Shopping and eating out
There is a small supermarket in Tavronitis, and a few places to eat and drink. Further shops and a wider choice of restaurants and bars can be found in the more developed Platanias a few minutes’ drive to the east.
Local history
Next to Tavronitis on the coast, Maleme is a historically significant World War II location. During the Battle of Crete in 1941, German paratroopers landed en masse at Maleme Airport and, despite initial losses due to a strong resistance from locals and the allies, the Germans were able to gain a stronghold and eventually they occupied Crete.
The airport cannot be visited, as it is still used as an airfield, but you can go to the bridge between the airport and Tavronitis and see its battle scars as well as two German torpedoes. In nearby Maleme, you can visit the German Military Cemetery and other monuments commemorating these events.
Explore the mountains
If you have a hire car, head just a little inland into the hills and you will immediately be able to enjoy dramatic scenery, stopping off at traditional villages for a glimpse of Cretan life and some delicious authentic cuisine. Keen walkers will also find opportunities to take in the landscape at their own pace. A little further south, at the highest point of the island, the White Mountains offer the most spectacular views and the most challenging hikes.
