Crete is Greece's largest island and the Mediterranean's fifth-largest, about 260 km long and at most 60 km wide. Mountain ranges over 2,400 metres run across it: the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) in the west, Psiloritis in the centre and Dikti in the east. In myth Zeus was born here, and Minos ruled with his Minotaur. Cretans are proud of their identity, their lyra music, their dialects and their hospitality.
A very long history
- c. 2000-1450 BCMinoan civilisation flourishes, with the palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros.
- c. 1450 BCThe Mycenaeans arrive.
- 67 BCCrete becomes a Roman province, with its capital at Gortyn.
- 824-961Arab rule; Chandax, the future Heraklion, is founded.
- 1211-1669Crete is Venetian as the Kingdom of Candia; Cretan art and literature flourish.
- 1669After a 21-year siege, Candia falls to the Ottomans.
- 1898-1913Autonomous Crete, then union with Greece thanks to Eleftherios Venizelos.
- 1941The Battle of Crete: German paratroopers against Greek, British and New Zealand defenders and the civilian population.
The towns
| Town | Why visit |
|---|---|
| Heraklion | The capital, with the Archaeological Museum and Knossos a few kilometres away |
| Chania | Greece's loveliest Venetian harbour, with lighthouse, lanes and covered market |
| Rethymno | Venetian and Ottoman old town with the Fortezza |
| Agios Nikolaos | Elegant town on Lake Voulismeni and Mirabello Bay |
| Sitia and Ierapetra | Quieter eastern Crete, with beaches and palms |
Archaeological sites
Minoan civilisation left Crete extraordinary palaces: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros, a UNESCO site since 2025 together with Zominthos and Kydonia. Other important sites include Gortyn, the Roman capital with its famous law code carved in stone, Hagia Triada and the Minoan town of Gournia.
Nature and beaches
- The Samaria Gorge, 16 km long, one of Europe's longest, is walked from May to October down to the sea at Agia Roumeli.
- The Lasithi plateau with its windmills and the Dictaean Cave, the Omalos plateau, and the Imbros and Kourtaliotiko gorges.
- The finest beaches are the Balos lagoon, pink-sand Elafonissi, Falassarna, Preveli with its palm grove and river, and Vai with its palm forest. See the beaches of Crete.
- Spinalonga, an islet with a Venetian fortress that was a leper colony until 1957, reached by boat from Plaka and Elounda.
Cretan food
Cretan cooking is considered a model of the Mediterranean diet: plenty of extra virgin olive oil, wild greens, pulses, goat and sheep cheeses, dakos, snails, lamb with herbs, kalitsounia and tsikoudia (raki) offered at the end of the meal. See Greek cuisine.
Getting there and around
Crete has three airports, at Heraklion, Chania and Sitia, with flights from Athens and, in summer, direct flights from many European cities. Ferries from Piraeus reach Heraklion and Chania overnight, and there are connections with Santorini and other Cyclades. The island is big: you need a car to explore it; distances are long and mountain roads slow. Allow at least ten days to see it properly. See airports of Crete and the Crete itinerary.