Travel to Matala

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Matala, Crete

In contrast to the Cretan capital of Heraklion, Matala was the capital of 'hippies' in the 1970s. This little village on the southern coast of the island was home to young and old people from all over the world who came to be reclusive, at the height of the "hippie" era. Their refuge was the cliff on the beach of Matala, which had natural caves that appeared to have been carved by nature to welcome them. Although today they are empty, these caves are protected by fences, so that other residents or tourists do not intrude during the high season. Matala is busiest during the school holidays of the different European countries, especially Germany. Crammed from April to late October, its beach is deserted during the winter and Matala village plunges into a long, dark winter sleep. As everywhere in Crete, the surrounding mountains, plains and plateaus scattered with olive trees are full of historic sites.

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pros

•  The authentic accommodation
•  A protected setting

cons

•  Matala is no longer Matala
•  Barely developped hotel services

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Weather Matala - choosing the best time to go

Visit Matala

• To see

  From the visit to the ruins of the palace of Knossos, to the Minoan ruins of Festos and the palace of Malia, history lovers will find plenty to do. You can also visit the famous Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, which embraces the entirety of the Minoan civilization, or discover Fodele, the village where it is said that the painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos was born, better known by the name El Greco (1541-1614).

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  To do

  The majority of day-trips in the region of Matala are organised by the respective tourism offices of the hotels on the north coast of the island. Often, people make a stop over here for one night without staying long before leaving to continue on a planned journey.

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  To think about

  If you arrive in the middle of summer, do not overload your luggage, and make sure to bring along light cotton clothes.

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• To avoid

  Avoid making a call to the UK from your hotel room, otherwise the bill will be quite hefty. Opt for phone cards as there are telephone booths everywhere!

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  To try

  Restaurants are in abundance here. Here you will find typical Cretan dishes such as gyros, Greek salad, slouvakia and moussaka.

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  To bring back

  On the markets, you can find food, herbs, olive oil and Cretan cheese. In the shops, CDs of local music are sold. The raki is cherished as an institution, taste it and bring a bottle back for your friends.

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Hotels reviews by the Easyexperts

Places to sleep in Crete this summer

Crete is the home of the Minoan civilization and its priceless history is exposed to the world thanks to the various relics found all over the island. Beautiful sunny beaches, a large hotel infrastructure, the biggest island of the Mediterranean can today boast being a much appreciated tourist destination. ...

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Matala in pictures

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Camari Garden Hotel Apts

 

Score 8/10

susan humphries 18/04/2011 : "Lovely little family run resort. two pools, tiny playground. Great for families with young children. Little beach down the road.Friendly"

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Imeros

 

Score 9/10

Shell Bell 24/08/2010 : "Great budget choice in Chania's beautiful old town, close to everything and excellent value. "

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Irini

 

Score 7/10

Shell Bell 24/08/2010 : "Good value and perfectly acceptable for one night if you're just passing through..."

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Hotel reviews Crete

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