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 evening.
I explored numerous seashores, swam within the ocean a number of occasions 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 about up for vacationers accordingly.
Whereas it’s nice to be taught “good morning,” “please,” and “thanks” in Greek, the locals will probably communicate English or present English menus for those who’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 girl touring alone).
Be part of my group journeys for single vacationers!
Journey the world alone (collectively) with like-minded people and conquer your worry of touring alone.
Solo journey to Crete: fast data
Join Alone Collectively Publication and obtain recommendations on how you can conquer the world alone: assembly individuals, staying with native households, security ideas, and very useful assets for all genders.
Is solo journey to Crete secure?
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.
However I pushed these ideas to the again of my thoughts and drifted off to sleep.
Round midnight, I heard somebody shifting round exterior the hut. They gave the impression to be on the lookout for a approach in. I spent a number of seconds frozen in worry – then determined to decide on combat over flight.
“Hey!” I yelled, flashing my telephone torch by 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 awoke and noticed him on the veranda reverse.
“I’m so sorry,” he stated. I acquired the incorrect 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 acquired into mattress throughout my time in Crete.
I used to be staying in a mixture of low cost motels, AirBnBs, and hostels – and felt the most secure surrounded by individuals 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 thousands and thousands of individuals than I did staying in a tiny, remoted city.
Whereas staying in Heraklion, the biggest metropolis in Crete, I walked round in the course of the evening on my own and felt fully relaxed.
Regardless of this expertise, Crete is thought to be a really secure 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’d like additional 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 you recognize there’s somebody close by that can assist you out.
Is Crete good for solo journey?
ABSOLUTELY! Listed below are some the explanation why solo journey to Crete:
Getting round Crete is simple
As I stated, Crete is a large island – however you don’t want a automotive to navigate it. Reap the benefits of native bus programs and coaches working day journeys to vacationer websites.
You might 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 glorious photograph 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 might be peaceable
Is it simply me who will get huge FOMO once I’m touring in a spot with a bustling nightlife however don’t really feel like going out alone?
What I cherished 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 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 fulfill fellow solo vacationers in Crete
In contrast to different solo journeys the place I’ve solely acquired to know fellow backpackers, there are all forms 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 per week of enjoyable, you by no means know who you would possibly meet.
Strike up conversations, meet individuals on excursions or obtain a courting app for a bit of excellent outdated Tinder tourism.
Whereas I cherished 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’re feeling such as you’re in a film
My want to go to Greece could have began with my obsession with Mamma Mia once I was 10. Lastly, touring to Crete solo 15 years later undoubtedly introduced that cinematic expertise to life.
However even for those who’re not an ABBA fan, the great thing about the limitless blue sea dotted with a whole bunch 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 must plan your night out in Heraklion, Crete’s greatest metropolis – merely observe your ears.
I discovered a lot dwell music within the city by merely wandering by the streets and discovering bands arrange in squares, full with locals enthusiastically dancing.
Or attempt 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), when 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 critically massive. It’s the biggest Greek island and has over a thousand kilometres of shoreline.
If you happen to head to the less-touristy south of the island, you’ll probably 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 only a few metres away.
Stress-free comes with the territory throughout a solo journey to Crete and also you’ll discover all of the solitude you need to get area along with your ideas whenever 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 limitless slices of bread.
Tt’s truthful to say that Greek meals has my coronary heart. I cherished the meals I ate in Crete – however as a solo traveller, bear in mind that lots of the greatest 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 wished to.
Your greatest guess 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 downside.
Your pals 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 shall be my age.
However letting go of this preconceived notion can open you as much as many nice experiences – there are numerous 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 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 tug me again to actuality, I really felt like I used to be transported again to Historic 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 journey there to be taught 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 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’ll have been unfortunate there, however if you wish to assure a bustling hostel scene, then attempt travelling in June or early September.
TALK TO TRISHA
Let me assist you to plan your journey!
I’ve been giving knowledgeable and real recommendation to solo vacationers and digital nomads for the final 15 years. You select the vacation spot and I’ll reply all of your questions!
