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Sfakia, in the southwest of Crete, is the famous and most authentic region of Crete. Here you can find the last pieces of the old Cretan culture and nature, far away from mass tourism. Whether you are looking for the nice and quiet, on the natural beaches, or want to be active, with mountain hiking, swimming, diving and fishing: this is THE place! By the way, did you know Sfakia is Europe's southernmost part?

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Nowadays Crete's main businesses are olive oil, wine and tourism. The latter is mainly centered along the North coast. The South West is sheltered from the masses by huge mountain ranges of over 2500 metres high. Only a few roads go south. There you arrive in a better climate region, even better than the Mediterranean climate! Since the mountains appear to sink directly in the sea, only small locations are suitable for villages. This scales down the possibilities for holiday resorts. Since Sfakia is quite remote, also the culture of their inhabitants is less business focused. Hospitality is still an art over here, with good tavernas, fresh fish and meat and very fair prices. The drinking water is mineral water from wells deep into the mountains. The natural beaches are wells of mountain rivers, with sweet water mixing with the sea. The best and most clear swimming water is here.

The hills and mountains are crossed by huge gorges; Sfakia's Samaria gorge is the biggest of Europe, but there are many more and all can be walked fairly easily. A ferry is connecting the villages along the South West coast; there is no noisy ongoing road. Directly from your hotel in Chora Sfakion, the small capital of Sfakia, you can start your daily programme: the beaches are only 25 meters away, more than 20 hiking routes start from here, all ferries come to Chora Sfakion and there is a good bus connection to the East and the North, by renovated 2 lane streets. You can also rent a car to explore the region, with its many small traditional villages.

In the evenings you have a choice of fine restaurants and tavernas, with local dishes of fresh fish, lobster, lam and goat or more international dishes. The Cretan wine is excellent and so is the olive oil and the Raki or Tsikoudia, as they call it: a tasty spirit made from the remains of the wine production. The Sfakians like to join you at your table and tell their stories or listen to yours. For disco and night clubs you have chosen the wrong place.

When you arrive by plane on Crete, you have the choice of 2 airports: Heraklion and Chania. If you have the chance, take Chania. This one is far more close to Sfakia, but even more important: it's small and quiet: check out is very quick and outside you can take the local bus, a pre-ordered taxi from Sfakia or rent a car. A one-and-a half hour's drive through the impressive White Mountains range down south brings you to paradise!

Please check the practical facts for visitors page

Sfakia Webcam

Our selection of family run holiday accommodations in Sfakia, southwest coast Crete Hotels, Rooms, Studios, Apartments, Car hire, Taxi WHAT'S NEW ABOUT SFAKIA and CRETE: Practical information for visitors to Sfakia Ferry timetables southwest coast 2009 Bettina's Current Photo Report from Sfakia 2010 Live HighRes Sfakia WebCam archive - weather General Links | Accommodation Links Airports Crete: arrivals and departures 2010 Photos Around Sfakia October 2009 by Henk Photos Around Sfakia October 2009 by Wiltrud Photos Around Sfakia July-August 2009 by Angelika Photos Around Loutro October 2009 by Janni Photos Around Loutro July 2009 by Valerie Large photo Samaria gorge June 2009 by Willem Walks and hikes in Sfakia: an overview The Monuments of Sfakia by Yorgos Around West Crete Photos June 2009 by Willem All web sites of Chora Sfakion Photos Underwater World of Sfakia by Damoulis Photos Southwest Coast Mountains 2009 by Michael GPS Maps of Crete and Greece 2009 Greek and Cretan Easter and Christmas Customs Searching 100 churches in Chora Sfakion by Yorgos Where the name Sfakia comes from? by Yorgos New Books about Sfakia, Crete 3D Views of the White Mountains by Steve Two mountain walks in Sfakia June 2008 by Colin Panorama Photos by Patrick Submit your own Cretan Holiday Pictures Wolfgang Kistler's Sfakia Picture Gallery The Olive Tree and Olive Oil Spring flowers in April 2007 by Wiltrud Walk to Mount Gingilos 2007 by Herre Maps of Crete and the region of Sfakia Pictures of Frangokastello Pachnes Summit Panorama Map by Steve Paleochora Photos by Fabrice History of Crete Sfakia 1968 - 2003 documentary by Jean-Jacques Greek Name Days Listing: Calendar and Alphabetical Sfakia and Crete Picture Galleries > 4100 photos Gavdos island Photos by Steve Statistics Incoming Tourists Greece Mountain Hiking Photos Sfakia Nov 2005 by Ian Diloti - Greek Card Game Birding Report Frangokastello Nov 2005 Pictures of Sfakia 1 - 2 - 3 Oct 2005 Greece's position in the European Union - compared with 13 other countries Interactive Satellite Map of Crete How the Cretan Gorges were formed 3D Satellite Images of Crete Over 1700 links to Cretan web sites 4 Large Maps of Crete - road map Crete Top 100 Cretan Travel Sites Raki - Tsikoudia : The Cretan Spirit Winter in Sfakia Photo Reports 2002 - 2003 Sfakian Dialect by Peter Herbs and spices of Crete Winds of Crete The Sphakia Survey: archaeological project Old Slides of Sfakia 1987 - 1989 Sfakia People and the Dorians Social and cultural comparison of Greece and other European countries Map of the village of Chora Sfakion / Khóra Sfakíon City maps of Chania - Rethymno - Heraklion Tavli - Greece's National Game Pictures of Samaria Gorge and Imbros Gorge

Last update: 31 December, 2009 .

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