Call to speak to one of our experts 0330 094 8364
Image

Crete Holidays

Reference WW43751
Holidays to Crete

Choose any of our Crete holidays, and you'll be jetting off to the largest and most populous of the Greek islands. Settled in the glorious Mediterranean Sea, the island of Crete is the perfect holiday destination. 

Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece, and when you visit, you'll find out why. Today, the island's tourism infrastructure caters to all tastes, including an extensive range of accommodation. 

The island's facilities take in large luxury hotels with their complete facilities including swimming pools, sports and recreation and then there are the smaller family-owned apartments, ideal for explorers just looking for a base.

If a Crete escape sounds like your ideal holiday, speak to one of our travel experts about booking! 

Popular Holiday Locations in Crete
What to expect in Crete in more detail

Situated in the eastern Mediterranean, Crete is by far the largest of the many Greek Islands and offers something for every kind of traveller. The island has experienced thousands of years of conquest and habitation and has a complicated and diverse heritage. Sightseers can investigate the remains of the ancient Minoan culture that flourished here thousands of years before Christ. Generations of Roman, Venetian and Turkish rule have also left their mark and there are fascinating sights scattered throughout the island.

Its northern coastline is home to busy holiday resorts and a wealth of powdery white beaches, where couples and families come to soak up the Mediterranean sunshine. The gateway to the island is the large, modern city of Heraklion, which is not so much an island idyll as a vital commercial centre. Other major holiday resorts in Greece include nearby Malia, lively Agios Nikolaos, Rethymnon with its lovely old town, and Chania, to the west, which is known for its 14th-century Venetian harbour and waterfront restaurants.

The wild interior of Crete offers some spectacular mountain scenery drives and many opportunities for hikers and serious cyclists. The White Mountains in the west soar to over 2000m, while the more gentle mountains in the east hide the extraordinary Lasithi plateau in their midst, which is dotted with white windmills. The south coast of Crete is much more remote and rugged than the north. It is crisscrossed with gorges and dotted with unspoilt villages, pretty coves, and secluded beaches.

A comprehensive bus system makes Crete easy to navigate. Frequent bus services work the north coast, while less frequent services cater to the south coast via the mountainous interior. Crete's towns and resorts also have many tour companies that offer excursions to all major sites. Ferries link the towns along the south coast and the islands, but many only operate during summer. Taxis can take visitors to all sites and are reasonably priced, especially if two or three passengers share. Travel agents can find English-speaking drivers to act as guides. For visitors with limited time on the island, hiring a car is the most flexible way to travel outside the cities and towns. Renting a car allows visitors to leave the overdeveloped tourist trail and explore the real Crete.

Crete is not as well-known for its nightlife as some of other Ionian Islands, but it has its fair share of appeal, particularly within the busy resort towns of Heraklion and Limenas Hersonissos. Bars, clubs, discos, lounges and pubs abound in Heraklion Town, Iraklio, Hania, Rethymno and Agios Nikloas. By contrast, Malia, Chania and Hersonissos are hot spots for package holiday tourists, though bars and clubs cater to a younger crowd intent on a lively night out. Older travellers will enjoy Chania's fantastic restaurants, pubs, lounges and tavernas, and they can join locals for their volta: a leisurely stroll or a horse-drawn carriage ride before sundowners or dinner.All in all, visitors will find different 'moods' on Crete. Some may relish the bustling clubbing scene, while others will prefer experiencing local traditions in quiet villages.

Sightseeing on Crete pulls visitors back through time and into the rich mythology of Ancient Greece. Highlights include the Palace of Knossos, the Cave of Zeus, the Monastery of Arkadi, the remains of Gortyna, and the Palace complex of Phaistos in the south. The Archaeological Museum and Historical Museum of Crete in Heraklion are also worth visiting. Crete's sun-drenched, sandy beaches are the main attraction, but walkers will adore the island's breath-taking scenery, especially the beautiful gorges and mountains in Chania's Samaria Gorge National Park. In the east, tiny Sitia is worth a peek for its picturesque port. Visitors may enjoy stopping in the town for lunch.

Crete's miles of coastline can delight kids on holiday, though they're far from the only child-friendly attraction on the island. The pirate-ship cruise from Rethymno is usually a favourite, and kids also enjoy Chania's Limnoupolis Water Park or jet skiing and snorkelling at Star Beach Water Park in Hersonissos. A day-trip north to the small island of Spinalonga is another fun option, where families can explore the former leper colony's fortress. Kids tend to find the place spooky and fascinating, as the streets and buildings are abandoned. Travellers should tell kids the Minotaur story when visiting Knossos Palace, as the legendary creature is said to have lived there. Kids can let their imaginations run wild within the ruins, as well as at other ancient, atmospheric places.

Cretan food relies on fresh, healthy ingredients. The region's cheeses include Graviera, Myzitra, or Anthotiros cheeses; other traditional dishes include snails, Cretan pilaf (chicken and lamb risotto served with goat's butter), and a chicken soup with a lemon sauce called kotosoupa. Dinner is a late affair, as locals usually eat at 10 or 11 pm. Resorts and hotels have international restaurants, though they tend to be more expensive and of lesser quality than local tavernas. It's customary to dine 'family style', meaning everyone's welcome to each dish.

So what's the weather like in Crete?

Crete has a largely Mediterranean climate, with some influences from North Africa's weather patterns. Visitors will find hot, dry summers and mild winters. Peak summer temperatures generally range from 86F (30C) during the day to 72F (22C) at night, though it can get significantly hotter during heat waves. Rainfall is almost non-existent in summer but showers can be expected between October and April. Crete's mountains sometimes receive snowfall during winter. Otherwise, snow is rare on the island. Some visitors find Crete uncomfortably hot and humid during mid-summer, so spring and autumn may be the best times to visit for walking and sightseeing when travellers can expect milder weather and smaller crowds.

Weather
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Crete Image Gallery