Sissi Holidays

If you’re looking for a taste of traditional Greece, you can’t go wrong with a stay in Sissi. This fishing village attracts locals and tourists alike to its seafront tavernas, which have earned a reputation for serving up some seriously good seafood. Although this place is up-and-coming, with a cluster of new hotels and restaurants springing up over the last few years, it’s kept its low-key, laidback feel.

Sissi’s got you covered when it comes to swimming. Its beaches match its chilled-out attitude, and Boufos is its main strip of sand – we’re talking calm waters, a taverna for food and drink and a smattering of umbrellas to keep things shady. And, you can head over to the man-made Kalimera Kriti Beach if you want to join in with some watersports.

It’s a half an hour drive to the village of Plaka, your gateway to Spinalonga. It takes less than 10 minutes to float over to the island on one of the village’s regular boat transfers. Learn all about the spooky history of this place – you can explore the 16th-century Venetian fortress, which was built back when the island played a starring role in defending Crete’s coast, then hear about how it became a leper colony. What’s more, Spinalonga has a bunch of pretty pebble beaches, where you can head once you’ve had your fill of history.