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GREECE · ISLAND

Crete

  • Island
  • May – June, September – October
▸ Discover

About Crete

Crete is Greece's largest and most diverse island — a place of Minoan palaces, gorge hikes through scented oregano scrubland, turquoise lagoons accessible only by boat, and a cuisine so distinct it is considered its own culinary tradition. The Palace of Knossos reveals Europe's first civilisation; the Samaria Gorge drops 1,250 metres to the Libyan Sea through 16 km of wild mountain scenery.

Highlights

  • Palace of Knossos — Minoan civilisation
  • Samaria Gorge — Europe's longest gorge hike
  • Balos lagoon and Gramvousa island
  • Elafonisi beach pink sand
  • Rethymno Venetian harbour old town
  • Cretan cuisine — dakos, lamb with stamnagathi

Crete in photos

Crete — photo 1
Photo: prague.czech.photo · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 2
Photo: 612gr · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 3
Photo: Romtomtom · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 4
Photo: Romtomtom · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 5
Photo: Vassil Tzvetanov · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 6
Photo: Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 7
Photo: szeke · BY-SA 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 8
Photo: tjuel · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 9
Photo: currybet · BY-SA 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 10
Photo: International Real Estate Listings · BY-SA 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 11
Photo: Ole Husby · BY-SA 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 12
Photo: jurvetson · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 13
Photo: Rutger Tuller · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 14
Photo: ZeroOne · BY-SA 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 15
Photo: George M. Groutas · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 16
Photo: _dChris · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 17
Photo: Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 18
Photo: saamiblog · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 19
Photo: Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho · BY 2.0 · Openverse
Crete — photo 20
Photo: Petro Stelte · BY-SA 4.0 · Openverse
▸ Where you'll stay

Where you'll stay in Crete

Live map of hotels and villas around Crete — powered by Stay22. Pan, zoom and compare live prices to pick your base.

Stay

Hotels & rentals around Crete

Pan, zoom and compare live prices — every stay in one map.

▸ What you'll do
What's on

While you're there

24
JUL
Athens Epidaurus Festival 2026 — Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Performances — Athens, Summer 2026
Καλαμιώτου, 105 60 Athina, Greece · show
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Explore

Explore the area

© OpenFreeMap · OSM
Do

Local attractions & tours

Skip-the-line tickets and small-group tours in Crete — compare across our partners.

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▸ When you'll go

Best time to visit Crete

May – June, September – October

▸ Ready to book your trip?
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▸ Trip extras
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More trip extras

Parking, holiday extras, and more — coming soon.

Coming soon

We're lining up parking, holiday extras and activities you'll be able to add to any trip from here.