Gouves holidays

The food alone is a great excuse to escape to Crete, particularly Gouves where the authentic cheese pie, formally known as ‘sarikopitakia‘ and dakos which is the Cretan answer to bruschetta are served at a high standard. Fun fact, most restaurants will offer grapes/fruit or a small dessert free of charge at the end of your meal. And did you know that olive oil is like liquid gold here? Nothing is cooked without it. Fried snails doused in wine is also a delicacy and Spyros Taverna is home to some of the resort’s finest. Seafood lovers will appreciate Limanaki Cafe which is ranked the best restaurant in Gouves and has a sensational rating on Tripadvisor. If you’re a fan of a juicy kebabs back home, then a gyros at Divina Taverna will have your mouth watering with delight. Made up of chicken (or a meat of your choosing), salad, fries and sauce stuffed into a doughy pitta bread, you won’t be able to resist. Meals are often wrapped up with a shot of Ouzo, a dry aniseed flavoured spirit or Raki which is of a similar taste.

This well organised stretch is at the foothill of the Ederi Mountain, meaning it can be admired from up high as well as directly on the sand. Impressing guests with its idyllic sun-soaked shores covered with sunloungers and umbrellas in preparation for those sizzling days, it’s the ultimate sun trap. Boasting showers, lifeguard supervision, changing rooms and backed by many cafes, everything you could possibly need is at your disposal. There’s a small pier and marina just a short stroll away, which is protected from the waves and allows mini swimmers to paddle safely in its shallow, calm waters. And if you’re in need of some thrill, there’s a small selection of watersports and the dive centre is a huge hit with deep-sea lovers with boating expeditions leaving a few days a week.

If you’re happy enjoying the laid-back ambience Gouves is renowned for, then there’s no need to leave the resort centre. With snorkelling adventures, hiking routes up Ederi and cosy cocktail spots, it really does have that get-away-from-it-all vibe.

Day trips to Heraklion: Make your way to the fifth largest city in Greece – after all, it’s only 20 minutes from Gouves, so it would be rude not to. Famed for its history, its biggest highlight is the Palace of Knossos – the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. This huge archaeological site dates back thousands of years to the Minoan civilization. But that’s not all, Heraklion is home to a celebrated Venetian port which is protected by the 16th century Koules fortress. Head to its archaeological museum to discover the largest collection of Minoan art before roaming its cobbles for fine dining restaurants and quirky boutiques.

Revel in lively antics at Hersonissos: This popular city is a big hit with tourists and is known as the ‘King of Crete’ due to its upbeat nightlife and music-pumping waterfront. Its trio of large sandy stretches is one of its biggest allures – after all, it borders both the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea making it a real find for watersport enthusiasts. Here you’ll also locate Aquaworld Aquarium where you can get an up close and personal with your favourite deep-sea animals. Better yet, there’s a reptile rescue centre for snake encounters and nearby by a dinosaur park.