Crete Travel Guide
Crete is by far the largest of the many Greek Islands and offers something for every kind of traveller through its stunning landscapes, rich history and warm culture. Thousands of years of conquest and habitation have given it a complicated and diverse heritage, which is still apparent in the many breath-taking archaeological sites scattered across the island. Sightseers can investigate the remains of the ancient Minoan culture that flourished here millennia before Christ; generations of Roman, Venetian and Turkish rule have also left their mark and there are fascinating sights throughout the destination.
The 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 Crete 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 6,561ft (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's crisscrossed with gorges and dotted with unspoilt villages, pretty coves and secluded beaches.