One Day in Margarites and Eleutherna!
This is a route that seasoned travellers often follow entirely on foot!
It begins in Margarites, a picture-perfect village in the Rethymno countryside known for its deep-rooted tradition in pottery.
Your second stop is Eleutherna, where the museum of the archaeological site is bound to stir something inside you.
After soaking in the views and gathering fascinating insights into the area's long history, it’s time to sit down for a proper meal in a local taverna in Eleutherna — simple, hearty and delicious.
This excursion works any time of year, and yes, it’s ideal for the whole family.
Photo: Wikipedia
Stop 1: Margarites
In Margarites, you’ll find pottery workshops that reveal the secrets of this ancient craft.
The village, part of the Mylopotamos area, is home to residents with refined taste in both architecture and food.
Stop 2: Eleutherna
Eleutherna isn’t just about history—it’s also famous for its rakokazana, the traditional distilleries where locals produce raki with joy, song, and good company.
Take a stroll through its neighbourhoods. Every corner is worth discovering.
And, of course, no visit to Eleutherna is complete without exploring the Archaeological Museum.
The displays are regularly updated with finds from the excavations that have been ongoing in the area for decades.
The museum frequently hosts special exhibitions that bring the region’s ancient history to life.
And now it’s time for food and a little rest.
At the “Filio” kafeneio, right in the square of Eleutherna, you’ll get to taste delicious, traditional Cretan meze.
Don’t forget to order chochlious me chondro—snails with cracked wheat—and kokoras me makarounia, rooster with handmade pasta!
