Crete
Crete (Kriti in Greek) is the largest of the Greek islands, another country almost, and the Cretan people proudly call themselves Cretans first and Greeks second.
Mountains and Vineyards
And they have much to be proud of, as theirs is a stunningly beautiful island, with dramatic mountain scenery, some of the best beaches in Greece, a strong musical tradition, one of the healthiest diets in the Mediterranean, the amazing Minoan palace of Knossos just outside the capital, Irakleio, the Samaria Gorge, four UNESCO sites, and some of the chicest Greek hotels in pretty harbour towns such as Chania and Rethymnon.
The Old Venetian Harbour in Chania
There are popular holiday spots like Agios Nikolaos and Elounda too, as well as important historical monasteries like the Arkadi Monastery. You can have a great vacation here just lying on its beautiful beaches, but it's an island that will appeal to those who like to get out and about.
Crete has got everything, and we've loved the many visits we've made there.
We've hiked its gorges, visited its monasteries, explored its archaeological sites both large and small, dined in its restaurants from the cheap to the gourmet, drunk its wine, sunbathed on its beaches and listened to its music.
We've never ceased to be overwhelmed by its atmosphere and character. One visit to Crete and the island gets under your skin.
The Samaria Gorge
Photo by Mike Gerrard (c) www.Greece-Travel-Secrets.com
Crete also has lots of busy beach resorts, with a brash and noisy nightlife that goes on all night, so if that's what you want you should check out places along the north coast, like Malia. The south coast is a bit less easy to get around, and the towns and villages here tend to be a little less developed for tourism. You also have the site of the Minoan Palace at Phaistos, which some people enjoy more than Knossos, and several archaeological sites, like Ancient Gortina.
Down the spine of the island is a range of mountains, which keeps the north and the south apart, and all over you'll find beautiful drives and challenging hiking and biking opportunities.
The Minoan Palace at Phaistos
Crete Art and Culture
Art Courses on Crete
Cretan Artists and Writers
Cretan Music
Crete Festivals and Events
Driving on Crete
Our Hire Car in Crete
Amari Valley Drive
Central Crete in Three Days
Eastern Crete in Five Days
Lasithi Plateau Drive
West Coast of Crete Drive
Western Crete in Five Days
Walking on Crete
Crete Botanical Gardens
Hiking the Samaria Gorge
Hiking in South-West Crete
Olive Grove Walk near the Lasithi Plateau
Rouvas Gorge Hike
Walking Around Irakleio
Crete Wineries
Crete has some really world-class wine, and we've been lucky enough to visit a few vineyards. Here are our winery visits:
Lyrarakis Winery
Manousakis Wine Tasting
Stilianou Winery
Zacharioudakis Winery
Crete Food
Cretan food is definitely a highlight when visiting the island, and here are some pages about Cretan food to help you:
The Cretan Diet
Dining at the Goules Taverna
Dining at Vegera in Zaros
The Herb Man of Kouses
The Snail's House
Visit to an Olive Oil Factory
Where to Eat in Eastern Crete
Where to Eat in Western Crete
Where to Be Based on Crete
Crete is a long, thin island, so if you want to explore all of it there's no one ideal place to be based. If time is limited, you'll need to do your homework and decide whether to concentrate on the east, the west, or the centre. The Samarian Gorge is in the west, Knossos in the middle, and in the east is more the 'real' Crete, which is a bit less busy.
The main airport is near Iraklion, in the middle, though there's another international airport near Chania in the west and a domestic airport with international ambitions at Sitia in Eastern Crete.
Where to Stay on Crete
Either search in the box below or see these pages first for our own personal favourite places to stay on Crete:
Where to Stay in Eastern Crete
Where to Stay in Central Crete
Where to Stay in Western Crete
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Some other Crete Pages
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.
Visiting the Arkadi Monastery near Rethymnon is one of the best things to do on Crete.
Cretan music is part of the island’s soul and visitors will hear live music wherever they go, with several distinctive Cretan musical instruments and songs.
This drive along the west coast of Crete and inland from there will take a whole day and starts and ends in Kastélli Kissámou, west of Chania.
The area east from Paleohora along the south-west coast of Crete includes resorts like Agia Galini, gorges like the Imbros Gorge and quieter towns like Sfakia.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Eastern Crete including restaurants and tavernas in Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Kato Zakros.
Greece Travel Secrets discovers Sitia, the main town in eastern Crete, with its relaxing waterfront, inexpensive hotels, good food, and nearby ancient sites.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in western Crete, including both luxury and inexpensive hotels in Chania, Rethymnon, and Paleochora.
Keramos Studios in Zaros on Crete is an inexpensive two-star hotel/guesthouse with one of the best breakfasts on the island using food from the family’s farm.
How to see eastern Crete in five days, with its beaches, Minoan palaces, timeless villages, unique churches and mountain and coastal scenery.
Maleme near Chania is where the people who died during the battle of Crete are buried, in the German War Cemetery with the Commonwealth War Cemetery nearby.
Chania is the main city in Western Crete with a lovely setting and a beautiful harbour as well as several museums.
Is someone from Crete a Greek or a Cretan? They are both, of course, but most will tell you that they are Cretan first and Greek second.
Greece Travel Secrets suggests where to stay in Eastern Crete with our favourite hotels in Zakros, Elounds, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Istron Bay, Myrtos, Neapolis.
This Lasithi Plateau drive on Crete starts in Neapoli and ends in Malia, covering a distance of 80 km (50 miles) and taking two to three hours.
Matala Beach on Crete is a guest blog for Greece Travel Secrets from the We Love Crete website, inviting you to Awaken Your Inner Hippy in Matala, Crete.
What was daily life as a Minoan like on Crete, living in palaces like the ones at Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros, and what were their religious beliefs?
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.
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Cretan Botano herbs and spices shop near Matala in southern Crete in search of the herb man of Kouses.
The Dalabelos Estate offers luxury eco-tourism accommodation on Crete in the hills near Rethymnon with its own farm, vineyard and olive groves.
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Western Crete has some wonderful golden sand beaches as well as mountain villages, monasteries, caves, and archaeological sites to discover.
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.
Ancient Gournia is a Minoan archaeological site between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia in Eastern Crete where the visitor can see evidence of a maze of back streets.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
- Click on the HTML link code below.
- Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,
your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
-
From world-famous giant beans and crisp mountain apples to alpine-raised beef and legendary chestnuts, Kastoria is a food lover’s paradise waiting to be explored.
Read More
-
The Kerameikos archaeological site provides a peaceful escape, transporting visitors to the history-rich northwestern gates of ancient Athens.
Read More
-
Greek hotels lead the pack with 87% guest satisfaction, surpassing Spain, Italy, and France, but challenges remain in peak-season management.
Read More
-
The honey derived from the wild lavender of Serifos is a premium Greek product. Beekeeper Nikos Kokolakis produces one of the finest varieties on the island.
Read More
-
From a mysterious Minoan structure to a rediscovered ancient city, these five archaeological finds from 2024 offer fresh perspectives on Greece’s rich history.
Read More
-
Greekality is a Greek company offering food tours in Athens including street food tours, wine and nightlife tours, vegan tours and cooking classes.
Read More
-
The 75-kilometer-long Patras–Pyrgos Motorway in the western Peloponnese is expected to be completed and open to traffic by December 2025, significantly upgrading the region’s road transport system and…
Read More
-
Greece continued to face severe weather conditions on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, as heavy rainfall, storms, and snowfall affected many areas. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) reporte…
Read More
-
Athens public transport is ushering in a new digital era this week with the introduction of its innovative “tap2ride” ticketing system.
Read More
-
Will there be a holiday or national celebration taking place during your trip to Greece? Find out here.
Read More