Ierapetra Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Ierapetra

This is the fourth largest town in Crete, Ierapetra is also known as Europe's southernmost point, a strategic position that has made it the object of various occupations over the centuries, from the Romans to the Turks.

It was a flourishing port in medieval times and its 13th-century Venetian fort, Turkish mosque and ancient churches bear witness to its mixed heritage. Latterly a market garden town servicing a fertile agricultural area, it has developed in recent years into a major tourist resort, offering visitors a combination of the old and the new, from the intriguing, narrow streets of the old town to the bustling waterfront restaurants and bars around the harbour.

There is something here to suit most types. Having your own transport is a real advantage if wishing to go farther afield. The accommodation varies from assorted-category hotels and apartments to upmarket complexes.

Locality:

Ierapetra is towards the east end of the south coast (20 mls S of Aghios Nikolaos, 63 mls SE of Heraklion and its airport. It is on the coast, in a broad agricultural area, backed by mountains to the NW and SE.

Population: 10.668.400
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Greece - Athens

Country Dialling Code: +30
Voltage: 220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 Parallel circular prongs

2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

2 parallel circular prongs with a female earth connector

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.

Once upon a time, the Olympic Games started here along with democracy and the foundation of philosophy, science and mathematics. Nowadays the country attracts its tourists with simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic wonders.

The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.

In the S of the mainland, the capital Athens suffers from being overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless intrigues and delights visitors and is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon. In contrast, Thessaloniki in the N is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. The remains of Greece's past and wonders are mainly found on the Peloponnese Peninsula, S of Corinth.

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Ierapetra Travel Guide

Ierapetra Suitability Profile