Crete tourist guide

The 2025 tourist season in Crete has started dynamically. According to official data, from the beginning of the year to April, more than one million arrivals have already been processed at Heraklion Airport. Compared to last year's data, this means that in 2025 the number of passengers will increase by about 150 thousand.

If the dynamics similar to last year's are maintained in the coming months, it can be expected that by the end of the tourist season, up to 9.5 million passengers eager for the Greek sun will arrive on the island.

The Organization for the Environment and Climate Change (OFYPEKA) today announced the planned opening of the Samaria National Park. The trail leading through the gorge will open to visitors next Tuesday, May 6, 2025. It will be accessible immediately along its entire length, from the northern entrance at Xyloskalo to the southern entrance at Agia Roumeli .

Cretan Daily Cruises is the largest and most well-known company in Crete offering full-day cruises. This year, however, they only offer two standard routes. These are cruises to very well-known places such as the Balos lagoon with the island of Gramvousa and a cruise to the island of Chrissi. Cruises to Balos/Gramvousa have already started, while cruises to Chrissi are scheduled to start on May 20.

Crete is one of the most popular Greek holiday destinations. It is an island where everyone will find something for themselves. There are beautiful landscapes, ancient monuments, extraordinary beaches, picturesque mountains and azure sea. It is an island of contrasts that has sunk deep into the hearts of many people. However, it is not a place without flaws and unresolved problems.

Some people who spent their holidays on the island do not only have pleasant memories. Many tourists visiting the island notice the problems that Crete is struggling with. So what do they complain about according to an article published in one of the local portals?

Most people associate the town of Fodele primarily with the El Greco museum located there. However, next Sunday, April 27, there will be an opportunity to get to know another side of this village. If you like oranges and are currently in Crete, drop by for the Orange Festival. These fruits are the hallmark of Fodele, because the town is full of orange and lemon groves. The festival itself is a celebration of orange flavors, aromas and colors. This event is organized in Fodele for the tenth time, and all the residents of this charming village are involved in its preparation.

photo source https://www.ekriti.gr/

The long-awaited renovation of the Market Hall in Chania began in early 2022. After 109 years of uninterrupted operation, the building was closed and handed over to the contractor, and the owners of 52 local shops who had previously run their businesses in the Hall had to move to other premises in Chania. The renovation works were scheduled for two years, and the contractor initially ambitiously declared that the works would be completed within a shorter period of 18 months.

Current state of renovation of the Market Hall in Chania
(source and more photos in the article at https://www.haniotika-nea.gr )