Preveli’s palm forest could turn green again within two to three years, botanist says
A botanist at the Natural History Museum of Crete says Preveli's fire-damaged palm forest could recover within two…
Friday, September 18, 2026
Crete News
The latest news from around Crete: weather, travel, local life and island events, updated daily.
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OFI beats CSKA Sofia 3-0 in Europa League play-off first leg
OFI beat CSKA Sofia 3-0 at Pankritio Stadium in the first leg of a Europa League qualifying play-off,…
Crete’s modern roads often trace routes used since antiquity, CretaOne reports
CretaOne reports that some of Crete's modern roads follow travel corridors used by people and goods for thousands…
Fossils show Crete once hosted dwarf elephants and hippos, no longer found on the island
Fossil finds in Crete reveal a Pleistocene-era fauna that included dwarf elephants, extinct hippos and distinctive deer, unlike…
Crete tourism sets high arrival numbers but visitor spending grows more cautious, analysis finds
Crete drew about 6.35 million visits and €4.34 billion in travel receipts in 2025, but an analysis says…
Crete forecast: clear skies, temperatures reach 34°C on Friday, August 21
Greece's National Meteorological Service forecasts clear skies over Crete on Friday, August 21, with highs up to 34°C…
Crete rated high wildfire risk for Friday, August 21, fire service map shows
Greece's Fire Brigade lists Crete among regions facing category 3 wildfire risk on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Lasithi Plateau approves study for tourist train to Diktaion Cave
Lasithi Plateau's mayor says a study for a tourist train linking a planned Psychro parking area to the…
Power fault on Gavdos disrupts island’s water supply, municipality urges conservation
A power grid fault on Gavdos since Wednesday has disrupted water supply from Sarakiniko, with repairs expected once…
Heraklion driver fined €30 after entering full Marina parking lot, Cretalive reports
A driver tells Cretalive she was fined €30 by Heraklion's Port Authority after the Marina parking lot was…
Heraklion mayor inspects greenery works on Venetian Walls ahead of school year
Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos inspected greenery maintenance on the Venetian Walls as crews also prepare school grounds for…
Greece expands wildfire-detection network to Knossos, Phaistos and other heritage sites
Greece's Civil Protection Ministry is expanding a fire-detection network to 22 archaeological sites, including Knossos and Phaistos, by…
Crete sees Greek islands’ largest five-year home price rise, Chania tops regional averages
Crete recorded the largest five-year home-price rise among Greek islands, up 50% since 2021, with Chania topping regional…
Crete’s Asterousia mountains carry the nickname “Mount Athos of Crete,” CretaOne reports
South of Heraklion, the Asterousia mountains are known as the "Mount Athos of Crete" for their long tradition…
Many Cretan villages changed names during 20th-century renaming drive, CretaOne reports
CretaOne reports that many Cretan villages lost centuries-old names during Greece's 20th-century renaming drive, though some old names…
Crete’s mountain villages, including Anogeia, offer an alternative to crowded coastal resorts, feature says
A travel feature highlights Crete's Anogeia and the Nida plateau, alongside inland spots in Epirus and Naxos, as…
Crete forecast: clear skies and highs up to 33°C on Thursday, August 20
Crete will see mostly clear skies on Thursday, with northerly winds of 2-4 Beaufort and temperatures between 22°C…
Skinakas Observatory moves remaining 2026 open nights to Anogia venue
Skinakas Observatory is relocating its remaining 2026 open nights to a themed park in Anogia due to ongoing…
Chania officials seek changes to weather thresholds behind Samaria Gorge closures
Chania officials are asking for revised weather thresholds after inaccurate forecasts repeatedly closed Samaria Gorge, angering local business…
Second Festival of Fountains brings violinist Giannis Sfakianos to Kritsa’s Chaniotena fountain
The Municipality of Agios Nikolaos hosts violinist Giannis Sfakianos's "Feggarostrata" album at Kritsa's Chaniotena fountain on August 27.
New 3-star hotel approved for Chania’s Korakies as upgrades progress in Rethymno, Paleochora
A new 56-bed, 3-star hotel is moving forward in Korakies, Chania, while interventions are planned for hotels in…
Heraklion’s Walls Festival returns for a third year, closing with composer Nicola Piovani
Heraklion's third Walls Festival runs August 31-September 10, 2026, with 35+ events across the city's Venetian walls, closing…
Crete to see rising temperatures from Wednesday, sharper heat from Friday, meteorologist says
Meteorologist Michalis Karakatsanis says Crete's temperatures will climb from August 19, peaking August 22-25, though it is too…
Chania Film Festival’s summer exhibitions continue through August 30
The Chania Film Festival's annual summer exhibitions run through August 30 at the Megalo Arsenali in Chania's Venetian…
New growth appears in Preveli’s fire-damaged palm forest, forestry officials say
Weeks after a July 29 wildfire, green shoots have appeared on palm trees in Preveli's burned palm forest,…
Elafonissi ranks second-best beach in the world, beach.com says
Beach.com's 2026 Global Beach Index ranks Chania's Elafonissi second worldwide and first in Europe, with Falassarna and Balos…