Crete-Greece

The Island of Crete: the most versatile and exciting vacation destination in Greece!

A brief travel guide of Crete Greece.

Crete is one of the most frequented islands in Greece and hosts of thousands of visitors every year, who come to Crete to admire its natural beauty and exquisite archaeological sites, to experience its genuine hospitality and exciting nightlife, to enjoy its scrumptious and healthy cuisine and to swim at pristine beaches with crystal clear waters. All these features make Crete - the bridge between Europe and Africa and a land that blends ancient civilisations and modern lifestyle - the most inviting and spellbinding holiday spot in Greece.

Crete Greece has four prefectures: Chania (Hania), Rethymnon (Rethymno or Rethimnon), Heraklion (Iraklio) and Lassithi (Agios Nikolaos). Each is unique and has several very impressive natural and historical sites, as well as an abundance of charming villages where visitors are greeted with a warm smile and treated as a member of the community.

Crete, Greece has an exceptionally well-developed tourist infrastructure that includes Crete hotels, entertainment venues, travel agencies, car rental agencies and shops for all types of tourists. Crete travel agencies can plan a whole accommodation and touring schedule for you, while Crete car rental agencies offer safe and reliable car rental vehicles, as well as sound travelling advice and itineraries.

If you have planned to spend your holidays in Crete, rest assured that you will find a great variety of Crete hotels, luxury hotels, apartments, suites, villas, studios and rooms for rent throughout Crete. Excellent hotel accommodation can be found in all four peninsulas of Crete: Chania Crete hotels ( Chania Town, Kolymbari, Megala Chorafia, Platanos), Rethymnon Crete hotels ( Rethymnon Town, Agia Triada, Plakias, Finikas), Heraklion Crete hotels ( Heraklion Town, Agia Pelagia, Archanes, Avdou, Hersonissos, Koutouloufari, Stalida) and Lassithi Crete hotels (Agios Nikolaos, Havania, Ierapetra, Sitia). Visitors are provided with a wonderful selection from which to select the Crete hotel that satisfies both their needs and budgets. You can either enquire at the Crete hotels directly, or have Crete travel agencies arrange for your accommodation on Crete Island Greece.

Crete Beaches, Greece

The sheer number of breathtaking beaches in Crete is enough to amaze any visitor. You can find long stretches of sand lined with palm trees, small idyllic coves, lovely pebbly beaches and exotic lagoons. Off the coast of Crete are several tiny islands where the azure waters lap soft sands. In other words, Crete beaches cater to all preferences and styles, including quiet family beaches, beaches packed with the younger crowd, secluded beaches for couples and gay beaches in Crete. Water sports facilities in Crete are offered at many beaches, some of which are ideal for scuba diving in Crete. You can find a plethora of Crete hotel accommodation beside the lovely beaches of the island.

All four prefectures of Crete Greece offer splendid beaches and we recommend purchasing a good map of Crete and visiting as many as possible. The most popular Crete beaches are:

Chania Crete Beaches 

Agia Marina, Agii Apostoli, Balos, Falasarna, Georgioupolis, Kalyves, Kastelli-Kissamos, Kolymbari and Platanias, as well as Gramvoussa Island on the northern coast of the Chania Prefecture, and Domata, Frangokastelo, Fournoti, Loutro, and the isles of Elafonissi and Gavdos, which are celebrated for their clear waters, on the southern coast of the Chania Prefecture.

Heraklion Crete Beaches 

Agia Pelagia, Ammoudara, Fodele, Gournes, Hersonissos, Malia, Mononaftis and Stalida (Stalis) on the northern coast of the Heraklion Prefecture, and Agios Nikitas, Dermatos, Kalamaki and Katalyki, Lendas, Loutra and Matala on the southern coast of the Heraklion Prefecture.

Lassithi Crete Beaches 

Almyros, Amoudara, Driros, Elounda, Havania, Istro, Milatos, Mochlos, Pachia Ammos, Plaka, Sisi, Sitia and the islands of Chryssi, Koufonissi and Spinalonga, which have turquoise waters and powder-like sand, on the northern coast of the Lassithi Prefecture, Agia Fotia, Ierapetra, Langada, Makrygialos, Myrtos and Xerokambos on the southern coast of the Lassithi Prefecture, and Itanos, Kato Zakros, Palekastro and the famous Palm Tree Beach of Vai on the eastern coast of the Lassithi Prefecture.
 

Rethymon Crete Beaches 

 Near Rethymnon Town, and in Adele, Bali, Episkopi, Gerani, Panormos and Platanes on the northern coast of the Rethymnon Prefecture, and Agia Gal i ni, Agios Georgios, Agios Pavlos, Ammoudi, Damnoni, Plakias, Preveli, Rodakino and Triopetra on the southern coast of the Rethymnon Prefecture.

Crete Sites & Attractions, Greece

If you are interested in archaeology and history, a tour of the spectacular monuments of Ancient Crete is right up you alley. All you have to do is purchase a map of Crete showing its archaeological sites and off you go!

In the Heraklion Prefecture of Crete Greece you will have the chance to visit some of the finest examples of the grandeur of the Minoan civilization. The most well-known site is the Palace of Knossos, which includes impressive murals, a sanctuary, a throne room, storage rooms and the famous Knossos bathtub, which belonged to the queen. Apart from Knossos Palace, the prefecture of Heraklion has the famous Minoan Palaces of Malia and Phaistos, as well as the less-known Minoan settlements of Tylissos, Gortyna, Amnissos, Lyttos and Levina. A superb Minoan site is located in the village of Archanes, including an ancient graveyard, a sanctuary and a summer palace. In Heraklion Town, visitors can admire the Venetian Port and Town Walls, and visit the museums. Throughout the Heraklion Prefecture, Crete there are a number of splendid churches and monasteries, as well as beautiful natural sites, such as Mt. Youchtas, the Viannos-Amira Gorge and the caves in Kamares and Amnissos.

If you are visiting Chania, Crete, Greece we suggest starting your tour of the archaeological sites at the ancient settlements of Aptera, Lisssos and Amfimalia, continuing to the ancient cities of Falasarna, Polyrinia and Anopolis and finishing with the Greco-Roman ruins in Kastelli-Kissamos. The Prefecture of Chania, Crete has a distinctive Venetian character and offers visitors a wonderful glimpse of this era. In Chania Town you can see the Venetian Lighthouse and Port, as well as the Firkas Fortress. Located on Frangokastelo Beach is the Frangokastelo Fortress, a fine specimen of Venetian architecture. Without a doubt, the most impressive site in the Chania Prefecture is the Samaria Gorge, which is the longest gorge in Europe and a must during your stay in Chania. Other natural sites in the prefecture include the gorges of Therissos and Imbros, Kournas Lake and the White Mountains, all of which are ideal for outdoor sports, such as trekking, canoeing or kayaking, and mountain climbing.

Lassithi, Crete Greece is known mainly for its breathtaking Palm Tree forest, which lies next to a beautiful sandy beach. The fact that it is the only forest of its kind in Europe makes it a popular site for nature lovers. The gorges of Cha and Cavga, the Cave of Milatos and the Katharos Mountain Range are also frequented by visitors who want to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors. While in Lassithi, Crete, we recommend visiting the Toplou Monastery, the Kazarma Fortress in Sitia and the museums in Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Ierapetra. Archaeology buffs will not be disappointed in Lassithi, as the prefecture offers a large number of Minoan sites. The most popular are the ancient cities in Itanos, Praisos and Driros, the Minoan Palace in Kato Zakros and the Minoan settlement in Palekastro.

The prefecture of Rethymnon, Crete Greece is the perfect destination for those who want to combine history and nature in their touring program. In Rethymnon Town visitors can soak up the Venetian aura and visit the Forteza and the Lotzia and spend some time at the museums. Archaeology aficionados can spend a few days touring the ancient cities of Syvritos, Eleftherna and Lappa, as well as the Minoan sites in Apodoulou and Amari. Two of the finest religious sites in Crete are located in the Rethymnon (Rethimnon) Prefecture: the Arkadi and the Preveli Monasteries, both of which have great historical value to the inhabitants of the island. For those who are fond of exploration and outdoor sports, we recommend visiting the Ideo Andro Cave, where legend has it that Zeus was born, the Melidoni Cave in Perama, the Gorges of Kourtaliotiko, Patsos and Kotsifou, and lastly the magnificent Lake of Preveli, with its small creeks and waterfalls.

Crete Entertainment - Crete Events, Greece

Crete Greece entertainment is superb, as many holiday resorts offer a wide selection of night clubs, bars, cafes, tavernas and restaurants, including the capital of each prefecture, Chania Town, Rethymnon Town, Heraklion Town and Agios Nikolaos Town, as well as Hersonissos, Elounda, Stalida, Matala, Plakias, Souda Bay, Agia Galini, Malia, Kastelli-Kissamos, Agia Pelagia, Paleochora, Ierapetra, Sitia, etc. One of the main attractions of the island of Crete is its people. The locals are always very hospitable and eager to treat visitors with a cup of Greek coffee or tsikoudia with meze (a potent alcoholic beverage and bite-sized delicacies).

Throughout the year, many traditional fairs and festivals take place in Crete, including cultural, athletic and art events in the four prefecture capitals Chania Town, Rethymnon Town, Heraklion Town and Agios Nikolaos Town, wine festivals, dance competitions, religious celebrations and re-enactments of historical events of the island of Crete.

Crete Weather, Greece

The island of Crete Greece is a superb holiday destination for all seasons. It offers sun-drenched beaches, and refreshing, verdant hills and mountains. The weather in Crete is always mild, as Crete is located at the southernmost point of Europe, and is easily cooled by sea breezes. Often this may cause the Crete weather forecast to be a bit unpredictable. In addition, the less verdant areas (the eastern side and southern coast of Crete) are also drier and warmer than the areas that have a lot of vegetation (the western side and the northern coast of Crete ). Rainfall is not uncommon in Crete, starting in late-fall through spring.

During the winter, Crete weather is fairly mild, except for the mountainous areas, which are blanketed with snow. Average temperatures from November to March range between 10 °C and 14°C. Spring in Crete is wonderful, as all of nature blossoms, the island fills with leafy hills and the temperatures range from mid teens to low 20s. The summer weather in Crete Greece is comfortable and cool in comparison to other parts of Greece, ranging from the mid to high 20's and sometimes low 30s. Although cooler, Fall is also a beautiful season in Crete, as temperatures remain in the high teens to mid 20s.

Flights & Ferries to Crete, Greece - Rent a Car in Crete Greece

There are many scheduled flights to Crete Greece throughout the year, both from Athens Airport, Thessaloniki Airport and Rhodes Airport to Crete Airports (Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport), and European airports (charter flights). The price of airplane fare to Crete depends on the season and the period of booking. It is possible to find cheap flights to Crete if you can book you flight well in advance.

Ferries to Crete ports depart frequently from both Piraeus Port in Athens and from Thessaloniki Port, especially during the busy summer months. Ferries from Crete travel to the the Cyclades Islands, the Dodecanese Islands, Kythira, Antikythira and Skiathos, making it easy to visit other Greek Islands.

Crete has many reliable rent a car agencies that offer high-quality car hire services throughout Crete. With a dependable rental car, you can easily tour Crete and see all of its attractions in comfort and ease.