Discover a Relative Newcomer to the Crete Holiday Scene
Within walking distance of Gouves to one side and Kokkini Hani to the other, the slightly lesser known Gournes sits quietly on the waters edge and offers just a sprinkling of shops and tavernas. Gournes is a relative newcomer to the holiday scene in Crete and indeed used to be an American Air Force communications base until the early nineties.
Much of the military accommodation lay empty until it was decided to promote the town as a holiday destination and what a good decision that was. You’ll find no high rise or commercial hotels here as it’s all about experiencing the traditional side of Greece, with quaint guest houses and authentic self catering apartments plus local tavernas serving delicious dishes such as meze and feta salad.
For days out visit the ancient Greek site at Knossos, the old leper colony at Spinalonga (not as scary as it sounds) and historical Heraklion with its great selection of shops and lively nightlife. Gournes is also home of one of Europe’s largest aquariums with over 200 species of Mediterranean marine life on show in the Crete Aquarium.