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Travel Crete

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Places to visit Crete+

  • Crete

  • Agios Nikolaos

    Agios Nikolaos, the capital of Lassihi, lies 40 miles east of Heraklion on one of the most beautiful bays of the island, the Gulf of Mirabello. The city has outstanding peculiarities like Lake Voulismeni,

    Explore Agios Nikolaos

  • Chania

    Capital of Crete until 1971 and of one of the four prefectures of the island, with Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and Rethymnon, Chania is located on the northwest coast of the island. With a total of 52,000

    Explore Chania

  • Elounda

    Elounda is located 7 and a half miles north of Agios Nikolaos. It can be reached by car on a nice road along the Mirabello Bay. Its small port is surrounded by mountains, offering landscapes that are more

    Explore Elounda

  • Heraklion

    Being both the capital of Crete and one of the four regions of the island, along with Chania, Agios Nikolaos and Rethymon, Heraklion (120,000 inhabitants) is located on the northeast coast, about halfway

    Explore Heraklion

  • Hersonissos

    Since the establishment of the motorway in 1972, the north-east coast has become very attractive for tourists. Within a few years, Hersonissos and Malia (some twenty miles east of Heraklion) have grown

    Explore Hersonissos

  • Matala

    In contrast to the Cretan capital of Heraklion, Matala was the capital of 'hippies' in the 1970s. This little village on the southern coast of the island was home to young and old people from all over

    Explore Matala

  • Plakias

    Plakias offers many opportunities for trips; this small seaside resort is one of the most enjoyable places on the whole of Crete. It enjoys an exceptionally mild climate and a natural environment. Quite

    Explore Plakias

  • Rethymnon

    Located on the northern coast, Rethymnon, the capital of one of the four regions of the island, is located 45 miles west of Heraklion. In spite of the tourism which is gradually becoming more and more

    Explore Rethymnon

  • Sitia

    Further to the east, Crete becomes wilder. Overcome by the heat of the sun, the nature here is burnt, yet it preserves natural and historical richness. Located at the gate to the east, Sitia is a fishing

    Explore Sitia

In brief+

Weekly budget
£unconfirmed
Flight budget
£unconfirmed
Flight duration
 
Time difference
Summer/Winter
Visa
No
Vaccinations
No
Currency
Euro
Language(s)
modern greek

Overview

Crete

Anchored in History, Crete is the home of the Minoan civilization and its priceless history is exposed to the world thanks to the various relics found all over the island. With beautiful sunny beaches, a large hotel infrastructure, the largest island of the Mediterranean is today much appreciated tourist destination. To enjoy the blue waters, one has to choose between crowded seaside resorts or the wild creeks. Lost inland, you can explore a Crete that feels authentic and enjoys the gentleness of Mediterranean lifestyle. Just round the corner, along the paths and small roads, you can discover charming picturesque villages with their Orthodox churches and monasteries hidden in the hills.

pros

  •  Crete is, like continental Greece and the other islands, the ideal destination for a short holiday break in the sun combined with cultural activities.
  •  Although very touristy, Crete displays magnificent landscapes, that are perfect settings for hiking and trekking.

cons

  •  For people looking for calm and tranquillity, the months of July and August are to be avoided as Crete is flooded by European tourists. A more than real definition of 'mass tourism'...
  •  Cretan sites, as in the whole of Greece, have been damaged by the massive and anarchic development of tourism.

map Crete

map Crete

Country Guide

Greece Greece, All you need to know!

Our Editorial team's advice

If you have no other choice than to visit Crete during July and August, then book at least 6 months ahead, or you will have no chances of finding a flight or rental.Once you have visited the monuments, choose the more peaceful south coast, and the popular neighbourhoods of the cities. It will allow you to meet the Cretans rather than your fellow western European tourists.

Reasons to go

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Places to visit

Hotels reviews by the Easyexperts

Places to sleep in Crete this summer

Places to sleep in Crete this summer

Crete is the home of the Minoan civilization and its priceless history is exposed to the world thanks to the various relics found all over the island. Beautiful sunny beaches, a large hotel infrastructure, the biggest island of the Mediterranean can today boast being a much appreciated tourist destination. ...

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Irini

Irini

 
Score 7/10
Photo of Shell Bell

Shell Bell 24/08/2010 : "Good value and perfectly acceptable for one night if you're just passing through..."

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Feature

Crete: splendours and mythology

Charged with a millennium's worth of history, Crete attracts those who are fascinated by legends, delighted to then find that it is equally endowed with superb beaches and blessed with a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere. At the crossroads of the Orient, the Occident and Africa, the island was constantly the target of numerous conquerors who have left ...

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