City break in Crete. Active leisure ideas for Crete - attractions, recreation and nightlife

Every city on Crete offers a variety of entertainment, beautiful beaches and vivid markets. Located at the city of Hersonissos, Aquaworld Aquarium represents a great variety of sea creatures. Tourists have a chance to watch colorful fish, witness shark feeding, and take a picture with reptiles and snakes. Aquaworld will be an unforgettable experience. For those, who prefer swimming and sunbathing, visit to Elafonisi beach located at the small island with the same name is highly recommended. It's one of the most beautiful beaches on Crete. Elafonisi is equipped with everything required for comfortable recreation including souvenir shops, cafes and bars.

Crete also offers various natural landmarks. Stunning Samaria Gorge national park attracts lots of eco-tourists. If you have some spare time in Heraklion, it's worth to visit one of the Europe’s most beautiful aquariums, Cretaquarium.

Watercity aquapark located in Anopolis is an excellent choice for family holidays. Visitors can try various rides and sea slides, take sun baths at the terrace, and taste local restaurant’s meals. Chania also has something to offer for watermen. Limnoupolis Water Park offers an excellent choice of rides, slides and playgrounds for kids of all ages. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

It’s impossible to imagine holidays on Crete without excursion to one of the local wineries. Manousakis Winery located at the city of Chania is one the biggest in the world. There tourists can watch wine being born, as well as taste various wines at nearby restaurants. Markets are presented at every city and the most famous one is located at Heraklion. Shopping fans shouldn't limit themselves to big cities as small towns offer lots of unique shops. Chania hosts famous Mercato Agora di Chania flea market. It’s also worth to visit Idolio museumshop in Hersonissos.

Wonderful Cretan beaches are not just wonderful panoramic views, the opportunity to sunbathe and swim, but also excellent options for an active pastime. Thus, here you can go diving, ride a boat, yacht or kayak, play beach sports (handball or volleyball), try surfing of any kind (including flyboarding and SUP-boarding) or practice fishing. Also, on the island's beaches, one can ride a water scooter or skis, this pastime is in great demand here. Just like eco-tours, all thanks to mother nature who has generously endowed Crete with beautiful valleys, hills, and lakes.

In Hersonissos, you will find equestrian centers where tourists get a delightful experience of riding graceful horses through picturesque surroundings. This is about Hersonissos Horseriding and Arion Stables. Here, in Hersonissos, is a great spot for golf players - namely, The Crete Golf Club famous for its scenic views. Another interesting place in the city is Labyrinth Theme Park where both small tourists and adults spend a great time. Getting absorbed in playing without noticing the passage of time that tends to flow fast is in the order of things here. You can spend here a whole day and never regret. Entertainment available for visitors includes mini-golf, an equestrian center with the opportunity to ride a horse, karting, a mini-zoo, and a labyrinth from which you need to find a way out.

Among Hersonissos nightlife facilities, of great interest are bars such as Palm Beach Club with its good music, great views and dance program, The Village Inn where a cozy and peaceful atmosphere prevails, and Y.O.L.O. You Only Live Once, a lovely bar offering great cocktails and the opportunity to request favorite songs. It's worth checking out New York Beach Club where one can dance and drink a couple of cocktails in a fun atmosphere. Greta Beach, Kahlua Beach and Petra Beach are among the most popular spots among beach recreation enthusiasts.

Heraklion is no less popular with tourists who want to spend time actively. Thus, here you can find EscapeRooms.Gr Club, which is considered to be the best escape room center in all of Crete. Among its rooms are those ones suitable for beginners and experienced players. It is worth noting that the club has several rooms for horror fans. Get great experience playing laser tag or paintball in Lampogialo, and to try out virtual reality, go to VR Lab. The same city, Heraklion, boasts the best bowling club on the island - this is about Iraklio Bowling Center famous for its original design. One should never miss Pottery Workshop where tourists can learn the art of pottery and have a good time in a warm family atmosphere.

Chania is no less attractive for travelers wishing to do active rest. For example, in Paintland Chania, you can play one of the team games - paintball or laser tag, thereby increasing the level of trust between the players. Here you can also visit an escape room center offering interesting scenarios. We are talking about ClueWars. As for bars, the popular ones are Peacock Tail Bar with its good cocktails known throughout Crete, Sinagogi Bar with its family atmosphere in which it is nice to spend hours, and Avalon Rock Pub appreciated by those wishing to enjoy the magnificent views of the sea sipping a strong (or not really) drink.

If you want to try karting, be sure to visit Rethymno where the island's best Go-Karting center is based. It's about Rethimno Kart. In the same city, you can find Nikos Siragas Wood Art, a great workshop for those who want to learn something new - in particular, how to turn wood into a piece of art. And, of course, you can watch the master doing his work. The most popular bar in town is Chaplin's, which is in great demand among young people. Entasis Bar will please guests who wish to drink the best cocktails in town, and those who prefer a cozy atmosphere and good beer to noisy parties and carefree poolside relaxation should head to Black Lotus Pub.

In Stalos, it's worth exploring Amarillis Stable in order to ride a horse through the picturesque areas of the city and its surroundings. It is highly recommended to come here with kids, they will certainly appreciate this kind of leisure. The city has a great place for fans of mini-golf - it is Rocky Pass Mini Golf, a center remarkable for its organization and excellent design. Nice bars for spending the nights in Stalos are of great interest too. So, for lovers of beer and those wishing to spend time in a spacious place with an atmosphere of carelessness hovering around, it is recommended to visit Slainte Irish Bar, and if you like to relax by the beach, there's no better place than Themis Beach Bar where, among other things, you can smoke a hookah.

One more great center providing mini-golf opportunities is located in Sissi, and is simply called Sissi Mini Golf. This tiki-style center is equally good for admiring the magnificent seascapes. The city's choice of nightlife facilities is no less impressive: thus, tourists who want to enjoy the amazing views of the sea having a couple of cocktails are welcome in Sunset Bar, those wishing to dance all night long might be interested in Kera Bar, while fans of carefree family atmosphere prefer to relax in Stefanos Bar.

In Gournes-Pediados you'll discover a great place for family fun - namely, Dinosauria Park. Visitors have the opportunity to spend a wonderful time together looking at the masterfully executed sculptures of the ancient monsters, taking photos at some interesting places, as well as having a family picnic, while small tourists can play on a nicely decorated playground. The city has Cretaquarium where visitors can get acquainted with the inhabitants of the underwater world and learn a lot of interesting things about their life. Another must-have is Amazonas Park, a zoo located in Kurunes where one can see lizards, monkeys, parrots, goats, lemurs. The Olive Ranch in Apokoronas is home to domestic animals where a pastoral atmosphere reigns - therefore, this can be a great leisure option for anyone interested in places of this kind.