Why and How to Find a Property in Crete, Greece (Ultimate 2022 Guide)

Should you Buy Property in Crete, Greece?

So, you’re wondering why Crete is so great for your next real estate investment. Real estate investing itself doesn’t come with the same plan for everyone, and the road to riches is often winding and risky. Find a property in Crete also comes with its own challenges and opportunities.

That being said, there are things you can do to put yourself on the right route and establish the foundation of your investment success. Listening to real estate professionals and successful investors is a great place to start.

Lots of expats love living in Crete either as permanent residents or for part of the year in their vacation homes. Yet, we’re sure you’re aware of the some of the most famous reasons people want to relocate to Crete, like the amazing Cretan cuisine, rich culture, brilliant beaches, wonderful climate and to experience a less stressful life, but did you know their real-world motivations too?

In Crete, you can also find the advantages of highly respected and well-known public academic institutions, an excellent connection network that links the island of Crete with many destinations in the mainland and a plethora of European cities (public transport prices are still cheaper than in most European capitals).

Moreover, there’s no denying that Crete has a lower cost of living than other areas in Europe yet, it scores really high in Standard of Living and Quality of Life, but how you get at that lower cost of living is much more complicated that one might imagine.

Not quite convinced? Here are some of the facts of living in Crete:

1. Affordable Properties to Buy

Looking to find a property in Crete but you do not know the average property prices? Crete’s real estate market has a reputation as being quite expensive compared to other islands in Greece. Of course, distance to the popular beaches (and to the local amenities), views and construction age tend to influence the asking prices.

To purchase a renovation project in Chania Old Town, Rethymnon City or near the popular area of Elounda, Lassithi first-time buyers need to have earnings that are considerably higher than the national average, but much of rural Crete is deeply affordable.

Find a Property in Crete that you can Really Afford

When buying a property in Crete, try swapping Agia Marina, Chania for Apokoronas or Panormos for Vlichada in Rethymnon, and you’ll find property cheaper by over €800/m².

There are many properties for sale within a few minutes’ drive from the beach, a popular sea-side resort or the towns. Here you can benefit from lower property prices and still have all the amenities and facilities you need close by.

For example, €140,000 might get you one-bedroom apartment in Pithari, Akrotiri area, Chania or a two-bedroom flat in Mastabas, Heraklion. But, for the same price in Makris Gialos, Lassithi, you can buy a detached three-bedroom maisonette with a big garden.

Needless, to say that for the same asking price you can find a perfect land property to invest and establish high return of your investment short term compared to other areas.

Unlike in other areas in Greece like Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Athens Riviera where residential properties are rare to find and sometimes overpriced, the best property prices in Greece are in rural areas, small Aegean and Ionian islands and in the sunny South, where the wonderful island of Crete is located.

Great news for sun-loving Scandinavians, Brits, Germans and Russians wanting to make their vacation home in the beautiful Cretan countryside with views to the Aegean or the Libyan Sea.

2. Lower Cost of Living

Looking to find a property in Crete but what is the average cost of living there? The cost of living in Crete has risen since 2018, as Greece slowly comes out of the economic crisis of the last decade. Basic goods and fuel on the Greek islands – including Crete – because of their remote location and distance from the port of Peiraeus and Athens, appear to be more expensive than on the mainland due to the transportation costs involved in the process.

Significant savings can be made at the large supermarket chains of Crete (SYN.KA, Sklavenitis, Vasilopoulos, Kritikos, Chalkiadakis) by buying their own-label products.

Moreover, at the local farmers markets, commonly known as ‘laiki’ you can find a breadth of local fresh fruit, fish and vegetables that can help you saving a lot of money compared to the expensive similar products available at the large supermarkets.

Nowadays (January 2021), prices are rising for most of the services. For instance, rents in the major cities of Crete (Agios Nikolaos, Chania, Heraklion and Rethymnon) are rising at a rapid pace.

However, not far from the cities property asking prices are fair enough. Medical-services costs are still going up, but transportation costs are much lower than the EU average. The overall prices of consumer goods, though, are fairly competitive.

In Crete a large selection of clothes and footwear with reasonable prices can be found even when there are no sales. In the periods of sales, also the household equipment such as electrical goods and furniture is discounted.

Winter sales run during the period from middle to end – January up to mid-February (maximum five weeks’ duration). Summer sales run during the period from mid-July up to the end of August at the latest.

Eating out in Crete is still is delicious and relatively cheap, particularly away from the main tourist crowded thoroughfares and local ‘in’ places. Cretan cuisine and restaurants are still largely affordable – typically €11.00–22.00 per person for a substantial meal with house wine.

The best strategy is to go where locals go, often less obvious backstreet places that might not look much from outside but deliver the the best value and quality. The two most common types of restaurant are the estiatorio and the taverna.

3. Perfect Transport Links

Crete has excellent transport options. There are two International Airports in Crete, one in the capital of the island, Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis, and the other in the western region of Crete, Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis.

A new airport in Kasteli is under development (it should replace Nikos Kazantzakis airport in Heraklion) and is expected to become Greece’s second biggest. Yet, in the region of Lasithi, eastern Crete, there is a smaller airport (Sitia Public Airport) which mostly receives domestic and less frequent flights from some Greek islands like Alexandroupoli, Corfu.

The most common seasonal charters from-to Sitia Airport are coming from Oslo–Gardermoen, Stockholm–Arlanda and Bergen.

All the airports in Crete are served by the Aegean Airlines and one can also find some low-cost flights with airlines like Sky Express, Ryanair and EasyJet. From the UK, Ryanair and EasyJet both fly to the airports of Crete from Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow and offer very competitive prices throughout the year.

From Scandinavia, SAS flies to Crete in Greece from/via Oslo, Copenhagen or Stockholm. From Germany, Aegean Airlines and Lufthansa flies to Crete from Frankfurt (5h 10min.), Düsseldorf (4h 55min) and Munich (4h 10min).

From Athens, flights to Cretan airports usually take less than 45 minutes. Visitors can also travel to Crete from Thessaloniki and Kalamata in Peloponnesus.

Tourists can also travel to Crete by ferry that departs from the Piraeus port in Athens. All the year around there are daily itineraries that connect the port of Piraeus to Chania, Heraklion.In summer, there might be some ferries to Agios Nikolaos and Rethymnon, too.

Furthermore, the port of Heraklion serves regular itineraries to Rhodes and Santorini, two of the most popular destinations in Greece while from Kissamos port in Chania there are ferry connections to Kythira, Antikythira and Gythio Peloponnese.

The port of Sitia, Lassithi is connected with the wonderful islands of Kasos and Karpathos and during the summer period, a few and not very frequent local ferries to Dodecanese leave from Agios Nikolaos. Yet, in summer, the port of Palaiochora in Chania serves ferries to Gavdos island three times a week.

4. Exceptional Climate

Crete has a predominantly Mediterranean climate with mild, occasionally rainy winters and sunny, hot, and usually dry summers. However, because of the topographical characteristics and the mixture of lowland and mountainous regions you’ll find plenty of regional differences and even micro-climates, yet you can swap 2000 hours of sunshine.

The mildest weather is along the coast and in the southern regions, including the island of Gavdos. Winter temperatures seldom drop to freezing in the south, while summers often reach 35°C or higher.

The climate of Crete is regarded as one of Europe’s finest, livelier and healthiest.

Heraklion Area

In Heraklion, the coldest month is January. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). January has the lowest average temperature of the year. It is 12.5 °C ( 54.5 °F). Nevertheless, Heraklion also boasts a surfeit of sunshine and as early as February, you’ll find days warm enough for sundresses and dinners in your balcony or garden even swimming.

Lassithi Area

Located in the southernmost point of the island of Ctete, Lassithi area is blessed by pleasant warm and dry summers and wild blowy winters. Lassithi is much less rainer than Chania and Rethymnon, with the west boasting almost as many sunny days as southern Crete. Snow and harsh weather conditions are rare.

Rethymnon Area

In Rethymnon and the surrounding area, hot, dry summers and rainy, mild winters are the norm. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). In January, the average temperature is 12.4 °C (54.3 °F). It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.

While most mountainous areas are in regions of medium to high temperature change, changes in precipitation vary considerably for different mountain areas, but still the weather is mild.

The strong north and south winds are a common phenomenon in the area. The long period of rainfalls lasts from the autumn until April – a typical characteristic of the Mediterranean climate.

As you travel south to the Libyan Sea, temperatures rise slightly and this area almost never sees snow or ice.

Chania Area

Winters in the western part of Crete start in December and last through March (or April some years). Expect snow and temperatures that drop below freezing at the mountainous areas of the White Mountains, but as you might expect with tons of sunshine nonetheless.

The Meltemi, the wind from the north-west, blows from mid-May, cooling the air but with significantly lower intensity than in the central islands of the Aegean Sea, such as Santorini, Mykonos or Naxos. The rains are nearly absent between April and October, while increasing significantly between November and March.

Along the coast, especially along the west coast, the sea breeze cools the temperature that usually reach in the summer months an average maximum temperature around 26-32 ° C. On the south coast – towards the Libyan Sea – due to the lack of wind the temperatures are higher, in this area would generally have average maximum temperatures varying between 32 ° C and 36 ° C.

July is the hottest month in Chania with an average temperature of 26°C (79°F). The coldest month is January with 12.2 °C (54.0 °F) – the lowest average temperature of the year.

5. Stunning Landscape

Is there anywhere in the world as easy on the eye as Crete? From a great ancient civilization remains to heart-stopping coastlines and from charming and authentic Cretan villages to stunning gorges and landscapes, you could criss-cross the island at random and come across thousands of spectacular sights with no shortage of picturesque and stunning backdrops.

One of the most wonderful facts about Crete is that it is a huge, yet of exceptional beauty island.  Despite the fact that more houses and hotels have been built (particularly near the big cities) – there is so much space, so you never feel Crete will be spoiled.

The landscape of Crete is very diverse. The stone giants of Psiloritis and White Mountains have snow-covered peaks, wonderful plateaus and fertile valleys. In their foothills are large and beautiful lakes such as Kournas, Preveli and White Lake.

Down through the north coast of Crete the mountains are dotted with charming hilltop villages, and a short drive away there are spectacular beaches – very popular destinations for both locals and tourists.

What do you prefer? A well-organized beach facing the Aegean Sea near the popular sea-side resorts or a more isolated beach with views to the Libyan Sea? Within a single region you can often find plains, gorges, hills, mountains and the most beautiful coastline in Europe.

The landscapes are so outstanding that they are recognised by UNESCO. They include the Minoan palatial centres (Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Kydonia, the Samaria Gorge – an acknowledged natural site and symbol of the island of Crete and the Fortress of Spinalonga.

Cypress, oak, pine, plane, chestnut, palm forests, orange and olive groves grace the landscape across the island. Most of Crete’s incomparable olive oil is produced in the southern regions of Lassithi, Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania, however, so this is where they dominate the landscape.

The vastness of the island groves, led naturally to the immediate registration of 9 PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) regions for the island of Crete.

This beautiful Greek jewel of a place is well-known globally for its crystal-clear blue waters, golden beaches, and magnificent gorges.

Passionate, risk-taking and thrill-seekers can go surfing or hire a sailboat, trek across the scenic mountainous region, go snorkelling, swim at the Libyan or the Aegean Sea, and scuba dive in underwater caves between rocks in crystal clear surroundings.

6. An Amazing Culinary Mosaic

One of the most authentic cultural elements of Crete is its cuisine. The unique tastes of each region of this spectacular Greek island are linked to the synergistic qualities and exceptional characteristics of its culture.In Crete, food is a formula of communication and sharing, a way to pour your heart out.

Cretan cuisine, with its distinctive character, authentic flavours and heady aromas represents an impressive culinary mosaic that makes the most of what is grown locally.

Each area, village and family produce its special Cretan dishes full of flavour and character. Fruits and vegetables, dairy products and eggs, wine, tsikoudia and even locally raised downright delicious meats.

Basic, yet impressive ingredients

Crete is well known for its healthy Mediterranean diet but there are also five main secrets behind its uniqueness: good quality fresh ingredients, good usage of endogenous herbs and spices, the famous Greek olive oil, fantasy and simplicity.  The flavours in a Greek salad or in chicken cooked in the hoven are like nothing tasted anywhere else in the world due to those secrets.

The list of great Italian cheeses is also very long and includes, Dakos, Fried snails (Chochlioi boubouristi), Cretan Cheese Pies (Kaltsounia), Lamb with stamnagathi, Gamopilafo, Mountain Bulbs (Askordoulakous), Smoked Pork (Hirina apakia) — the list goes on!

Furthermore, many regions in Crete, produce top quality wines, some of which are famous throughout the world because of the fascinating mosaic of the Cretan indigenous grape varieties.

White Vidiano, the extraordinary red Liatiko, Assyrtiko, Kotsifali, Mandilari, Thrapsathiri, Vilana and Dafni are among the most popular wines produced in Crete. According to Wines of Crete, there are more than 80 producers on the island, with some brilliant wineries in Chania and Sitia.

Nevertheless, the heartbeat of this winery journey is based primarily in Heraklion area. These terroirs, which have existed since the Minoan ages, are home to around 55 producers that make up 87% of total production.

7. Cretan Culture: A Life of Joy

Cretans are popular for their rich history, regional pride, own spirited music – and dance – and strive to keep alive the traditions they are so proud of. Patriotic with a fiercely independent streak Cretans, have found themselves in the path of conquering armies throughout history but they never lain down in defeat.

This multicultural melting pot has led to a wonderful array of wonderful historical sites, magnificent attractions, cuisines, and cultural traditions. They will often introduce themselves as Cretans before they say they are Greek but they love their country so much that they were willing to sacrifice their lives in order to protect the freedom of Greece.

Exploring beyond major cities of Heraklion, Chania, Agios Nikolaos and Rethymnon, you’ll meet Cretans speaking local dialects, creating regional delicacies, and combining arts, family, architecture, religion, food and music.

Taking pride in their cultures and celebrating them is essential parameter in combating difficulties and pride themselves on their capacity to enjoy life with kefi. Kefi is a Greek word that refers to zest for life, passion, spirit, happiness and joyful exuberance.

Local festivities, or panigiria in Crete can provide any visitor the opportunity to embrace the Hellenic spirit and realize the true meaning of life. Crete is known as the ultimate destination with the best and biggest festivals in Greece!

Family time is very important to Cretans, with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles regularly gathering around the lunch table. In Crete, it’s commonplace to see families with young children out late in the evening for their volta, and filling tavernas and cafes with family or their parea (group of friends).