Crete, the largest island of Greece, is located in the south of the Aegean Sea. The wonderful weather, the mountainous landscapes, a coast with many beautiful beaches and rocky coves, beautiful towns and charming villages and harbours, excellent food, archaeological sites and ruins of the Minoan Civilization at Knossos, Phaistos and Gortys, and an exciting nightlife
all make Crete a unique place to go on holiday. Here is always something new to see and discover for families, young people and romantic couples.

The landscape of Crete

Crete is an island with many different faces. The great diversity in the landscape ranges from high mountains and gorges to endless beautiful beaches and rocky coves, from exotic palm tree groves to fertile plains. About 2.000 species of plants, flowers or trees are growing in Crete, on the mountains as well as in the valleys.

Large cities on Crete:  Chania and Rethymno

The beautiful and picturesque Chania town in the west of Crete has reminders of the past at every corner. The town is divided into two parts; the New Town where you find the shops, the post office, banks, the indoor market and the bus station, and the Old Town, which is built around the Venetian harbour with numerous picturesque narrow streets and architecture showing the influence of decades of foreign domination.

Rethymno town is combining an old-time aristocratic appearance with a modern aspect, a blend which is creating a unique atmosphere. The town is also divided into the New Town and the Old Town, composed of old buildings and paved narrow alleys. A Venetian fortress is overlooking the town. The town has many lively bars and clubs, various restaurants and excellent taverns and offers an excellent night live.

Tourist attractions on Crete

A big number of archaeological sites, as well as museums, are located on Crete, the most famous ones are Knossos, Phaistos and Malia.

One of the most fascinating natural phenomenons on Crete is the Samaria Gorge, with a length of 18 km and a width ranging from 3 meters at its narrowest point up to 150 meters. You can walk through the Gorge, which takes 5-7 hours.

Crete has many beautiful soft, sandy beaches and rocky coves along the beautiful blue Mediterranean Sea on the north and south side of the island.

For the children there are 4 waterparks in Crete: Star Beach and Aqua Plus in Hersonissos, Watercity in Anopolis and Limnopoulis outside Chania. The Crete Aquarium in Gournes is also popular among the children, as well as the smaller aquarium in Hersonissos. Karting, donkey riding and horseback riding are also available in many areas in Crete.

Sport activities on Crete

In Crete you may enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities, from walking in the countryside to hiking, trekking on the mountains, rock climbing, ice climbing, fishing, hunting, bird watching, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, windsurfing, horseback riding, and even bungee jumping.

Gastronomic characteristics of Crete

Crete is famous for its tasty cuisine, based on virgin olive oil, as well as for the abundance of fruit, vegetables and stock farming products. Some of the best known dishes are Souvlaki and the tasty fast food Gyros.

The climate of Crete

There is a significant difference between the weather in the coastal zone and the mountainous areas, as well as between the west and the east part of Crete. The weather in Crete is characterized by sunny and warm summers, with extreme high temperatures in July and August. The water temperatures range from 22-27 degrees in summer months and 15-18 degrees in the winter months.