Do you walk the towns you visit with your phone or your camera in your hand? Me too! And if you’re traveling to Crete, you will be glad to learn that there’re hundreds of great photography spots for an unforgettable capture.
In this guide, I bring you some of the most popular ones.
However, if you’re curious enough, I invite you to explore Crete off the beaten path, you will find a magnificent photo corner every step you take!
The old port of Chania is a great place to snap some memorable photos for your Instagram followers. You have a view of the Egyptian lighthouse, the Ottoman mosque by the sea, and dozens of pastel-colored Venetian buildings.
Owning a distinctive style, mixing Venetian and Turkish architecture, these buildings make for stunning photos.
Besides, the shape of the harbor gives an amazing view to the east and the west, making the Venetian port a great spot for sunrise and sunset photos.
If you get there before sunrise, you can also get a great photograph of the fishermen, with the lighthouse as a background.
There are several walls surrounding different areas in the city of Chania.
Some of them date back to the Byzantine period, while others were built by the Venetians as protection against the Ottomans over 600 years ago.
And while they didn’t stop an invasion, they make for an excellent place to snap wonderful Instagram photos.
You can use one of the fortification windows in the Fortress of Firkas to frame a sea shot.
Take your time when the sun is about to go down to catch a romantic shot full of sunset colors.
The settlement that today is Chania was established more thousands of years ago and has been inspiring many Instagram photographers for years.
With its mixture of colorful architectural styles, it makes for impressive photos to wow your followers.
Get lost in the alleys of the old town, you won’t be short of great instagrammable places to discover.
With its turquoise waters and the pink-white colored sand, this is one of the most famous beaches in Crete and is often compared to different Caribbean beaches.
It’s wide, exotic, and …yes, often crowded, but that does not mean that you won’t find a spot for a perfect photo.
This is a top place to snap some beautiful photographs. I mean, who doesn’t want to have a picture on this one-of-a-kind-beach.
Trust me, a snapshot of Elafonisi will certainly boost your social media following. Want a different picture? Then wait until it’s sunset time for much more than only pink sand!
It is the ultimate destination of the island’s northwestern shore. As you may have already read, Balos is a tropical beach with turquoise, calm waters that look like a pool.
Snapping a picture from the top of the nearby mountain, with a stunning view of Balos Beach and Lagoon in the background is a must-have Instagram picture.
It’s more the beautiful beaches that pique a photographer’s interest. Head south of Rethymnon for a fantastic seaside landscape with charming mountain scenes for idyllic background and colored stones as a foreground.
After crossing the mountains, the southern village of Plakias, a great photography spot on its own, is not distant from some of the most spectacular landscapes on the island.
Head to Tripetra to discover a quite curious beach.
Here, the rocks go all the way inside the water forming a maze surrounded by crystal clear waters. This is a fantastic Crete Instagram spot that you really shouldn’t miss!
Preveli Beach is not far from Plakias and Triopetra and it’s one of the most popular places in the south part of Crete.
There are several spots to snap impressive photos for your social media followers, including a palm forest on the back of the beach.
Preveli is only a few kilometers long but it runs alongside a river, and into a canyon.
Plenty of good photo ops and tons of opportunities for a relaxing time surrounded by Crete’s stunning nature.
One of the most visited places in Crete, the breathtaking Gorge of Samaria is one of the longest in Europe and contains precious Cretan wonders that are sure to wow any Instagram following.
This trekking adventure can last for hours, so make sure to pack only your essential photography equipment.
The path eventually ends near the sea, in the village of Agia Roumeli, with its famous black pebbled beach which is sure to make a good photographic impression.
Take your Instagram audience on a journey back in time. Spinalonga is one of the most exciting places in Crete.
The small islet has been featured in documentaries, TV series, and even novels.
If you are planning a photo session, then you should plan to spend a night in one of Elounda’s stunning hotels, or in the picturesque fishing village of Plaka if you’re on a more limited budget.
It takes only a few minutes from any of these two villages to cross the sea and get to the islet.
If you want great photos, don’t miss Matala Beach! You will enjoy one of the most magnificent beaches on the southern side of Crete.
Next to the sea, tourists have the chance to see the famous and highly unique rocks and caves, a perfect place to snap several worthy Instagram photos.
