About Crete

Crete is well known as a summer holiday destination. The Mediterranean climate gives almost a guarantee for sunshine and excellent temperatures. In the high season, July and August, the Cretan coastline is occupied by tourist who enjoy the crystal clear blue waters, the beaches and bays. But Crete has a lot more to offer and also outside of the summer season. Just a few minutes away from the coastline you can find a different world where you will be amazed about the nature, historical buildings and the hundreds of small villages. This gives you the opportunity to explore Crete in a different way, the active way.

Read more about Crete and what this Greek Island has to offer.

For many years tourists visit the island of Crete all year round. Most of them come in summer time because of the weather and the school holidays. Crete knows its guests from many countries around the world. The mass tourism has in some parts really developed, especially on certain centers on the north coast of the island. The main Cities are Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno. The island is about 300 km wide and from the north to the south the distance differs from 25 to 150 km. The big markers on Crete are the mountains. Famous are the "Lefka Ori" in the west and the "Psiloritis" in the middle. If you travel from north to south or vise verse, you always have to pass hills or mountains. The south coast is known for its many small bays hidden by rocks rising up from the sea. The quality of the waters around Crete is excellent and many beaches are yearly rewarded with the international certificate of the "light blue flag".

Because of the mild Mediterranean climate, the sea and the mountains you can find a big diversity in the landscape, nature, agriculture and vegetation. The first inhabitants of Crete arrived thousands of years ago and because they could only live with the things the island had to offer, they left a culture and historical rich society. After many foreign occupations over the years, the culture has developed to a unique one that nowhere else in the world can be found. Crete is a part of Greece, but the Cretan people see this in a different way. Crete is Crete and is like a small country on its own.

The island of Crete knows four prefectures. From west to east there is Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lassithi. Each of the prefectures has its own main cities. For Chania it is the city of Chania and Kissamos. For Rethymnon it is the city of Rethymno and Spili. For Heraklion it is the city of Heraklio and for Lassithi it is Agios Nicoloas and Irapetra.