When planning your next holiday, the first thing you need to decide on is where you want to go. This tends to come in the form of something broad, such as holiday villas in Crete, so we want to help you whittle down whereabouts on the island you should visit.

Being the largest of the Greek islands means that there are plenty of places for you to explore, but you may prefer some destinations to others depending on what you’re looking for in a holiday. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve put together a list of villages on the west of the island to tell you what makes them so great.

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    Armeni

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    This sleepy village is located on the North West of the island, around 2km inland from the sandy beaches at the mouth of Souda Bay. At the beach you can expect to be able to do a spot of sunbathing or try your hand at some more energetic activities, such as pedaloes and waterskiing.

    The village of Armeni itself is surrounded with olive, avocado and orange groves, creating beautiful shady surroundings for you to truly relax. The close-knit community means that you can delve into the Cretian life by visiting one of their two local tavernas, the butcher and cheese deli, and the baker; it really is a foodie’s dream destination!

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    Vrisses

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    The streets of Vrisses are lined by plane trees, mini markets, and tavernas that serve the village’s famous yoghurt. You can expect gorgeous views of the White Mountains from Vrisses, as well as the banks of the river Voutakis.

    If you want to spend some of your time at the beach, Georgoupolis is only around a 15 minute drive away and offers crystal clear waters for you to swim in. The walkers among you will be pleased to hear that the many gorges and other small villages surrounding Vrisses make it the perfect hub to venture out from.     

Douliana

A quaint traditional village located in the North West of the island, Douliana is a great place to explore, as well as a hub to venture to other places within Crete. It’s close to a number of sandy beaches, the historical town of Chania and its Venetian harbour, as well as a 1.5 hour drive from the archaeological sites of Knossos and Phaestos.

Within the village there are a number of traditional shops and buildings, as well as a few fantastic tavernas to sit back and relax in.