Agency
Your tour guide's office is located in the building of the local Destination Touristic Services agency
Kazantzidis & Vosporou 13, GR 71601
Heraklion / Crete
Telephone: +30 2810 335503 /+30 2810 335504
Email: sek.her@dertouristik.com
Pharmacy
You can recognize Greek pharmacies (Farmakion) by a green or red cross on a white background. Usually the opening times are Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 14:00 h, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only 18:00 – 21:00 h.
If you need medication outside of these opening times, you will find a notice in every pharmacy with the address of the nearest emergency pharmacy. Your hotel reception will also provide you with information. If you have taken out health insurance abroad, get a receipt for medication, which you then submit to your insurance company in Germany.
Doctor
Of course, we hope you won't get sick on your vacation. However, if it does happen, please contact the reception of your holiday hotel or your tour guide.
Most general practitioners provide treatment for cash. At home, you can submit the invoice to your health insurance company or the international health insurance company for reimbursement.
Excursions
Crete is much too good “just for swimming”. You can find our extensive excursion program on this website. In addition, the various excursions will be presented to you during the briefing. You can book the excursions of your choice after the conversation with your tour guide, who will be happy to provide you with further details about the excursions.
Baden
The beaches of Crete are public. Please note that there are sometimes dangerous currents and heed any warning or mandatory notices.
Banks
These are from Monday to Friday in the period from 08:00 - 14:00 h open. Some have ATMs where you can withdraw money with your debit or credit card.
shopping
You can buy gold and silver jewelery cheaper than in Germany. However, we recommend that you seek advice from a specialist shop. Popular souvenirs include pottery, wine, olive oil and ouzo, the Greek aniseed liquor.
Heraklion is particularly ideal for shopping your souvenirs. Between the port and the Morosini fountain you will find a variety of related shops. But you will also find interesting offers at your holiday destination or during excursions. The prices seem to be fixed everywhere, but here and there the bargaining is successful. Just try it. Here are some suggestions for your holiday shopping:
- Hand-woven fabrics, carpets, wall hangings and table runners, and lacework. Knitted clothing made from Cretan sheep's wool is also offered everywhere.
- Pottery can be found in the famous places Margaritas and Trapsanon. There is also a large pottery workshop on the main street near Malia. Special, handcrafted, antique pieces can be found in a shop on Museum Square in Heraklion.
- Gold and silver jewelry is available in all variations and, as already mentioned, at relatively low prices. The most common motif is the double ax, the Minoan symbol of war and strength. When you buy the famous Phaestos discos, you are faced with the mystery of an as yet undeciphered picture script.
- A special souvenir is the komboloia (a chain made of plastic, glass beads and much more, in terms of optics almost comparable to the rosary), which the Cretan men constantly use to play, or the wedding bread (a savory biscuit). These gift loaves used to be part of the dowry and were particularly valued peasant gifts.
- Artistically processed photos with Cretan motifs are a permanent reminder of your vacation and are available in kiosks and bookstores.
- An icon is also a very special memory of your Greek vacation. At an icon painter in Heraklion, those interested can watch the production and of course also buy icons.
- Please note that antiquarian works of art may only be exported with special official approval.
Filming & photography
The island's landscape offers an infinite variety of great motifs. Photography and filming is generally prohibited in religious facilities, and the same applies to military zones.
Nothing is as fascinating as foreign cultures and faces. But please allow the slightest form of courtesy to prevail. Ask - if there is no other way, with gestures - whether you can take a photo. In most cases they will be happy to allow you to take pictures. And many are happy when you show them the result (advantage of a digital camera).
Business hours
The opening times are from
Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 14:00 hours
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only 18:00 – 21:00 h
Authorities, banks and post offices are closed in the afternoon. Some supermarkets / shops are also open in the afternoon on Saturdays. Souvenir shops are open daily.
church service
The Greek Orthodox service takes place every Sunday from 07 to XNUMX:00 - 10:00 h instead. Please note the dress code - shoulders and knees must be covered. Men must wear long pants. If you don't follow these rules, you will almost certainly not be allowed into the church.
Consulates
Find in Heraklion at the following addresses
Germany: Dikeosini Str. 7, 4th floor, phone: +30 2810 26288
Austria and Switzerland: Mavsolou 201 Nea Alikarnassos, Telephone: +30 2810 331443
tap water
It is often not recommended for drinking, it is better to buy mineral water. However, it is suitable for cooking for coffee or tea and for brushing your teeth without hesitation.
Public buses
These go in all directions of the island. You can find out the departure times at the bus stops or at the reception of your hotel. As departure times change frequently, you should always find out more before planning a trip. Please do not forget that there are limited timetables on Sundays and public holidays.
Museums
You can also visit many interesting museums during your stay. Here is a selection of the most important:
Heraklion:
Archeological Museum, Chatzidaki & Xanthoudidou 1, Eleftherias SQ., Telephone: +30 2810 279000, 08:00 - 15:00 h (Mondays 12:00 - 17:00 h, from mid-May 08:00 - 20:00h), 4€
Historical Museum, SOF. Venizelou Av., Phone: +30 2810 283219, 09:00 - 17:00 h, 5€, closed on Sundays and public holidays
Natural History Museum, SOF. Venizelou Av., Phone: +30 2810 282740, 09:00 - 20:00 h, (on weekends 10:00 – 21:00
h), €8
Ag. Aikaterini Icon Museum, Ag. Minas SQ, Phone: +30 2810 242111, 09:30 - 15:30 h, €2, closed on Mondays
Kazantzakis Museum, Mirthia, Phone: +30 2810 741689, 09:00 - 17:00h, 3€
Sitia:
Archaeological Museum, National Road – Piskokefalos, Phone: +30 28430 23917, 08:30 - 15:00 h, 2€, closed on Mondays
Ierapetra:
Archeological Museum in the Ottoman Trade School, phone: +30 28420 28721, 07:30 - 15:30 h, €2, closed on Mondays
Napoleon's house, near the port
Post
You can get stamps from the post office as well as from the hotel reception, but usually only together with postcards. For letters or postcards within Europe, you need a €0,75 stamp. Send your holiday greetings in good time, a postcard can sometimes take a few weeks to arrive.
Electricity
The voltage is 220 volts. If your plug does not fit, please contact the reception of your hotel. You can get adapter plugs in electronics stores or supermarkets.
Phone
You can make calls from the public phone booths with phone cards. You can buy the phone cards at every kiosk and in supermarkets. The area code for Germany is 0049, for Austria 0043, for Switzerland 0041, then dial the area code without the first zero and then the subscriber number.
Toilet paper
Hard to believe, but true. In many cases, the used toilet paper must not be thrown into the toilet, otherwise the drain pipes will clog. Please note the relevant information or, if in doubt, throw your toilet paper into the container provided.
Environment
Please help to protect nature and the environment on your holiday island. Only together can we succeed in leaving future generations with an environment that is as healthy as possible.
Precious wet
Please save water and refrain, for example, from showering for a long time or showering several times a day. Please also inform your hotelier or your travel agent about leaking taps or toilet flushes. Do not apply sunscreen immediately before swimming, otherwise the sunscreen will not protect your skin and will contaminate the seawater or swimming pool.
Full energy ahead
When leaving the room, please switch off electrical devices and other energy sources such as air conditioning, lights and / or television. Use the public transport of your holiday destination or conquer the area by bike, for example.
On tour with nature
Please observe the information and mandatory signs in protected areas and waters and take your excursion waste back to your hotel. They will dispose of them for you there. Where possible, buy returnable bottles and not cans and avoid plastic bags - should you ever get a plastic bag, please use it several times.
souvenirs
Only buy souvenirs that are made in the host country and support the local handicrafts. Do not violate the species protection agreement and do not buy corals, tortoiseshell, exotic animals, plants or wood, for example.
Your holiday world will be happy if you take our recommendations to heart and say "Thank you for participating" to preserve our environment and to the joy of future generations.
