Zaros
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including
what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
St Antony's Church at the Vrontisi Monastery near Zaros
Zaros in Central Crete is a lovely little town. The first
time we went we were just passing through and stopped to do a walk in the
Rouvas Gorge. We loved the town so much that we said we had to go back and stay
sometime - so we did!
Officially Zaros is only a village but with a population of
about 3,000 it's more like a small town. It certainly has a lively atmosphere
and stands out for several reasons.
Zaros Water
One distinctive feature of Zaros is that it has a lake. Lake
Votomos is a short walk out of the village to the west, or you can drive there.
They farm trout in the lake and you'll see it on taverna menus. You have to eat
trout if you visit Zaros!
The lake is fed by a mountain spring and the spring water is
also bottled and well-known locally for its purity. Go into any of the shops in
Zaros and ask for a bottle of the local water. You can find out much more about
the lake and the area here.
Where is Zaros?
Map (c) Google Maps
As you can see from the map, Zaros is almost slap-bang in
the middle of Crete. It's in the southern foothills of Mount Psiloritis, less
than an hour's drive southwest of Irakleio. The Minoan Palace of Phaistos is a
half-hour drive southwest of Zaros, The resorts of Matala and Ayia Galini are
also both southwest of Zaros, and a 35-40-minute drive.
What to Do in Zaros
In truth, there's not a lot to do in Zaros, which is part of
its charm. It makes a great base if you're exploring the area, and in our view
is more interesting, more relaxing, and less expensive than nearby resorts like
Matala and Ayia Galini.
A Fountain at the Vrontisi Monastery near Zaros
One attraction is the Vrontisi Monastery, which is about an
hour's walk or a ten-minute drive northwest of town. It's on the southern
slopes of Mt Ida at a height of 550m (1,804ft) and you get wonderful views from
there. No-one knows how old it is but there are references to it from the late
15th century - so it's pretty old!
At the Kamihis Farm near Zaros
You can also hike in the area, including the Rouvas Gorge
walk we mentioned earlier. Even if you don't stay at the Keramos Studios (see our recommendation below), call in and
ask about visiting the family farm, the Kamihis Farm. They're set up to do tours and it's a
fascinating insight into rural Cretan life.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Shopping in Zaros
There are several craft shops in Zaros and we spent an enjoyable
half-hour in the weaving shop of Maria Zacharioudakis, admiring the weavings
and watching Maria work at her loom.
Zaros is also home to one of the best musical instrument
makers on Crete, Antonios Stefanakis. He makes lyra, mandolins, violas,
bouzouki, and Cretan bagpipe, and even if you don't want to buy an instrument
he also sells CDs of Cretan music.
A Walk From Zaros
We thoroughly enjoyed this circular walk from Zaros to the
Rouvas Gorge. It should take 3-4 hours and you can read about it and get
directions here.
Zaros is on the E4 European Walking Path.
Where to Eat in Zaros
You have plenty of choice of eating places but there's
nowhere quite like Vegera, a unique and fun dining experience that we wrote
about here.
A Feast at Vegera!
If you want trout fresh from the lake then the Taverna Votomos is right by a trout farm. It's about a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute
drive from the centre of Zaros.
Where to Stay in
Zaros
There are a few places to stay in Zaros but we definitely
recommend the Keramos Studios and you can read all about our stay there here.
The Keramos Studios
Other Crete pages
Driving central Crete in three days gives you time to see the highlights including the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the beaches and the Diktean Cave.
This Airbnb in the quiet village of Malaxa, a 30-minute drive into the hills above Chania, is a peaceful retreat with a delightful and thoughtful artist owner, with wonderful views and amenities.
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Cretan Botano herbs and spices shop near Matala in southern Crete in search of the herb man of Kouses.
Elounda on Crete's north coast is a popular holiday town with a pretty harbour, from where you can take day trips by boat to see the island of Spinalonga.
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Zacharioudakis Winery near Ancient Gortina in southern Crete, and does a vineyard tour arranged by our guide from Go Crete.
The Diktean or Diktaean Cave, also known as the Psychro Cave, near the village of Psychro in eastern Crete, is said to be the birthplace of Zeus.
Greece Travel Secrets visits Visual Arts Crete who offer accommodation and run art courses at their home and studio in the village of Kastellos near Rethymnon.
Hiking the Samaria Gorge on Crete, one of the best things to do on Crete, by Greece Travel Secrets.
Margarites is known on Crete for its pottery, with ceramics shops and workshops lining the streets of this charming small town not far from Rethymnon.
Studies have shown the Cretan Diet as one of the healthiest in the world, involving lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, and moderate amounts of wine.
The best things to do on Crete and top things to see include the Samaria Gorge, the Minoan Palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the towns of Chania and Rethymnon.
Malia on the north coast of Crete is renowned for its nightlife and beaches but also has the Minoan Palace of Malia, one of Crete's many archaeological sites.
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Irakleio, the capital of Crete, including nearby beach resort hotels and accommodation in the city centre.
Crete’s wildlife and landscape are two of the island’s attractions, including gorges for hiking, rare raptors like the lammergeier, wildcats and ancient trees.
How to see eastern Crete in five days, with its beaches, Minoan palaces, timeless villages, unique churches and mountain and coastal scenery.
The most famous Cretan writers and artists include the painter El Greco and the author of Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis.
Rethymnon is the third-largest city in Crete and has a Venetian fortress, Archaeological Museum, Old Town area and Venetian harbour,
Greece Travel Secrets discovers Sitia, the main town in eastern Crete, with its relaxing waterfront, inexpensive hotels, good food, and nearby ancient sites.
Western Crete has some wonderful golden sand beaches as well as mountain villages, monasteries, caves, and archaeological sites to discover.
The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Crete Botanical Gardens near Chania and finds a wonderland of colourful plants, trees, and flowers filling a lovely valley.
The Samaria Gorge is one the longest gorges in Europe and doing the hike is one of the best and most popular things to do on Crete.
The Byzantine Church of Panagía Kerá near Kritsa and not far from Ayios Nikolaos is one of the most famous in Crete, and close by is the site of Ancient Lato.
Ancient Gortina is an archaeological site in southern Crete famous for the church of Ayios Titos and for the Law Code inscribed here, the first in Europe.
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