Crete Greece Holidays
Crete
Holidays
Greece's largest island — world-class all-inclusive resorts, the Samaria Gorge, Minoan palaces and the most diverse island in the Mediterranean
Search Crete Holidays
Flight Time
3h 30m–4h from UK
Best Time
May to October (longest season in Greece)
Country
Greece
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Crete Holiday Guide
Crete is the largest and most diverse Greek island — world-class all-inclusive resorts, the Samaria Gorge, Minoan palaces and the most beautiful beaches in Greece. The Ikos and Mitsis resort groups have their finest properties here.
Elafonissi and Balos are among the most spectacular beaches in the Mediterranean. The Palace of Knossos is the most important archaeological site in Greece. Chania old town is the most beautiful in Crete.
The season runs from April to November — the longest in Greece. We search across Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best deals.
Average Temperatures
Jan
14°C
Feb
14°C
Mar
16°C
Apr
20°C
May
24°C
Jun
29°C
Jul
32°C
Aug
32°C
Sep
29°C
Oct
24°C
Nov
19°C
Dec
15°C
Ready to Book?
Call us or send an enquiry and we'll find you the best deal across Travelpack and JTA Holidays.
Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Crete
The world-class resorts, ancient history and extraordinary natural beauty that make Crete the finest all-round destination in Greece.
Ikos & Mitsis All-Inclusive Resorts
Crete has the finest all-inclusive resorts in Europe — the Ikos Aria, Ikos Oceania and Mitsis Blue Domes are world-class properties with exceptional food, beautiful pools and direct beach access. The Ikos resort group is consistently rated among the best all-inclusive hotels in the world. our travel partners both have excellent packages to Crete's top resorts.
Elafonissi Beach
Elafonissi is the most beautiful beach in Crete — a stunning lagoon with pink-tinged sand (from crushed coral and shells) and shallow, crystal-clear turquoise water. The beach is on the southwest coast and is accessible by car or organised excursion. It is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece.
Balos Lagoon
Balos lagoon, on the northwest tip of Crete, is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in Greece — a stunning lagoon with white sand, shallow turquoise water and the dramatic Gramvousa peninsula. The lagoon is accessible by boat from Kissamos or by a 4WD track. The views from the clifftop above the lagoon are extraordinary.
Palace of Knossos
The Palace of Knossos, near Heraklion, is the most important archaeological site in Crete — the centre of the Minoan civilisation, Europe's oldest civilisation, dating back 4,000 years. The partially reconstructed palace is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum houses the finest collection of Minoan art in the world.
Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is the most famous hiking trail in Greece — a 16km gorge through the White Mountains of western Crete, one of the longest gorges in Europe. The hike takes 5–7 hours and passes through extraordinary scenery. The gorge is open from May to October. The Iron Gates, where the gorge narrows to just 3 metres, are the most dramatic section.
Chania Old Town
Chania old town is the most beautiful in Crete — a charming Venetian harbour with a lighthouse, narrow streets, excellent restaurants and beautiful architecture. The covered market, the Venetian loggia and the Mosque of the Janissaries are all worth visiting. Chania is the most atmospheric town in Crete.
Heraklion
Heraklion is the capital of Crete and the main gateway to the island. The city has a beautiful Venetian harbour, the famous Koules fortress, an excellent archaeological museum and a lively restaurant and bar scene. The city is the best base for visiting Knossos and the north coast resorts.
Cretan Cuisine
Cretan cuisine is the finest in Greece — a Mediterranean diet based on olive oil, fresh vegetables, legumes, cheese (graviera and mizithra), lamb, pork and fresh seafood. The dakos (barley rusk with tomato and cheese), kalitsounia (cheese pastries) and lamb with stamnagathi (wild greens) are all excellent. The local raki (tsikoudia) is served free with meals.
Explore Crete on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
Google Maps embed — add your API key to activate
Set mapEmbedUrl in the destination data to display an interactive map here