Crete Holiday: 11 important things to know

Miles of sandy beaches and quaint villages alternate with picturesque towns and wild mountain landscapes with countless hiking trails. There is just so much to discover on a Crete Holiday, that a lot of people return to the island every year.

In Greece, Crete is often referred to as a “country of its own”, because the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean is a world of its own. So it is hardly surprising that the island has something to offer for almost every type of holiday, accordingly many Crete holiday resorts by the sea are among the top travel destinations in Europe.

Crete is also considered the most popular Greek island and is also the largest island in the country. Around 630,000 people live on Crete, a little more than in the German city of Düsseldorf, but on an area that is 38 times larger.

#1 Where is the island of Crete?

The island of Crete is located in the South of the Aegean Sea. The small island of Gavdos below Crete is even considered the southernmost island of Europe. The sea below Crete is called the Libyan Sea. Crete has no larger neighboring islands. Santorini in the north is about five hours away by ferry.

#2 Airport of Crete

Crete is even home to three airports. The two international airports Heraklion HER (Airport Nikos Kazantzakis) and Chania CHQ (Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis), as well as the national airport Sitia JSH (Airport Vinzénzos Kornáros).

Heraklion and Chania are operated in the season by direct flight from Germany Controlled. Chania is served by Condor, Eurowings and RyanAir, among others. Heraklion is also served by TuiFly and EasyJet in addition to those mentioned. There are also flights from Athens to Crete in winter.

How long do you fly to the island of Crete?

• Berlin to Crete Flight time: approx. 3 hours and 10 minutes
• Frankfurt to Crete Flight time: approx. 3 hours and 5 minutes
• Munich to Crete Flight time: approx. 2 hours and 50 minutes

→ On the portal Skyscanner* you will find the best flight deals to Crete and check prices directly:

➲ To cheap flights to the island*

#3 How big is the island of Crete?

The Island Crete has a length of 254 km and a maximum width of 60 km. With an area of 8,336 km², Crete is the largest Greek island and even the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean.

From the paradisiacal palm beach of Vai in the east of the island to the lagoon of Balos in the far west of Crete, you need at least five hours by car. To explore as many Crete highlights as possible, it is worth taking a roadtrip on Crete by rental car. Alternatively, organized excursions are offered all over the island, which you can take advantage of, for example, GetYourGuide* You can book:

➲ To the Organized Island tours*

#4 Most beautiful beaches in Crete

There are countless beautiful beaches in Crete, which consist of light or dark sand, as well as gravel. Sandy beaches are spread around the whole island, in the south they are mostly grey, in the north beige. Due to the size of the island, you will almost always find a quiet stretch of beach, provided that you have some mobility.

In the west and north between Chania and Heraklion there are many Crete Beaches very frequented in summer. If you spend your Crete vacation in the south or east, you can find relatively undisturbed bays. The beaches in the southeast of Crete are partly deserted even in midsummer.

Recommendation for beautiful Crete beaches:

• Falassarna
• Agia Marina near Chania
• Episkopi near Georgioupoli
• Kalyves
• Elafonisi
• Balos
• Beaches of the Akrotiri Peninsula (including Limani, Marathi, Golden Beach)
• Preveli
• Beaches at Pavlos and Triopetra
• Kokkini Ammos in Matala
• Beaches near Xerokambos (including Argilos, Alona, Mazida Ammos)
• Beaches of Erimoupolis nearSitia

#5 Capital of Crete

The The capital of Crete is Heraklion, also called Heraklion. It is located on the north coast in the center of the island. Almost 175,000 inhabitants live in Heraklion. The city is thus the fourth largest city in Greece after Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras. Heraklion is a city with many faces, which you can explore on a walk or a guided tour, among others bookable via GetYourGuide*:

➲ To the guided city tours*

Heraklion was largely destroyed in the Second World War, but the largest city on the island offers many sights worth seeing, including the old Venetian harbour or the archaeological museum. Near Heraklion is also Crete’s most important ancient site, the Knossos Palace from Minoan times. Guided tours are available on GetYourGuide*, among others:

➲ To the Organized Knossos Tours*

#6 For whom is a Crete holiday suitable?

Crete is like a mini version of Greece. Here you will find picturesque beaches, the southernmost mountain range in Europe, lively metropolises and original villages. Therefore, a Crete holiday is worthwhile for almost every type of traveler. Greece newcomers feel at home in Crete right away!

The island’s beautiful sandy beaches are ideal for sun worshippers or a relaxing couple trip, as well as Family holidays on Crete. Greece connoisseurs are drawn to the mountains, e.g. to the Lefka-Ori Mountains includingSamaria Gorge or on the Lasithi Plateau, a hiker’s paradise. The Samaria Gorge can also be visited as part of a guided tour with GetYourGuide*:

➲ To the hike through the gorge*

#7 Experience in Crete Holidays

We were on the island of Crete for four weeks in August 2018, as well as for eight weeks from May to June 2022. In doing so, we have Crete explored extensively and tried to collect as many impressions as possible. The varied Crete is ideal for an individual Greece road trip.

The north coast of Crete experiences the greatest tourist rush. Between Chania and Heraklion there are numerous hotel complexes. The regions of Rethymno and Kissamos are also very busy in summer. We felt most comfortable in the south and east of Crete. Here, the landscape is still undeveloped in many parts.

The cities of Chania and Rethymno you should definitely see it during a day trip. They are considered to be most beautiful places in Crete and have many picturesque alleys including impressive historic buildings. Also the coastal town Agios Nikolaos We liked it very much. Click on the links of GetYourGuide* to learn more about the city tours:

➲ To the guided tours in Rethymno*

➲ To the guided tours in Chania*

If you still need an extensive guide to the island of Crete, we can recommend the “Kreta Biebel” from the Michael Müller Verlag. On almost 700 pages you will find the most important information and many tips for your Crete vacation: View on Amazon*

#8 Crete Hotels: Tips & Recommendations

Crete has the highest density of hotels in all of Greece. That’s why you’ll find beautiful Hotels for a Crete holiday. We have cheap Crete hotels via the platform Booking.com*found. Luxury hotels, family hotels, as well as apartments and holiday apartments in Crete are also offered here:

➲ To beautiful hotels on the island*

Crete Hotel Note: The resorts, especially east of Heraklion Airport, are located directly in front of the airport’s runway. If you want to avoid aircraft noise and peace and quiet on your Crete vacation, you should make sure that you are sufficiently far from the airport.

→ About Booking.com* you will find many Accommodation in Crete and you can check prices here:

#9 Crete Holiday Homes & Villas

There are a lot of holiday homes in Crete. Both in the mountains and on the coast, small and large Holiday homes in Crete offered. Supermarkets, shops and restaurants can be found in almost every town. The taverns in the mountain villages have unbeatable prices.

→ Beautiful apartments and apartments Crete Villas with Pool available at: Booking.com*

#10 Crete Holiday Packages and All-inclusive

Package holidaymakers will also find a suitable holiday offer on Crete. Along the north coast near Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos (Elounda) some all-inclusive hotels have settled. There are also hotels for package tours in Kissamos, Elounda and Malia.

→ Crete Vacation Packages Deals available at: Holidaycheck*, Check24*

#11 Even more travel tips for your Crete vacation

A Crete holiday alone is not enough to discover all the highlights on the island. We definitely advise you to rent a car for a few days. It is fun to drive from the coast to the mountains of Crete, if you stay longer than 10 days, you should take a rental car. We use the portal Discover Cars* for the rental car search:

➲ To the rental car booking for the island*

Many Crete vacationers are so enthusiastic after their trip that they return to the island year after year. So you always discover something new! If you want to stay longer on Crete, it is even worthwhile to travel by car.

Crete tips in the video

ARD Travel published an excellent documentary about the versatility of Crete, which also presents places away from the tourist crowds. We wish you a lot of fun watching – and looking forward to your Crete holiday:

Here you can get more information for your holiday planning, as well as interesting tips for your Crete holiday:

• Island of Crete -Guidebook
• Best hotels in Crete
• Our highlights in Crete
• Crete Excursions & Tours
• Crete Resorts

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