Many of my friends and neighbours in Sweden rent their own car and travel around Crete. And often they ask about greek food and where we eat during our holidays. So here are my best food trips around the area of Chania. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the area if you are fond of the gastronomic culture. Cretans love their soil and produce everything from wine to honey…
Greek food
Did you know that the cretan cuisine differs from the rest of Greece? If you plan to visit Chania this year and love greek food do not miss to do some nice food trips while you are there.
A Swedish travel agency listed the list of ten popular Greek meze in their last campaign about Greek holiday dreams. And yes there are many options to choose when you are at the Greek restaurant….
Manouri med koukounari Greek cream cheese with pine nuts.Fasolakia Cutting beans braised in tomato, onion and olive oil.Saganaki In short, a piece of deep-fried cheese. Midia Green mussels on a rice bed. Grilled with garlic butter.Dolmathakia Wine dolm filled with rice, nuts and various spices. Also works to eat hot and cold.Feta med meli Filo dough filled with feta cheese, topped with honey and sesame seeds.Taramosalata A spread made of fish rum, olive oil, lemon and potatoes or bread. Perfect to put on a piece of bread.Pantzaria Citrus marinated beetroot with feta cheese and roasted sesame seeds.Gigantes Beans in tomato and olive oil.Saligaria White wine Sautéed snails filled with garlic butter.
Culinary trips
Chania town
Leave your hotel or accommodation and walk in the old town and the port of Chania. Old town with its charming Venetian style. Here you will find a good offer with restaurants with a lot of Greek food. My husband and I were delighted with a small fish restaurant at the harbor. At Stelios Psarotaverna, Akti Enoseos, you will find fish and seafood on the menu.
Visit a winery
Manousakis Winery, Vatolakkos Chania. In the village of Vatolakkos you will find the wonderful vineyard Manousakis. This is the story of Theodore Manousakis who leaves his village as 11-year-old for America. However after many years away from Crete he returns 50 years later to plant his first vineyard in Vatolakos. And the rest is history. Book a tour to learn and taste the vines and enjoy the food in the restaurant.
Milia
Milia restaurant, Vlatos, Chania. Another amazing story about the medieval village Milia which once was abandoned and now refurbished to a mountain retreat. Here they cultivate and harvest organic products. Further more the restaurant serves Cretan dishes such as organic vegetables, baby goat and lamb dishes. The village is located near the village Topolia.
Olive oil tour
You see olive trees everywhere in Crete. And a lot of olive oil is produced here. We visited TerraCreta’s facility in the Kolymbari area. In addition you can book a tour and learn about olive oil and taste the different varieties. I didn’t know much about olive oil until we visited the facility, recommend it!
Elos village
Elos village, located 60km from Chania, on the way to Elafonissi, is known for their chestnut trees. During October you can buy chestnuts at the village stores and they make tasty dishes with chestnuts as well. Probably the best village in the area, it has the best restaurants and food according to my opinion.
Did you like this post? If you are planning to get married here contact me here I will be delighted to shoot your wedding in Crete.
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Culinary-trip
Welcome to the city where democracy was born. When you think about Greece you visualise beaches and islands. Athens may not be the city you associate with vacation. However Athens offers a lot more then you might think in the first place. Athens over the weekend is really is one of the best city vacations you can do in Europe. However I recommend you to stay centrally so you are within walking distance of the city’s attractions.
Athens has a lot of nice museums you can explore. I visited the museum of Cycladic art the last time I was there. Some of the museums offers additional photo exhibitions as well. During the summer months, the city explodes by many cultural events. In other words festivals, theatre, shows, dance events and concerts. More information about current events can be found here.
What to see
Acropolis
The city’s main tourist attraction, queues in the entrances are the shortest in the morning and during the winter season. If you visit the Acropolis hill during the summer, you need a hat or cap and bottle of water, as it is always warmer on top than at the entrance. Opening hours and ticket information at the official website.
Secondly Herodion theatre was built by the Athenian philosopher Herodion Atticus as memory of his wife. The theatre is open during the summer with concerts and other performances.
In addition Acropolis Museum, modern and beautiful, where you can follow the history and originals of the statues up close. After that have a cup of coffee or eat in the restaurant with the best view of Acropolis.
Plaka
Plaka is the old town below the Acropolis hill, where there are plenty of restaurants, cafés and shops. The area was populated here in the 17th century and have today many neoclassical buildings in pastel colors. Certanily relaxing to take a walk in this neighbourhood and cozy to stroll around these streets. Its also known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites.
Anafiotika
Anafiotika is the residential area under the Acropolis hill that looks like a small village. Here, artisans moved from the island Anafi to renovate King Otto´s palace at the end of the 19th century. Anafi is one small island in the Agean Sea. You definitely want spent a little time of the weekend to snap some picturesque captures in this part of Athens.
Monastiraki
Monastiraki square is the meeting point for tourists and Athenians. Tzistarakis Mosque was built during the Ottoman Empire and is now a ceramic museum. You have the Metro station here and many shops in the streets around the area. Collectors love this place as you have basars and a flea market in this area as well.
Syntagma
Every Sunday att 11.00 you can watch the ceremony of Evzones or Tsoliades when they change the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The place is in front of the Greek Parlament at Syntagma Square. Likewise you can watch the ceremony every hour every day. However Sundays has a special ceremony and with the official costumes.
“I am not an Athenian or a Greek,
but a citizen of the world”
Diogenes
Where to eat
Eat like a greek or local when you are in Athens over the weekend. Here are the restaurants I have visited and I recommend. By the way Athens offers tourists a lot of food tours. Because food matters and it tells us something more about the history of each city.
- Quick Pitta- Mitropoleos 55. This place offers the best classical Pita with Giro in a fresh and modern interior.
- Skoubri -Drakou 14. Fish restaurant witch resides in the upcoming area Koukaki. Fresh dishes and light interior with a nice fish menu.
- Seychelles - Keramikou 49 Metaxourgeio. Trendy restaurant housed in a cute, early 19th century building. Don’t forget to make a reservation its a popular place.
- To Kati Allo - Chatzichristou 12. A family restaurant serves greek homemade dishes, magirefta, in an old style taverna. It could be greek bean soup, moussaka and other traditional dishes that my mother used to make.
Did you find this post useful? Let me know if you plan your destination wedding here in Athens, I will be more than happy to photograph your wedding day. Check out my elopements here.
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My family comes from the mainland in Greece. I have traveled to many islands through the years but never been to Crete until recently. Now I understand why it´s such a popular destination. Crete is the largest island in Greece and its geographical position have made the people love and grow their land. Olive groves, orange trees or vineyards can be seen after the roads.
Are you going to Crete this summer? If you choose Rethymnon then you will be able to make day trips to the east and to the west side of the island. Or just explore what is around this city. Here are my best culture tips and Rethymnon in 13 photos.
Fortezza castle
Fortezza is built on the hill Paleokastro (means old castle) under the Venetian regime. The Venetians built it to protect the city from the Ottoman occupation. Despite the big castle the Turks conquered the city in the 1600s. In addition the fortress was destroyed during the second World War but is renovated and a mosque and two churches from the 1800s have been preserved.
Preveli
Preveli Monastery is located 37 km from Rethymnon in a beautiful hill overlooking the water of Preveli beach. The monastery is consisted of two main building complexes, the Lower (Kato) Monastery and the Rear (Pisso) Monastery which is in operation today. Nevertheless the beach where the river Grand River opens into the sea, is located about 2 km from the lower Monastery. You will reach the beach within 15 minutes, just walk down the stairs down the hill to the beach.
Arkadi Monastery
Arkadi Monasterys church was built in 1587 by Italian architects and was heavily influenced by the renaissance art. However I’m more impressed over the interiors and beautiful colour of ochre on the walls. So nice to be a monk here and have time for reflection and inner thought in this beautiful environment. I captured a lot of photos here and in the Rethymnon are, more than 13 actually.
If you plan to elope or getting married here in Crete, let me know! I help couples plan and photograph their elopements and weddings in Greece.
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