Crete is Greece’s largest island — 250 kilometres from end to end — and it is, in Eleni’s honest assessment, the most complete holiday destination in the GotoBeach Greece portfolio. It has more variety of landscape, beach, food, history and hotel than any other Greek island. You could visit six times and stay in a different area each time, and each visit would feel like a genuinely different holiday.
The north coast — running from Heraklion through Kokkini Hani, Hersonissos, Stalida and Malia — is where most UK package tourists stay, and where GotoBeach’s largest hotel selection is concentrated. This is a well-developed resort strip with good beaches, a strong all inclusive hotel offer and easy access to Heraklion’s airport. Hersonissos in particular is one of the most popular and best-equipped resort areas in Greece — lively, family-friendly and with a range of hotels that covers everything from budget to five-star luxury.
The west of the island — Chania and Rethymno — is a different proposition entirely. Chania is, in Eleni’s view, one of the most beautiful towns in Greece: a Venetian harbour, narrow stone streets, excellent restaurants, a covered market and a character that is entirely its own. Rethymno sits directly between Chania and Heraklion, with its own Venetian old town and a long sandy beach directly in front of the resort hotels. Guests who stay on the west coast of Crete tend to fall in love with the island in a way that north coast package tourists sometimes do not — the pace is slower, the food is better and the surroundings are considerably more beautiful.
The history of Crete rewards any guest who makes the effort to engage with it. The Minoan Palace of Knossos — the centre of Europe’s oldest civilisation, dating back 3,500 years — is a short taxi ride from Heraklion and one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Mediterranean world. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, housing the finest collection of Minoan artefacts anywhere, is a genuine half-day destination. Eleni grew up with this history and considers it one of Crete’s most underused assets by UK visitors.
The food in Crete is, in Eleni’s personal opinion, the finest in Greece — and that is a significant statement given the quality of Greek food generally. Cretan olive oil, fresh seafood, slow-roasted lamb, dakos salad, wild greens, honey from the Cretan mountains and cheese that bears no resemblance to anything sold in a UK supermarket. Even on an all inclusive holiday, Eleni recommends spending at least two or three evenings in a local taverna. The experience of eating in a village restaurant in the hills above Hersonissos or on the Chania waterfront is genuinely different from anything the hotel buffet can offer.
The beaches of Crete span an extraordinary range. Elafonissi in the far south-west — a shallow lagoon of pink-tinged sand and turquoise water — is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Balos, accessible by boat or a challenging road, offers similarly extraordinary scenery. The beaches of the north coast are more conventional but consistently good — long, sandy and warm from May through October. Agia Pelagia, west of Heraklion, has one of the most sheltered and clearest bays on the island.
One honest point: Crete is a large island and choosing the wrong area can genuinely affect your holiday. If you stay in Hersonissos but want to experience Chania, the drive is 90 minutes each way — a commitment rather than a day trip. Eleni’s advice is always to be clear about what you want before choosing your area. Families who want a lively resort with easy beach access: north coast. Couples who want atmosphere, food and beauty: Chania or Rethymno. First-time visitors who want to see as much as possible: Heraklion area, which puts Knossos, Hersonissos and the best north coast beaches all within reach.
Crete is served by two airports: Heraklion (HER) in the east and Chania (CHQ) in the west. Both have direct flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and other UK regional airports throughout the summer season. Flight time is approximately 3.5–4 hours from London.
For all inclusive holidays in Crete, cheap Crete holidays from the UK, luxury Crete hotels or family holidays in Greece — book through GotoBeach with full ATOL protection under licence #11211, low deposits from £30 per person and the honest advice of someone who was born here.
