Crete may be giving Santorini a run for its title as the most romantic island in Greece. While Santorini may feel cliche, Crete is new and fresh.

The island is full of idyllic scenery which renders it ideal for romance – whether you are looking for an intimate getaway with your significant other of many years or your new beau/belle.

Weddings

Crete is a place of magical resorts, natural beauty, cultural heritage, charming lifestyle and gastronomy. Therefore, many couples decide to get married in any of the paradisal parts of the island.

In recent years, a new form of tourism has emerged on the island. Couples arrive from all over the world to exchange their vows of eternal love and loyalty in the bright light of Greece.

Group marriages take place within breathtaking scenic landscapes of the island and are becoming more and more common. The most important day of the newlyweds is supported by professionals that provide wonderful wedding venues, professional decoration, gourmet menus and services of photography.

Honeymoon

Every year, hundreds of newly-wedded couples choose Crete for their honeymoon, as it combines excellent service and natural beauty. Staying in a suite with a private pool and sea view in one of the numerous luxury resorts in Crete is an experience of a lifetime.

The first moments of the couple’s common life are accompanied by heavenly culinary experiences as well as fabulous wines and cocktails. Most hotels usually welcome newlyweds with a bottle of red wine, free spa sessions, free room upgrades and more surprises.

Wine Tourism

Like Santorini, Crete has quite a few vineyards to visit and wines to try with your better half.

As some may already know, the history of the vineyard can be traced back to the furthest reaches of time. Seeds of wild vines have even been found in caves inhabited by prehistoric nomadic tribes. Before the ice age, the vines flourished in the polar zone. Glaciers, however, limited its spreading and pushed various species of wild vines towards warmer zones, such as central and eastern Asia, central and southern Europe, but also the greater area of the south Caucasus. That is the birthplace of Vitis vinifera, the wine-bearing vine, several varieties of which are almost exclusively cultivated today.

Modern wineries in Crete have made use of the traditional varieties of grapes and their centuries-long experience of growing them. They do not forget, for example, that the oldest, wine-press, more than 3,500 years old, was found in Crete, in Archanes. This tradition is now  combined with knowledge and technology. The Cretan wine-makers have broadened their knowledge on the new developments and the preferences of the consumers. Specialists in wine-making try new varieties, experiment, highlight aromas and tastes and offer the consumers excellent wine, which can satisfy all tastes and demands.

Vintage Routes Crete is the name of a new and exciting wine tour company on Crete. Their mission is to create elite and highly professional tour experiences that focus on the unique and unknown resources Crete has to offer, with a particular focus on Crete’s magnificent and unique wines, and it’s fresh and local gastronomy. Some of the more popular wine production areas include: Archanes, Peza, Monofatsi, Sitia, Kydonia and Kisamos.

Fun Fact: According to Greek mythology, wine was the gift of a great god, Dionysos. He was known as the god of joy, life and company. In Crete, Dionysos is particularly significant because the myths state that his beloved partner was the daughter of Minos, the mythical king of Crete, Ariadne.