Crete: The Ideal Destination for Everyone
18th January 2016
Crete is the largest and most popular Greek island. It’s also referred to as being the most beautiful and the most unique. Located in the most southern part of Greece, Crete is a mixture of breathtaking beaches and diverse landscape.
With a fantastic atmosphere, welcoming attitude and plenty to see and do, it’s not surprising that Crete is frequented by thousands of tourists every year. Lots of different types of tourists.
Yup. Crete is the ideal destination for every type of holidaymaker – whether you’re a family of four seeking a break from everyday life or a loved up couple looking for a little romance.
What You’ll Find
Crete is 8.336 km2 in area, and the coastline makes up for 1046km just by itself. The diverse and dramatic morphology of this island is a popular element amongst tourists, as it means you have a large array of activities at your disposal. You can go to the beach and enjoy the waves, or you can put on your hiking shoes and explore the Cretan gorges.
There are a lot of small islands and rocks near to the coastline, some of them visited only by researchers, others by tourists and others are even environmentally protected. They make for a spectacular view that you can enjoy from the coast anytime you want. Here you can also find a huge diversity of Cretan wildlife, which includes many species native to the region – and which can’t be found anywhere else, such as mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
With a Mediterranean climate, you’re sure to find fantastic weather throughout the year, so you can better enjoy everything the island has to offer. All of this makes Crete the ideal destination for everyone.
What to Visit
With such a complex and old past, it’s no wonder that Crete is rich in archaeological sites and ancient monuments. Gortys is one of such places, located near the south coast, and where Zeus supposedly took Europa, one of his many lovers.
This is another feature of the island that attracts so many people. A lot of places in Crete are strongly linked to Greek mythology, meaning you can expect to visit the cave where Zeus hid from his father after being born, the palace where the Minotaur’s labyrinth is supposed to be, and much more.
So, if you’re interested in myths and want to visit the specific places where the Greek gods and heroes dwelled, you’re in luck! And if after exploring these sites you want to see many of the artefacts found by archaeologists over the years, you can head on over to the famous Heraklion Archaeological Museum in the north coast.
Where to Eat
Cretan cuisine is mainly comprised of ingredients that come from natural sources, including seasonal ones that can only be found during certain months. You’ll find places to eat everywhere, including by the coast, where you’ll see plenty of traditional places like taverns and more modern restaurants. You have ancient recipes of fish and other ingredients sourced from this area to choose from, so enjoy them all!