Greek islands during winter

Subject to winds and storms, very rarely even snow, but still a lot warmer than the mainland, the islands take a break and get prepared for the next tourist season. Somewhat melancholic and lonely but still very attractive ...

Spinalonga - Σπιναλόνγα

Spinalonga (officially named Kalydon) is a tiny, fortified islet positioned at the mouth of the natural harbor of Elounda in the Gulf of Mirabello. Today, it stands as one of Greece’s most visited historical sites, celebrated for its layered architectural past and deep emotional weight. The island was originally carved away from the mainland by the Venetians in the 16th century to form an impenetrable, bastion-type fortress designed to safeguard local trading ports from pirate raids and Ottoman invaders. Its monumental stone walls were so robust that Spinalonga managed to resist Ottoman conquest for nearly half a century after the rest of Crete had surrendered. Following a civilian Ottoman period, the island underwent its most notorious transformation in 1903, when the Greek state officially designated it as a restricted quarantine zone to act as Europe’s very last active leper colony until its abandonment in 1957.

Walking through the islet today is an intensely evocative experience that has captured international attention, heavily popularized by Victoria Hislop’s bestselling novel, The Island. Visitors arrive via regular short shuttle boats from the nearby coastal towns of Elounda or Plaka, immediately passing through Dante's Gate—the low, heavy stone entry tunnel through which diagnosed patients were once marched into lifelong exile. Rather than a place of absolute despair, the preserved ruins reveal how the patients defiantly built a highly dignified, self-sustaining community complete with their own schools, churches, coffee shops, and even a small cinema. Visitors can walk the scenic 1.5-kilometer loop trail around the island’s perimeter, exploring the multi-story Venetian ramparts, old hospital wards, and rows of roofless stone houses that stand in striking, silent contrast against the brilliant turquoise backdrop of the Ionian Sea.

Chrissi (Gaidouronisi) - Χρυσή (Γαϊδουρονήσι)

Gaidouronisi (officially known as Chrissi Island, meaning "Golden Island") is an uninhabited, tropical-style paradise floating in the brilliant waters of the Libyan Sea, roughly 15 kilometers south of Ierapetra. This almost entirely flat islet earned its local nickname, which translates to "Donkey Island," because mainland residents historically brought their aging donkeys here to peacefully live out their final days in nature. The islet is world-renowned for its surreal coastal palette, boasting blindingly white-and-pink sands formed by millions of crushed seashells that contrast beautifully with a translucent, neon-turquoise sea. Beyond its stunning coastline, Gaidouronisi holds massive ecological weight as a strictly protected Natura 2000 sanctuary, playing host to a 13th-century chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, fossilized marine life from hundreds of thousands of years ago, and Europe's largest natural forest of ancient Lebanon cedar and juniper trees, with some roots anchoring into the sand dunes for over 200 to 300 years.

Because its delicate environment is so exceptionally fragile, Gaidouronisi has recently become a leading symbol for sustainable tourism and ecological recovery in Greece. Following decades of severe overtourism that heavily threatened the island’s groundwater and ancient tree roots, regional authorities enacted strict environmental protection measures. Under these ongoing regulations, tourist boats and catamaran cruises departing from Ierapetra are no longer permitted to drop visitors off directly onto the dry shore. Instead, vessels must anchor out in the deeper, sheltered bays, allowing day-trippers to swim, snorkel, and appreciate the magnificent golden views completely from the water while keeping the fragile island interior entirely off-limits. Even with these landing restrictions, a sea excursion to float alongside its pristine shores remains one of the most magical, wild, and visually rewarding experiences in southern Crete.

Crete -> Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi - Άγιος Νικόλαος, Λασίθι

Lasithi, occupying the easternmost region of Crete, is a spellbinding prefecture where slow-paced traditional life, mystical mythology, and untouched natural beauty remain beautifully preserved. The region is unique for its dramatic geographical layout, defined by the towering Dikti Mountains which frame the magnificent Lasithi Plateau. This high-altitude fertile plain is a green patchwork of agriculture historically famous for thousands of white-sailed windmills that once pumped water across the crops. Tucked into the steep slopes above the plateau lies the Psychro Cave, a mystical subterranean cavern filled with towering stalactites where ancient Greek mythology states the goddess Rhea hid to give birth to Zeus. Along its coastlines, Lasithi drops down into a world of luxury and exotic scenery, from the exclusive waterfront resorts of Elounda and the historic fortress island of Spinalonga, to the absolute eastern edge at Vai Beach, which hosts Europe's largest natural palm forest with over 5,000 ancient Cretan date palms.

The heartbeat of this eastern prefecture is its picturesque capital, Agios Nikolaos, a charming, cosmopolitan harbor town built across three hills overlooking the spectacular, island-dotted Gulf of Mirabello. What distinguishes this coastal city is its unique layout centered entirely around Lake Voulismeni, a deep, circular body of emerald water connected to the open sea by a narrow channel. Local folklore once claimed the lake was bottomless and that the goddesses Athena and Artemis used to bathe here. Today, the red-rock cliffs framing the lake are lined with a lively amphitheater of open-air cafés, trendy bars, and traditional seafood tavernas, while traditional wooden fishing boats bob gently alongside the docks. The town serves as an exceptional base for exploring eastern Crete, blending urban pedestrian streets filled with boutique shops and art galleries with immediate access to pristine beaches like Kitroplatia and Almyros, delivering a perfect masterclass in slow-paced Mediterranean hospitality.