CRETE OVERVIEW:

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands in the Mediterranean Sea, located between the Sea of Crete and the Libyan Sea. It consists of four prefectures: Chania, Rethimno, Heraklion and Lasithi. Some say there is no place on earth like Crete – a view strongly supported by those fortunate enough to have visited the island. Crete is well known for its beaches but it has a very contrasting landscape.

CLIMATE:

The island of Crete has a Mediterranean climate. It experiences hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. It has the mildest climate in Greece due to its southerly location. The central mountains, stretching from east to west, create a natural barrier to the north-westerly prevailing winds and result in great regional variation in weather conditions.

GETTING THERE:

There is a choice of airlines operating direct flights to Crete from the UK, with a flight time of just under four hours. There are three international airports: Heraklion (code: HER), Chania (code: CHQ) and the smaller Sitia (code: JSH).

ACCOMMODATION:

The island has many different regions and resort towns, each one with its own character. The Heraklion (Iraklio) region is home to the island’s most developed with a 24-hour party culture. Rethymno has some quieter getaways, plus Crete’s longest sandy beach. Chania, in the west, also has some rapidly developing beach resorts and is ideal if you want to engage in a wide range of outdoor pursuits, from scuba-diving to mountain climbing. Lasithi in the east is the island’s quietest area and the exclusive resorts of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos are the strongholds of Crete’s high-end tourism.

CUISINE:

Rich in tradition, Cretan gastronomy can be enjoyed in any number of traditional taverns offering all local gastronomy specialties, or in the best restaurants where you will find a combination of gourmet and traditional dishes. Undoubtedly, dining in Crete is a unique experience treasured not only by the thousands of travellers to the area but also locals.

VISTA EVENTS SAYS

If there was a beauty contest for Greek islands, Crete would surely be among the favourites!