From picturesque seashores to rugged mountains, solo journey to Crete provides beautiful landscapes. Its wealthy historical past and heat, welcoming locals make it a protected and enriching place for a solo journey.
Last September, I went to Crete for 3 weeks on my own.
Without the height vacationer crowds that July and August convey, the island was peaceable, with heat climate day by day and balmy evenings at evening.
I explored numerous seashores, swam within the ocean a number of instances a day, and ate my fill of bread and tzatziki each evening, making for an ideal solo journey to Crete.
Tourism is essential to the native economic system in Crete – and the island is about up for vacationers accordingly.
While it’s nice to study “good morning,” “please,” and “thank you” in Greek, the locals will probably converse English or present English menus when you’re at a restaurant.
It’s fairly easygoing as a first solo journey journey. Here are extra tips about solo journey to Crete (together with my private experiences as a girl touring alone).
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Solo journey to Crete: fast information
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Is solo journey to Crete protected?
On my first evening in Crete, I went to mattress within the tiny hut overlooking the ocean I’d booked on Airbnb.
I used to be barely conscious of the truth that, though the door locked, the home windows didn’t, and a passerby might most likely break into my bed room with out a lot effort.
But I pushed these ideas to the again of my thoughts and drifted off to sleep.
Around midnight, I heard somebody transferring round exterior the hut. They gave the impression to be searching for a means in. I spent just a few seconds frozen in concern – then determined to decide on struggle over flight.
“Hey!” I yelled, flashing my cellphone torch by the glass of the doorframe. The intruder backed away, shocked.
“Is this not Michael’s accommodation?” he requested, persevering with, “I think I’m staying here.”
“I’m staying here,” I responded as assertively as I might handle. He apologized and backed away, and after a fitful evening of sleep, I awakened and noticed him on the veranda reverse.
“I’m so sorry,” he mentioned. I obtained the unsuitable hut; that is my one.” He was a innocent middle-aged man.
“That must have been so scary for you,” he apologized additional. He was proper – it was.
This expertise – in the end a misunderstanding – left me unsettled each time I obtained into mattress throughout my time in Crete.
I used to be staying in a mixture of low cost resorts, AirBnBs, and hostels – and felt the most secure surrounded by folks in my hostel dorm.
While I loved the solitude I discovered in Greece lots, I additionally realized on this journey that I really feel safer in a bustling metropolis surrounded by tens of millions of individuals than I did staying in a tiny, remoted city.
While staying in Heraklion, the biggest metropolis in Crete, I walked round through the evening on my own and felt utterly relaxed.
Despite this expertise, Crete is understood to be a really protected place to journey – the economic system depends on tourism, so any unhealthy experiences that vacationers have will in the end influence the locals essentially the most.
If you need further reassurance throughout your solo journey to Crete, convey a doorstop alarm that may go off if anybody tries to enter your room.
And make associates together with your neighbors so you realize there’s somebody close by that can assist you out.
Handy companies for solo journey to Crete
Is Crete good for solo journey?
ABSOLUTELY! Here are some the reason why solo journey to Crete:
Getting round Crete is simple
As I mentioned, Crete is a large island – however you don’t want a automotive to navigate it. Take benefit of native bus programs and coaches working day journeys to vacationer websites.
You could effectively meet a fellow solo traveler in your journey.
Crete is a surprising vacation spot for photographers
There’s no denying that Crete is beautiful. The small alleyways in Chania and Heraklion and the lengthy stretches of white sand and turquoise water make wonderful picture backdrops.
Just since you’re touring solo doesn’t imply you may’t get the right snap. Set up a self-timer and spend so long as you need taking pictures with nobody to rush you.
Solo journey to Crete might be peaceable
Is it simply me who will get large FOMO after I’m touring in a spot with a bustling nightlife however don’t really feel like going out alone?
What I beloved about staying within the quieter components of Crete was that the perfect exercise was to remain at my lodging, drink a glass of wine whereas watching the ocean, after which get an early evening.
An easy solo traveler exercise that didn’t include the dose of FOMO I may need gotten if I used to be staying in a metropolis that by no means sleeps.
It’s straightforward to satisfy fellow solo vacationers in Crete
Unlike different solo journeys the place I’ve solely obtained to know fellow backpackers, there are all kinds of folks holidaying in Crete.
From the older era who I discussed earlier, to digital nomads, to hikers tenting out on seashores to party-goers coming for per week of enjoyable, you by no means know who you may meet.
Strike up conversations, meet folks on excursions or obtain a relationship app for a bit of fine outdated Tinder tourism.
While I beloved the solitude I discovered in Crete, solo journey doesn’t imply being alone – be open to spontaneous new friendships and also you’ll have the perfect time.
You really feel such as you’re in a film
My want to go to Greece could have began with my obsession with Mamma Mia after I was 10. Finally, touring to Crete solo 15 years later undoubtedly introduced that cinematic expertise to life.
But even when you’re not an ABBA fan, the great thing about the infinite blue sea dotted with a whole lot of tiny islands is plain.
Board your ferry, put your headphones on, and lose your self wanting on the panorama floating by.
Crete has reside music galore
No must plan your night out in Heraklion, Crete’s largest metropolis – merely comply with your ears.
I discovered a lot reside music within the city by merely wandering by the streets and discovering bands arrange in squares, full with locals enthusiastically dancing.
Or strive numerous bars the place music retains the power going all through the evening.
Crete has abundance of cafe tradition
One of my favorite issues about travelling solo in Crete was leaning into the native’s sluggish tempo of life.
A espresso is loved over a few hours, accompanied by a Kalitsounia (a candy, indulgent, cream-filled pie), when you chat with the cafe proprietor, look out on the sea or watch the world go by.
There are hundreds of kilometres to discover in Crete
Crete is huge – like significantly massive. It’s the biggest Greek island and has over a thousand kilometres of shoreline.
If you head to the less-touristy south of the island, you’ll probably discover entire seashores to your self.
All that solitude in Crete is ideal for solo journey
Lazy hours spent on the seaside with the sound of the waves, the solar in your pores and skin and a refreshing dip within the ocean just some metres away.
Relaxing comes with the territory throughout a solo journey to Crete and also you’ll discover all of the solitude you wish to get area together with your ideas if you’re by your self.
Greek meals is to die for
Octopus cooked recent from the ocean; crispy calamari garnished with a squeeze of lemon, lightly-whipped baba ganoush, or creamy tzatziki unfold on infinite slices of bread.
Tt’s truthful to say that Greek meals has my coronary heart. I beloved the meals I ate in Crete – however as a solo traveller, bear in mind that most of the greatest dishes in native tavernas are small plates.
I used to be on a strict price range on my solo journey to Crete, so I couldn’t order the entire menu even when I wished to.
Your greatest wager is to companion with a fellow traveler or pleasant native to have dinner with (extra on that later!) so you may pattern extra from the menu.
Or ask the chef if they’ll serve you half parts of their dishes – they did this for me, no drawback.
Your associates could also be older than you suppose
On a random Tuesday night in Crete, I had dinner with a pair of their eighties from Iceland, who I’d spontaneously befriended over the fence of our neighboring lodging.
As a solo traveler in my twenties, I typically think about that the chums I’ll make whereas backpacking will probably be my age.
But letting go of this preconceived notion can open you as much as many nice experiences – there are lots of older holiday-makers in Crete, and spending time with them could also be a spotlight of your journey.
I fell in love with Ancient Greek tradition
Crete is dwelling to the Minoans, the oldest civilization in Europe, and studying about their tradition was fascinating.
I visited the palace of Knossos on my own, and with no associates to tug me again to actuality, I actually felt like I used to be transported again to Ancient Greece as I wandered by its ruins.
Plus, going solo meant I used to be capable of take heed to a podcast on the bus experience there to study the historical past of the location.
I virtually had seashores in Crete to myself
I deliberate my solo journey to Crete for the tip of September. I used to be rewarded with delicate climate, lengthy stretches of idyllic seashores with barely a soul in sight, and cheaper lodging – good for price range backpackers.
While there have been nonetheless vacationers on the streets, it was undoubtedly much less busy than in July or August.
However, the draw back was that there have been fewer solo vacationers, and the hostel I stayed in was half-empty.
I could have been unfortunate there, however if you wish to assure a bustling hostel scene, then strive travelling in June or early September.
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