From picturesque seashores to rugged mountains, solo journey to Crete affords gorgeous landscapes. Its wealthy historical past and heat, welcoming locals make it a secure 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 deliver, the island was peaceable, with heat climate daily and balmy evenings at night time.
I explored numerous seashores, swam within the ocean a number of occasions a day, and ate my fill of bread and tzatziki each night time, making for an ideal solo journey to Crete.
Tourism is essential to the native economic 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 possible converse English or present English menus should 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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Solo journey to Crete: fast data
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Is solo journey to Crete secure?
On my first night time 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 may 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 outdoors the hut. They gave the impression to be in search of a approach in. I spent a couple of seconds frozen in concern – then determined to decide on battle over flight.
“Hey!” I yelled, flashing my cellphone torch by means of the glass of the doorframe. The intruder backed away, stunned.
“Is that this not Michael’s lodging?” he requested, persevering with, “I feel I’m staying right here.”
“I’m staying right here,” I responded as assertively as I may handle. He apologized and backed away, and after a fitful night time of sleep, I awoke and noticed him on the veranda reverse.
“I’m so sorry,” he mentioned. I bought the unsuitable hut; that is my one.” He was a innocent middle-aged man.
“That should 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 bought 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.
Whereas I loved the solitude I discovered in Greece quite a bit, 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 through the night time on my own and felt fully relaxed.
Regardless of this expertise, Crete is understood to be a really secure place to journey – the economic system depends on tourism, so any dangerous experiences that vacationers have will in the end impression the locals essentially the most.
In order for you further reassurance throughout your solo journey to Crete, deliver 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 simple
As I mentioned, Crete is a large island – however you don’t want a automobile to navigate it. Reap the benefits of native bus techniques and coaches operating day journeys to vacationer websites.
Chances are you’ll effectively meet a fellow solo traveler in your journey.
Crete is a shocking 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 wonderful picture backdrops.
Simply since you’re touring solo doesn’t imply you may’t get the right 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 elements of Crete was that the most effective exercise was to remain at my lodging, drink a glass of wine whereas watching the ocean, after which get an early night time.
An easy 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 satisfy fellow solo vacationers in Crete
In contrast to different solo journeys the place I’ve solely bought to know fellow backpackers, there are all sorts 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 every week of enjoyable, you by no means know who you would possibly meet.
Strike up conversations, meet folks on excursions or obtain a relationship app for a bit of fine 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 the most effective time.
You are feeling 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. Lastly, touring to Crete solo 15 years later undoubtedly introduced that cinematic expertise to life.
However even should you’re not an ABBA fan, the fantastic thing about the infinite blue sea dotted with lots of of tiny islands is plain.
Board your ferry, put your headphones on, and lose your self wanting on the panorama floating by.
Crete has dwell music galore
No must 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 night time.
Crete has abundance of cafe tradition
Considered 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 millions of kilometres to discover in Crete
Crete is very large – like severely huge. It’s the most important Greek island and has over a thousand kilometres of shoreline.
When you head to the less-touristy south of the island, you’ll possible 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.
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 house along with your ideas while 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 infinite slices of bread.
Tt’s honest 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 guess is to accomplice 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 will serve you half parts of their dishes – they did this for me, no downside.
Your folks could also be older than you assume
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 Historical Greek tradition
Crete is residence 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 pull me again to actuality, I really felt like I used to be transported again to Historical 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 delicate 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’ll 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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