Vacation on Crete

Crete is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea and is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. The island covers an area of approximately 8,261 km², with a length of approximately 254 km and a width of 12 to 60 km. Around 624,000 people live in Crete, making it almost more populous than all the other Aegean islands put together. The island is the southernmost part of Europe on the edge of the Levantine Sea.

There are two international airports on Crete. Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” Airport (HER) is located in the north of the island about 5 km east of the capital city of Heraklion and is Crete’s largest airport. Chania “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” Airport (CHQ) is located about 14 km east of Chania in western Crete. Discover Airlines flies to both airports from Frankfurt with a flight time of around 3 hours—ideal for starting off in the right part of the island from the word go.

The best way to answer the question of which location in Crete suits which type of traveler is to go through the different regions of the island. Chania in the west offers Venetian harbor flair and is ideally located for hikes in the Samaria Gorge and day trips to Elafonisi and Balos. Heraklion in the center is the cultural capital, with the Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum. Rethymno combines old town flair, beach and nightlife. Agios Nikolaos on the Mirabello Gulf and Plakias in the south are quieter and ideal for couples and travelers who want to unwind. Hersonissos and Malia are the hotspots for beach vacations and the party scene.

The following beaches are among Crete’s most scenic and popular: Elafonisi in the southwest is famous for its pink sand, created by crushed shell fragments, and its shallow lagoon—ideal for families. Balos Lagoon on the Gramvousa Peninsula in the northwest impresses with shimmering turquoise, gently sloping shallow water and is accessible by hiking trail or boat from Kissamos. Vai Beach in eastern Crete is the largest natural palm grove in Europe, with thousands of Cretan date palms. Preveli Beach in the south stands out for its palm grove along the Megalopotamos River, which flows into the Libyan Sea.

The Palace of Knossos is the most important Minoan excavation site in Crete and is located about 5 km south of Heraklion. The palace complex was first built around 1900 BC and is considered the center of Minoan high culture, the first high culture in Europe. With an area of around 20,000 m², the complex comprises over 1,300 rooms, ritual sites, workshops and the famous Throne Room. The myth of King Minos, the labyrinth and the Minotaur is closely linked to this place. Knossos is open daily—an early visit is worthwhile to avoid the heat and crowds.

The best travel time for Crete depends on the type of vacation you want. For beach vacations, June to September is ideal, with water temperatures of 23–26°C and air temperatures around 28–32°C. For hiking, sightseeing, and families, April to May and October to early November are ideal, with mild temperatures of 20–25°C, few tourists and nature in bloom. With over 300 days of sunshine per year and mild winters around 15°C, Crete is also worth a trip in the off-season.

Yes, a hike through the Samaria Gorge is definitely worthwhile—it is considered one of the longest gorges in Europe and has been a national park since 1962. The route is about 16 km long, starts on the Omalos Plateau at about 1,250 m elevation and ends in the coastal town of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea. The gorge is open from early May to late October, depending on the weather. At the narrowest point, the “Iron Gate”, the gorge is only 3 meters wide, while the walls are up to 300 meters high. For the hike, you should allow 5–7 hours and bring sturdy footwear.

In Crete, given the island’s size of around 254 km in length, the most flexible way to get around is by rental car, available at both airports (HER and CHQ) and in all major towns. The public KTEL bus network reliably connects the north coast (Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos) and is very affordable. Taxis are plentiful—pre-order by phone for longer distances. For remote southern and mountainous regions, a car or an organized tour is almost indispensable.

In Crete, you should try the famous Cretan cuisine, which is part of the Mediterranean diet and known for its longevity factors. It includes dakos (country salad on hard barley bread with tomato and mizithra cheese), moussaka, souvlaki, grilled octopus, stamnagathi (wild chicory) and antikristo (lamb cooked over an open fire). To drink with your meal, you can sample Cretan wine of the Vidiano and Liatiko varieties, as well as the traditional pomace brandy tsikoudia (raki). Also a must: be sure to try the famous Cretan olive oil, which is among the highest-quality olive oils in the world.

For Crete, you should allow at least 7 to 10 days to properly explore the island across its length of approximately 254 km. If you’re just looking for a beach vacation, a week in one place is plenty. For a round trip with visits to Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Knossos, the Samaria Gorge, Elafonisi and the Lasithi Plateau, 10 to 14 days are ideal. Since Crete has two international airports (HER and CHQ), open-jaw flights with Discover Airlines can be cleverly combined: fly into Chania and return from Heraklion—without backtracking.