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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 2008 Loutro & uphill Photos by Herre Heersma 2007 HighRes Sfakia WebCam archive - weather General Links | Accommodation Links  Southwest Crete Photos Sept-Oct 2007 by Henk Roeraade Walk to Mount Gingilos by Herre Heersma 2007 Elafonisi island Photos by Fabrice Perotto   Photos of Sfakia in October by Denis Coghlan October 2007 Selected news about Sfakia, Crete and Greece  South-Crete in Sept-Oct 2007 by Chris Harrison Loutro Photos by Hannes Phoenix Photos September 2007 by Vic Wilkie Greek and Cretan Easter and Christmas Customs Spring in Sfakia in April 2007 by Wiltrud Klundt  Sfakia in October 2007 by George Dalidakis Submit your own Cretan Holiday Pictures Spring flowers in April 2007 by Wiltrud Klundt Sfakia and Crete Picture Galleries  > 2500 pictures Walking around Sfakia, Sougia, Loutro by Mary Patterson April 2007   3D Views of the White Mountains by Steve Crow   Wolfgang Kistler's Sfakia Picture Gallery Panorama Photos by Patrick McGrorty Gavdos island Photos by Steve Crow    Forest fires Selino by Herre Heersma 2007  The Olive Tree and Olive Oil Henk's Pictures of Sfakia 1 - 2 - 3 May 2006    Pictures of Sfakia / Khóra Sfakíon 1966 - 1967 Pictures of Sfakia  1 - 2 May 2006 Pictures of Frangokastello Crete in May by Chris Harrison May 2007 Paleochora Photos by Fabrice Perotto Visit to Mouri, highest village of Sfakia by George Dalidakis April 2006 Sfakia 1968 - 2003     documentary by Jean-Jacques Strahm Easter in Sfakia by George Dalidakis April 2006 Greek Name Days Listing: Calendar and Alphabetical Interactive Satellite Map of Crete April 2006  Statistics Incoming Tourists Greece   Ian Morrissy's Mountain Hiking Pictures of Sfakia part 1 - part 2 November 2005 Diloti - Greek Card Game History of Crete updated by George Dalidakis Birding Report Frangokastello November 2005 Greece's position in the European Union - compared with 13 other countries Pictures of Sfakia  1 - 2 - 3 October 2005 How the Cretan Gorges were formed 3D Satellite Images of Crete Over 1700 links to Crete 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 Prof. Peter Trudgill Herbs and spices of Crete Winds of Crete Maps of Crete and the region of Sfakia The Sphakia Survey: an interdisciplinary archaeological project Sfakia People and the Dorians Cretans outside Crete Social and cultural comparison of Greece and other European countries Map of the village of Chora Sfakion / Khóra Sfakíon Tavli - Greece's National Game  Pictures of Samaria Gorge and Imbros Gorge

Last update: 28 April, 2008 .

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