Crete Featured Hotels

Crete is the largest Greek island and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean, stretching 260 km east to west. It was the cradle of the Minoan civilization, Europe's first advanced society, which built the palace at Knossos around 1900 BCE. The island has its own dialect, cuisine, and dance traditions distinct from mainland Greece.

Four regional units divide the island: Heraklion (capital and busiest hub), Chania (best Venetian old town), Rethymno, and Lasithi. Two international airports - Heraklion (HER) and Chania (CHQ) - receive direct flights from across Europe. The interior is mountainous, with the White Mountains rising to 2,453 m, while the south coast hides Libyan Sea beaches reached only by boat or footpath.