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The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th is one of the most significant holidays in the Greek Orthodox calendar, celebrating the “falling asleep” and Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Neapoli hosts the largest festival in the prefecture, attracting thousands of visitors and Cretan musicians.
Celebrations begin on August 14th with a cycle race and a long-distance run ending in Neapoli’s central square. After the evening church service, young men race up and down the steep mountainside to the Timios Stavros summit. The square transforms into a lively party with traditional singing, dancing, live music, and a market offering toys, icons, and clothing, continuing into the early hours.
On August 15th, a lengthy church service is followed by a grand procession of the Virgin Mary’s icon through the town, accompanied by priests, dignitaries, and the Neapoli Town Band. The festivities, combining religious, sporting, and cultural events, make this a unique and vibrant two-day celebration.
Offering free bikes and a garden, the stone Casa di Pietra are located in Neapolis. They feature fully equipped units with free WiFi access and mountain views. Elounda resort is a 15-minute drive away.
Fitted with a fireplace and parquet floor, all air-conditioned and tastefully decorated houses of Vintage come with 2 separate bedrooms. Each consists of a seating area with flat-screen TV and a kitchen with dining area and oven with hobs.
The property facilities include grocery deliveries. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including cycling and hiking.
The popular Malia Village and Agios Nikolaos Town can be found a 15-minute drive away. This holiday home is 40 km from Heraklion International Airport.
Set in Nikithianós and within 12 km of Lake Voulismeni, Villa Sarichel features a terrace, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFithroughout the property. The property is around 38 km from Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos, 13 km from Panagia Kera Church (in Kritsa) and 15 km from Agios Nikolaos Port. Rooms come with a patio with views of the mountain.
The units come with a microwave, toaster, a coffee machine, a hot tub, a hair dryer and a wardrobe. All rooms are equipped with a kettle, while selected rooms here will provide you with a kitchenette with an oven, a stovetop and kitchenware. At the guest house rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.
Lixnostatis Folk Museum is 23 km from Villa Sarichel, while Aquaworld Aquarium is 25 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 46 km from the accommodation.
from
€63
/night
Set in Nikithianós, 12 km from Lake Voulismeni and 39 km from Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos, Platipodi stone house offers air-conditioned accommodation with a patio and free WiFi. The property features garden views and is 14 km from Panagia Kera Church (in Kritsa) and 15 km from Agios Nikolaos Port.
The holiday home with a terrace and mountain views has 1 bedroom, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Towels and bed linen are offered in the holiday home.
Guests can also relax in the garden.
Lixnostatis Folk Museum is 24 km from the holiday home, while Aquaworld Aquarium is 26 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 47 km from Platipodi stone house.
APIGANOS house, a property with a garden and a bar, is set in Khoumeriákos, 13 km from Lake Voulismeni, 40 km from Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos, as well as 15 km from Panagia Kera Church (in Kritsa). This property offers access to a balcony and free private parking.
With direct access to a terrace, this air-conditioned villa comes with 3 separate bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. Towels and bed linen are offered in the villa.
Agios Nikolaos Port is 16 km from the villa, while Lixnostatis Folk Museum is 25 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 48 km from APIGANOS house.
from
€137
/night
The Cretan Diet Festival 2026 is scheduled to return in early July at the Rethymno Municipal Garden. The exact date will be announced later. Tickets are available at the entrance.
Cretan Diet Festival promotes local food culture and supports regional producers. The event highlights Cretan products and encourages trade for local farmers and artisans.
Each year, the Rethymno municipal garden hosts a week of culinary and cultural activities. Visitors explore Cretan cuisine through direct interaction with wine producers, cheesemakers, and small-scale farmers. The festival offers food tastings, exhibitions, and traditional music and dance events.
Cretan Diet Festival presents a direct experience of Cretan life. The focus remains on ingredients sourced from the island and the community built around them.
Date: July 2026
Location: Rethymno Municipal Garden
Tickets: Tickets are available at the entrance
Matala Beach Festival celebrates music, freedom, and the spirit of community. Set against the iconic caves of Matala, it brings together people of all ages for three days of live performances, beach energy, and shared moments. Matala Beach Festival 2026 is expected to take place in early July on Matala’s main beach. The exact dates will be announced and updated closer to the event.
But the Matala Beach Festival is not just about the music; it’s a celebration of unity, freedom, and the indomitable spirit of human connection. It’s a place where strangers become friends, where barriers are broken, and where love and acceptance reign supreme.
The Matala Beach Festival is one of Europe’s biggest free music festivals.
In June 2011 the Festos Municipality threw a festival on the beach to celebrate the launch of the ‘Myth of Matala’ book featuring photos of the hippie cave residents during the 60s & 70s. It was a hippie reunion. 35,000 people heard about it and flocked to Matala beach.
In June 2012 over 58,000 people visited the festival weekend and the word is quickly spreading. It was a huge success as free events which brought together music and arts fans from all generations together on the beach beneath the caves to celebrate peace, love and happiness.
Matala Beach Festival 2013 introduced to 70.000 people the meaning of LIFE! In June 2013, they have invited Harry Keyworth to be the first solo artist to drive the Road To Matala Tour along the original ‘hippie trail’ of the 1960s and 1970s.
Overland from London to Crete in the VW Beetle. The tour culminated in Harry performing on stage at Matala Beach alongside artists including Hugh Cornwell, former frontman of The Stranglers, The Doors Tribute, Janis Joplin Tribute, Locomondo, Pink Floyd Tribute, Tonis Sfinos and many more!
During the Matala Beach Festival, there are several accommodation options available in and around Matala. You can camp for free at Matala campsite. It offers basic services on a large 40,000 m2 area next to Matala beach. It’s a low-cost option with showers, toilets, and hot water, allowing visitors to experience the “Myth of Matalas” like in hippie times in the 60s and 70s. It’s important to note that the campsite offers basic services and may have limited capacity, so it’s advisable to arrive early to secure a spot.
You can also check the following hotels in the area:
Learn more about Matala village.
Chania Rock Festival is one of the most significant rock and metal music festivals in Greece.
Since 2002, the Chania Rock Festival has presented the best of the best in metal on stage in Chania, Crete. From the Greek rock scene to the international rockstars, if you like to headbang and jam out to metal, then the Chania Rock Festival is the music festival in Greece you’ve been searching for to live it up with fellow metal fans.
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