Useful Information
Banking & Post Services
BankingThe Crete banking system offers the majority of services that you would expect from any Bank in Europe, including user friendly cash machines, internet and telephone banking, credit cards,etc
For your banking (Money withdraws, Payments etc) you can use the ATM you can find in Almyrida.For advances Banking requirements you can use the Pireus Bank Branch in Vamos, or in Chania where all major Greek Banks have Branches.
Atm Credit Cards
Most banks in Crete issue credit cards for their customers, you do not need to bank with a specific financial institution to obtain a credit card, to apply for a credit card, most banks will ask for your passport and your last tax return with the application.There are alternative cards, a charge card requires you pay your balance in full, or debit cards, which automatically deduct payment from your bank account.
Web Banking. Banks in Crete offer a web banking service that allows you to pay your bills over the internet, check to see if your bank offers this service, it saves a lot of time as its quick and easy.
Crete is a generally healthy place – the main risks are likely to be sunburn, foot blisters, insect bites, minor stomach problems and hangovers.
Bring your medications in original, clearly labelled containers. Get a signed and dated letter from your doctor describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names. In Greece it is illegal to import codeine-based medication without a doctor’s certificate. No vaccinations are required for travel to Crete but the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all travellers be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio.
Greek PostThe main post-office in Chania has moved to Peridou Street (around the corner of Kydonias Street) and is open from 7.00 am to8.00 pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning.
Our village is served from the Post office in Vrises (14 klm from almyrida) or the Post office in Souda (15 klm).The mail to and from European countries is quite fast, about 2 to 4 days but some letters can also – inexplicably – take weeks.
If you need to send something in a hurry, I have noticed that by sending it registered ( around Euro 6.50 extra) it seems to get treated as an express letter.
You can also buy stamps at kiosks (and many shops selling postcards) but will need to pay an extra 10%, well worth it if you want to avoid the sometimes long queues at post-office counters.
A letter to European countries (up to 20g) costs Euro 3.00 (2025).
Some mailboxes seem to get emptied only occasionally (and some very rarely) so if you want to play it safe put them in the post-office letterboxes.
Villages Nearby
Plaka
Plaka is one of the most traditional villages in Crete. It administratively belongs to Apokoronas Municipality and it is located 23 km away from the city of Hania. Plaka is built on a 70-meter altitude, over the coastal village of Almyrida and has a very healthy climate.
Nio Horio
The village of Neo Chorio (sometimes also spelt Neo Horio or Nio Horio) lies 25km from Chania, in the Apokoronas region. The village was mentioned by Edward Lear in his 1865 Cretan Journal.
On the hill above the village stands an old fort, Koules.
Vrisses
About 30 km south-east of Chania Town, Vryses is a lovely village with running springs and lush greenery that consists mostly of plane trees, the kind of trees that need a lot of water to grow up. Vryses is famous for its taverns-cafeterias next to the running water
Vamos
Vamos is the former administrative area of the Apokoronas district and is a large, traditional village with many restored homes. The village offers a wide variety of services such as a district court, post office, bank, OTE-the phone company, police station, pharmacy
Georgioupolis
Formerly a small fishing village, Georgioupolis is very much a tourist town now, with many cafés, tavernas and small hotels and apartment blocks. The town square is surrounded by outdoor seating used by tourists enjoying their drinks and ice creams.
Kournas
Lake Kourna is the only lake with fresh water in Crete. It is situated in a magnificent location, just 4km from Georgioupolis Chania. It is a rather small lake, known from antiquity with the name Korisia. Lake Kournas is a remarkable destination for an afternoon walk.
Gavalohori
Gavalohori is a Byzantine village founded in 913 A.D. It was named after the royal family of Gavalades, who acquired it when Crete was divided between the 12 Byzantine princes. It is a village with lovely stonebuilt houses,
Kalives
Kalyves is a picturesque seaside village located 20 km south east of Chania Town. Today it is known as a calm tourist resort, ideal for families with many modern amenities and a long sandy beach, just a short breath away from the settlement.
Kokkino Horio
It has three churches: St. George’s which is located at the entrance of the cave and used on St. George’s Day (April 23); St Katherines in the village which is used on November 25. The main church, used weekly and at other times during
Holidays and Festivals
People who live in Chania are always celebrating one thing or another. Festivals and events occur all the time, and are normally accompanied by food and various forms of live entertainment. Visitors and tourist typically enjoy the food at the festivals since most items are cooked on-the-spot and are contain traditional Greek ingredients.
Following are some of the most popular festivals in Chania:
Chania Summer Festival: This festival occurs each year from July through September. The festival includes many live performances (musical, dance, theatrical). Some of the live shows are related to Shakespeare, Cretan dancing, opera, and ballet.
Celebration of the Virgin Mary: This is one of the most important religious festivals that occurs in Chania (as well as the entire country of Greece) each year. The celebration occurs yearly on August 15.
Battle of Chania Celebration: This festival occurs from May 20 through May 30 each year and celebrates the anniversary of this Battle. The festival includes various sports competitions.
Sheep Festival: On April 23 each year, there is a festival that is focused on sheep. Thousands of them are brought to the Village of Assi Gonia and they are honored as well as milked. The people attending the festival can all taste the milk and also partake in the rest of the activities – eating, dancing, and socializing.
Agia Sofia Religious Festival: On the Tuesday after the Orthodox Easter at 10.00 am, on the road to Elafonisi, at Topolia Gorge, In the Cave of Agia Sofia every year there is a religious Festival. The church is some 300 steps above the main road don’t let this make you miss this highly recommended event. It is organised by the local parish and the people of the Village Katsomatado. The organisers prepare traditional food and plenty of local wine, live traditional music is also organised. It is free of charge and everybody is welcome. So, The Tuesday after the Orthodox Easter in the morning after 10.00 am. everybody is welcome.
Christmas and New Year festivities The 12 days of Christmas are celebrated between 24th December and 6th January.
Epiphany on the 6th January is the Holy Blessing of the Waters – waterside ceremonies.
The Carnival period runs for three weeks, during February 2019 – a party atmosphere, carnival parades and masked balls.
Clean Monday 11th March 2019– marked by Lenten picnics and kite flying
March 25th is Greek Independence Day as well as a major religious holiday – marked by school and military parades throughout Greece
Greek Easter – Sunday 28th April 2019. Greek Easter is celebrated with many local customs and traditions.
Small Tips visiting Crete
What Should You Do
Bas03Visit the Archaeological Site of Knossos – and its famous palace, major city of the Minoan civilization 4,000 years ago.
Listen to traditional Cretan music: Lýra is the dominant folk instrument on the island; it is a three-stringed fiddle, direct descendant of the ancient Lyre, which is held vertically, resting on the thighs of the player and is played with a bow like a violin. It is often accompanied by the Cretian lute (laoúto), which is similar to both an oud and a mandolin.
The film Zorba the Greek helped to expand the audience for Cretan folk music; popularity peaked from about the middle of the 1970s to the middle of the 1980s.
Complete the walk down the Samaria Gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, at which point tourists sail to the nearby village of Hora Sfakion and catch a coach back to Hania. The walk takes between four and seven hours and can be strenuous, especially in high summer.
Avoid overcrowded and touristic places as they are ugly and don’t offer any of the qualities of Crete. In general, the North coast is much more busy and touristic than the South coast.
Go walking in the mountains.
What Should You See
P1110510The ruins of the ancient Minoan civilization in Knossos, Phaistos and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
The southern coast of Rethimnon. There are some beautiful beaches, many accessible only on foot. The monastery at Prevelli is of particular historical interest as the site from where Abbot Agathagelos Lagouvardos sheltered and assisted the evacuation of Allied troops during WWII. There are also several museums and an ancient Minoan cemetary.
The Lasithi Plateau. A large plateau located in the mountains where due to its altitude of a few thousands feet is cooler than the coast. Its a flat area full of irrigated fields and a road runs round the perimeter.
Here you can find the “Zeus Cave” (Ideon Andron) where according to greek Mythology the infant god Zeus was hidden as a child from his father.
The palm tree lined beach of Vai. The east coast of Crete a few kilometres from Sitea has a valley containing europes only native growing wild palm trees. This tree lined valley terminates in a fabulous sandy beach and bay and is possibly the most scenic beach on the island. To the south (right) of this over a small cliff is another large beach that due to having no road access is often completely deserted.
What Should You Drink
Hardraki Cretegreece SoftrakiRaki is the predominant alcohol drink produced and consumed by the locals. This drink is also known as Tsipouro or Tsikoudia and is made from the left over distilled wine. Raki alcohol precentage varies a bit, usual average is 20%-45%. It has a grapey taste and is usually served with some “meze” (accompaniments) like hard cheese, olives, cucumber or cold cuts.
Raki usually is a “goodbye gift” from many restaurants, that serve it along with dessert or fruit right after you ask for the bill. Not every restaurant follows this tradition, but the trend tends to expand.
If you happen to fall within the period (August – September – October) and you are into local fiestas, try to visit a “rakokazano” which is local a tsikoudia distillery.
This could be an experience to remember. Arrange for returning to hotel beforehand. Usually “rakokazano”‘s are located away from tourist vacances, deep into the mainland near vineyards. Due to the nature of the event, tsikoudia production escalates to a fiesta, where freshly produced raki is tested, between feasts of unpeeled oven potatoes w. margarine or lemon and salt, lamb meat and wine. You are not expected to be sober after visiting one of those, but usually a local has to invite you along (and drive you home afterwards).
What Should You Eat
Crete is famous for its tasty and healthy cuisine. The Cretan Diet was the subject of study that revealed its great health benefits and nutritional value. Studies have actually shown that Cretan peoples’ diets are so nutricious that it has prevented the population from having heart attacks and some cancers which are caused by unhealthy eating habits.
A good tip is to join any of the hundreds of traditional fiestas in villages which offer great food, wine and live folk music.
Cheese
Unlike in most regions in Greece, Feta is not produced and is not very popular in Crete. However you will find a very good variety of delicious locally produced Cretan cheeses, such as:
Graviera: The standard hard cheese; there are many types and tastes. Taste before buying, as early cheese (cut before mature) will have a spicy taste, when a mature one will be salty and milk-sweet.
Myzitra: A fresh cheese made of ewe’s milk. It is sometimes made of goat’s milk (in which case it is called “katsikisia”) or mixed milk. A good goat’s one will taste like these expensive French “chèvre frais”.
Anthotiros: from the words “anthos” (flower) and “tiros” (cheese) it is a very mild, soft spring cheese made when the sheep pastures are still full of flowers. The closest popular cheese is the Italian mozzarella, although it is quite different.