Crete tourist guide

According to Kostas Kagouvardos, a meteorologist from the National Observatory in Athens, tomorrow a high concentration of African dust is expected in Greece. The dust is expected to reach primarily western Greece and the Ionian Sea region. In the case of Crete, a particularly high concentration of dust is expected in the Chania region. The meteorologist warns that the increase in dustiness will be accompanied by high temperatures, which will create very unfavourable conditions for the inhabitants of these regions. Interestingly, according to the predictions of the DUST/METEO model, the transfer of dust is expected to be so large that it is expected to reach many countries in northern and eastern Europe, including Poland.

This year's Orthodox Easter falls on the same date as the Catholic Easter. The most popular destinations for Greeks and many tourists from other countries during this period are Crete. Increased traffic is visible primarily at the airports. The occupancy rate of flights from Athens and Thessaloniki to Heraklion and Chania ranges from 75 to even 95%, and this applies to both domestic and international flights. Both Greeks who go to their hometowns for the holidays or choose Crete for a short break, as well as foreign tourists who want to spend the holidays on the island, travel.

The data shows that the post-holiday returns are planned from April 23 to 26.
The photo shows a view from a plane taking off from Heraklion airport.

As announced, entry prices to the Minoan palace in Knossos have increased since the beginning of April. An adult ticket has gone up by 5 euros and now costs €20. From 1 October to 31 May, citizens of the European Union over 65 years of age can take advantage of a 50% discount (€10). The condition for using it is to show your passport.

Free admission tickets are available to, among others, EU citizens up to 25 years of age (upon presentation of an identity card or passport), as well as children and young people up to 18 years of age who are not citizens of EU countries. In this case, it will also be necessary to present a passport.

Feta cheese, known to all fans of Greece, is still eagerly counterfeited by cheesemakers around the world. An example of this practice is the decision of a court in Chile issued on March 20, which blocked an attempt to use the name "feta" for a product completely unrelated to Greek cheese. This is of course not the first time that the Greek national cheese has sparked a trade dispute at an international level.

Today, good news for those planning to spend their holidays this year in the south of Crete in the Plakias region in the Rethymno prefecture. A few days ago, the road leading through Kotsifou was opened. This road remained closed for over a year, after a massive landslide on March 13, 2024, which completely destroyed it. After preliminary assessments and studies of the condition of the slopes, a plan was developed to secure the walls of the gorge. In recent months, work has been carried out to secure the slopes, remove loose rocks and repair the road. Although minor finishing works are still being carried out here, they do not impede car traffic.

New road through the Kotsifou gorge (photo source: https://rethnea.gr/ )

This summer will pose a major challenge to local authorities and residents of eastern Crete in terms of ensuring water supplies. Another almost snowless winter and prolonged periods without rainfall have led to serious deepening problems with freshwater resources.

Aposelemis Dam - photo source https://www.cretalive.gr /

Earlier this week, the Crete Development Organisation and representatives of the municipalities of Heraklion, Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos unanimously decided to temporarily close the water intake from the Aposelemis dam. The closure of the possibility of drawing water from this reservoir is to be in force until 15 April, but the pessimistic scenario assumes that this decision will be extended until 1 May. The decision was taken unanimously because it was considered that the water stored in the reservoir should be reserved for the most difficult days of the tourist season, when the demand for it will increase dramatically. Thanks to the decision to close the Aposelemis reservoir, it will be possible to save 400 thousand m3 of water per month.