From picturesque seashores to rugged mountains, solo journey to Crete gives gorgeous landscapes. Its wealthy historical past and heat, welcoming locals make it a protected and enriching place for a solo journey.
Final September, I went to Crete for 3 weeks on my own.
With out the height vacationer crowds that July and August carry, the island was peaceable, with heat climate daily 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 financial system in Crete – and the island is ready up for vacationers accordingly.
Whereas it’s nice to study “good morning,” “please,” and “thanks” in Greek, the locals will seemingly communicate English or present English menus when you’re at a restaurant.
It’s fairly easygoing as a first solo journey journey. Listed below are extra recommendations on solo journey to Crete (together with my private experiences as a lady touring alone).
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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 in all probability break into my bed room with out a lot effort.
However I pushed these ideas to the again of my thoughts and drifted off to sleep.
Round midnight, I heard somebody transferring round exterior the hut. They gave the impression to be in search of a means in. I spent a couple of seconds frozen in worry – then determined to decide on combat over flight.
“Hey!” I yelled, flashing my cellphone torch by means of the glass of the doorframe. The intruder backed away, shocked.
“Is that this not Michael’s lodging?” he requested, persevering with, “I believe I’m staying right here.”
“I’m staying right here,” I responded as assertively as I might handle. He apologized and backed away, and after a fitful evening of sleep, I wakened and noticed him on the veranda reverse.
“I’m so sorry,” he stated. I received the improper hut; that is my one.” He was a innocent middle-aged man.
“That will need to 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 received 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 individuals in my hostel dorm.
Whereas I loved the solitude I discovered in Greece loads, I additionally realized on this journey that I really feel safer in a bustling metropolis surrounded by hundreds of thousands of individuals than I did staying in a tiny, remoted city.
Whereas staying in Heraklion, the most important metropolis in Crete, I walked round in the course of the evening on my own and felt fully comfy.
Regardless of this expertise, Crete is understood to be a really protected place to journey – the financial system depends on tourism, so any dangerous experiences that vacationers have will in the end impression the locals essentially the most.
If you need further reassurance throughout your solo journey to Crete, carry a doorstop alarm that may go off if anybody tries to enter your room.
And make pals along with your neighbors so there’s somebody close by that will help you out.
Is Crete good for solo journey?
ABSOLUTELY! Listed below are some explanation why solo journey to Crete:
Getting round Crete is straightforward
As I stated, Crete is an enormous island – however you don’t want a automobile to navigate it. Reap the benefits of native bus methods and coaches operating day journeys to vacationer websites.
You might nicely meet a fellow solo traveler in your journey.
Crete is a surprising vacation spot for photographers
There’s no denying that Crete is gorgeous. The small alleyways in Chania and Heraklion and the lengthy stretches of white sand and turquoise water make glorious picture backdrops.
Simply since you’re touring solo doesn’t imply you possibly can’t get the proper snap. Arrange a self-timer and spend so long as you need taking images with nobody to rush you.
Solo journey to Crete may be peaceable
Is it simply me who will get huge 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 one of the best exercise was to remain at my lodging, drink a glass of wine whereas watching the ocean, after which get an early evening.
A simple solo traveler exercise that didn’t include the dose of FOMO I might need gotten if I used to be staying in a metropolis that by no means sleeps.
It’s simple to fulfill fellow solo vacationers in Crete
Not like different solo journeys the place I’ve solely received to know fellow backpackers, there are all varieties of individuals 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 every week of enjoyable, you by no means know who you would possibly meet.
Strike up conversations, meet individuals on excursions or obtain a relationship app for a bit of excellent previous Tinder tourism.
Whereas 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 one of the best time.
You are feeling such as you’re in a film
My need to go to Greece could have began with my obsession with Mamma Mia after I was 10. Lastly, touring to Crete solo 15 years later positively introduced that cinematic expertise to life.
However even when you’re not an ABBA fan, the great thing about the countless blue sea dotted with a whole lot of tiny islands is simple.
Board your ferry, put your headphones on, and lose your self trying on the panorama floating by.
Crete has dwell music galore
No have to plan your night out in Heraklion, Crete’s largest metropolis – merely comply with your ears.
I discovered a lot dwell music within the city by merely wandering by means of the streets and discovering bands arrange in squares, full with locals enthusiastically dancing.
Or strive numerous bars the place music retains the vitality going all through the evening.
Crete has abundance of cafe tradition
Certainly 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), whilst you chat with the cafe proprietor, look out on the sea or watch the world go by.
There are literally thousands of kilometres to discover in Crete
Crete is huge – like critically huge. It’s the most important Greek island and has over a thousand kilometres of shoreline.
In case you head to the less-touristy south of the island, you’ll seemingly discover complete 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.
Stress-free comes with the territory throughout a solo journey to Crete and also you’ll discover all of the solitude you wish to get area along with your ideas once you’re by your self.
Greek meals is to die for
Octopus cooked contemporary from the ocean; crispy calamari garnished with a squeeze of lemon, lightly-whipped baba ganoush, or creamy tzatziki unfold on countless 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, remember that lots of the finest dishes in native tavernas are small plates.
I used to be on a strict finances on my solo journey to Crete, so I couldn’t order the entire menu even when I needed to.
Your finest wager is to companion with a fellow traveler or pleasant native to have dinner with (extra on that later!) so you possibly can pattern extra from the menu.
Or ask the chef if they will serve you half parts of their dishes – they did this for me, no drawback.
Your folks 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.
However letting go of this preconceived notion can open you as much as many nice experiences – there are various older holiday-makers in Crete, and spending time with them could also be a spotlight of your journey.
I fell in love with Historic 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 pals to tug me again to actuality, I actually felt like I used to be transported again to Historic Greece as I wandered by means of its ruins.
Plus, going solo meant I used to be in a position to hearken to a podcast on the bus journey 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 top of September. I used to be rewarded with gentle climate, lengthy stretches of idyllic seashores with barely a soul in sight, and cheaper lodging – good for finances backpackers.
Whereas there have been nonetheless vacationers on the streets, it was undoubtedly much less busy than in July or August.
Nevertheless, 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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