Sandy beaches · Sitia
Vai Palm Beach
Sandy beach backed by Europe’s largest natural forest of Cretan date palms.
Plateaus, forests & parks
Windmills, palms, pines and gardens
Mountain plateaus with windmills and orchards, plus unusual forests such as the palm groves of Vai and Preveli.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Lasithi Plateau
Lasithi Plateau
A green high plain ringed by mountains.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Platanias
Botanical Park of Crete
Fruit trees and gardens on a burnt hillside.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Sfakia
Omalos Plateau
High plateau at the top of Samaria gorge.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Amari
Amari Valley
A green valley between Psiloritis and Kedros.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Anogeia
Nida Plateau
A high plain under Psiloritis.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Sfakia
White Mountains National Park
Greece's famous national park around Samaria.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Apokoronas
Askifou Plateau
A mountain plateau of four villages in the White Mountains.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Phaistos
Messara Plain
The great fertile plain of southern Crete.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Amari
Psiloritis UNESCO Geopark
A UNESCO geopark around Crete's highest mountain.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Chania
Chania Municipal Garden
A green park with a clock tower.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Sitia
Sitia Geopark
Fossils, caves and gorges in eastern Crete.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Lasithi Plateau
Selakano Forest
Pine forest in the mountains.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Lasithi Plateau
Katharo Plateau
A remote summer plateau above Kritsa.
Plateaus, forests & parks · Agios Nikolaos
Kolokitha Peninsula
A quiet peninsula with ancient ruins across from Elounda.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Agios Nikolaos
Amazonas Park
A small zoo for families.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Chania
Akrotiri Flora and Fauna Park
Endemic plants and animals near Venizelos graves.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Rethymno
Rethymno Public Garden
A shady park in the centre.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Agios Vasileios
Apoplystra Rock Formations
Strange rocks in southern Rethymno.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Heraklion
Dia Island
A nature reserve island off Heraklion.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Archanes-Asterousia
Agios Nikitas Palm Forest
A hidden grove of Cretan palms.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Amari
Gious Kampos Plateau
A plateau of endemic tulips at the foot of Kedros.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Sitia
Ziros Plateau
A plateau in the far south-east.
Hidden gem
Plateaus, forests & parks · Archanes-Asterousia
Haroupodasos Carob Forest
A wild carob forest in the Asterousia.