklion

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and the largest municipality on the island. In addition to the old town with its Venetian defence walls, nearby Knossos with its ancient palace complex is one of the main attractions. There are family-friendly amusement parks nearby, such as the CretAquarium, Aquaworld in Chersonissos and Watercity. Malia near Iraklio is considered one of Crete's party strongholds.

Chania

Located in the far west of Crete, Chania is one of the island's most important harbours. The town is particularly popular because of its Venetian old town and the many architectural legacies from the Turkish era. Numerous Ottoman bathhouses have been preserved to this day. There are a number of campsites and beaches to the west of the centre.

Activities and excursions

Great sailing and water sports areas await travellers on the coast. In the hinterland, you can explore ancient cultural artefacts, rustic caves and spectacular gorges.

Sailing

Numerous harbour towns and marinas on the north coast offer a good starting point for sailing trips. Private providers can be contacted via the campsites in Crete. If you have no experience in this sport, you can take your first steps on a course. If you have a licence, it is possible to hire a boat.

Discover antiquity

The myth of the Minotaur - half man, half bull - dates back to Cretan-Minoan antiquity. According to legend, the mysterious creature lived in the labyrinthine palace of Knossos, the remains of which can still be seen today not far from Iraklio. Other ancient sites worth seeing are the ruins of Phaistos and the palace of Malia.

Hiking

Crete's hiking paradise par excellence lies far to the south and can only be reached by boat. Once you reach the southernmost point of the Samaria Gorge, you can hike through the spectacular canyon in around seven hours. Beautiful excursion destinations also await hiking fans in the mountains of the Lasithi Plateau, for example the Milatos Cave.

Gastronomy

On the island of Crete, mainly fresh produce is used. Sun-ripened olives, intensely flavoured tomatoes, peppers and sheep's cheese from the hinterland are the basis for the spicy Cretan farmer's salad. This speciality is usually the entrée for hearty meat dishes. Gyros with tzatziki, grilled goat and sheep meat seasoned with sage, thyme and oregano as well as souvlaki skewers are among the classics of Cretan cuisine.

Due to its proximity to the sea, fish dishes are of course also popular. In the harbours and on the beach promenades, platters of grilled octopus and squid, fried anchovies and shrimps are served. These are traditionally accompanied by the aniseed schnapps ouzo, a strong tsipouro or sweet wines.

Best time to visit

The bathing season on Crete usually starts in May. This is when the first travellers come to the north of the island, where the air temperature is around 24 degrees Celsius and the water is still a fresh 19 degrees Celsius. In June, the outside temperatures rise to 27 degrees Celsius - similar values prevail in September. In July and June, you can expect top temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius. Between June and October, the Mediterranean is pleasantly warm at between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius. There is also virtually no rain in July and August. Water sports enthusiasts like to take advantage of the low season in May, October and November.