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View from a green mountain over a wide bay with a sandy beach on the right. Behind it is a town with many white houses and red roofs. The hinterland is hilly to mountainous with green vegetation. The water is turquoise with a few dark blue highlights. The sky is blue with white clouds.
View from a green mountain over a wide bay with a sandy beach on the right. Behind it is a town with many white houses and red roofs. The hinterland is hilly to mountainous with green vegetation. The water is turquoise with a few dark blue highlights. The sky is blue with white clouds.

Crete

Published: 20 March 2025, 11:30

Island of the Gods

Crete is the largest island in Greece and is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea. Does “large” mean mass tourism? No. On this 260-kilometre-long island, those seeking relaxation will find secluded coves and beaches with crystal-clear water. But it's not just beach lovers who get their money's worth. Night owls can party in many trendy bars and clubs. Breathtaking, beautiful landscapes, winding mountain villages, and gorges, such as the famous Samaria Gorge, offer active vacationers many opportunities to explore the island.

Crete does not bear the name “Island of the Gods” for no reason – after all, Zeus, the father of the gods, was born here. For fans of antiquity, there is much to discover from the Minoan culture, one of the oldest civilisations in Europe. The archaeological site of Knossos is an outstanding testament to this era. Crete also has a wonderfully delicious cuisine to offer. Typical dishes such as “dakos” and “apaki” reflect the local culinary tradition. 

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: + one hour
  • Population: 620,000
  • Official language: Greek
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)

Discover Crete

View onto the ruins of a beige-sand-coloured building with three red columns on a pedestal. These support a flat roof. There are trees in the background. The sky is a bright blue.
Impressive and famous: the palace of Knossos from the time of the Minoan civilization was once the political and cultural centre. © IRStone/stock.adobe.com
View through an old stone arch window onto a historic sand-coloured monastery. Green plants grow below the window. The view leads to an imposing portal decorated with curves, arches and towers. To the left of the portal stands a tree, to the right are further buildings. The sky is a bright blue with white clouds.
The 16th-century Arkadi Monastery in Venetian style was once a centre of resistance against the Turkish occupation and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. © robertharding/stock.adobe.com
The picture shows eight human sculptures from ancient Greece, each standing on a pedestal. They are in a room tiled with marble. The wall painting is partly grey and partly red. In the grey areas of the wall, niches contain busts.
The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion houses the most important and largest collection of artefacts from the Minoan civilisation in the world. © Pecold/stock.adobe.com
Two large date palms dominate the picture. The palm fronds are intertwined at the top. Between the trunks, the view is unobstructed, taking in a fine sandy beach and the turquoise sea beyond. At the foot of the palms are smaller palm plants.
Vai Beach, in the east of the island, is unique because of its huge natural palm forest that borders the fine sandy beach, creating a tropical atmosphere with turquoise waters. © gatsi/stock.adobe.com
The picture shows the interior of a cave with stalactite formations. In the middle, a staircase leads up, which is illuminated.
For lovers of Greek mythology, a visit to the Zeus Cave with its fascinating stalactite formations on the Lassithi Plateau, near Psychro, is worthwhile. © yakimenkoanton/stock.adobe.com

Heraklion – the adventurous capital

Heraklion – the capital and largest city on Crete – impressively combines ancient history with modern flair. Art lovers can visit the fascinating Archaeological Museum, which offers deep insights into Cretan history and houses treasures from the nearby palace of Knossos. Heraklion boasts a lively old town with Venetian buildings, such as the Loggia and the imposing Koules fortress, which protects the harbour. Lively markets, cosy taverns, cafes, and traditional shops invite you to shop and linger. The Mediterranean atmosphere, the warm-hearted people, and the mixture of tradition and modernity make Heraklion an ideal starting point for exploring Crete. It is worth visiting to experience the island's vibrant culture and rich historical heritage up close.

Places of interest in Crete

The picture shows a harbour basin with turquoise-blue water, in which there are many fishing boats all around. In the background, rows of houses can be seen.
Heraklion's Venetian harbour is now an important city landmark. © efesenko/stock.adobe.com
Frontal view of a wine-growing region with green vines. The landscape in the background is hilly. The sky is blue with a few cumulus clouds.
Wine lovers can visit the Sitia wine region in the southeast of the island and taste old grape varieties such as Mandilaria. © Ilhan Balta/stock.adobe.com
A bird's-eye view of a turquoise lake. It is surrounded by a harbour with small boats and surrounding houses. The sea can be seen on the horizon. The sky is blue with smaller cumulus clouds. Green trees can be seen in the foreground on the left, and a dragon tree extends into the picture on the right.
The former freshwater lake Voulismeni is a tourist highlight of the city of Agios Nikolaos. According to Greek mythology, the goddess Athena is said to have bathed in it. © Uwe/stock.adobe.com
A view of a Mediterranean street. On the left and right sides of the picture are sand-coloured house fronts, with lanterns and brown shutters. In front of them are many flowerpots.
A visit to the enchanting old town of Rethymnon is highly recommended. Numerous quaint restaurants, cafes, and shops await you in the winding alleys. © Hans-Martin Goede/stock.adobe.com
View of a rushing brook with turquoise-blue water and larger stones in it. To the left and right of the water, huge, steep, ochre-coloured rock walls tower up.
Samaria Gorge: At 16 kilometres, it is the longest gorge in Europe and is just a stone's throw from Chania with its beautiful old town. © proslgn/stock.adobe.com

Crete from BER

Aircraft about to land on the runway

Condor

easyJet

Eurowings

Ryanair

SUNDAIR

Corendon Airlines Europe

Chania Airport (CHQ)

Heraklion International Airport (HER)

Five tips for...

1. Surfing at the picturesque Falassarna Beach

2. Heavenly bathing at Kleisidi Beach (southern Crete), an insider tip for nudists

3. Snorkelling to the sunken city of Olous

4. Boat tour to the island of Spinalonga – once a Venetian fortress and later a leper colony

5. Morning sailing trip to the uninhabited island of Dia

1. Balos Beach: a highlight is the turquoise lagoon with fine, white sand

2. Falassarna Beach: a wide, kilometre-long beach with fine sand, far from the busy tourist resorts

3. Elafonissi Beach: turquoise water offers a beautiful contrast to the sand, which is partly tinted pink

4. Vai Beach: known for the largest natural palm forest in Europe, which is under protection

5. Sweet Water Beach: a beach accessible only on foot, where the White Mountains of Sfakia drop vertically at the beach

1. Dakos – the Greek version of bruschetta, a starter made from barley rusk topped with tomatoes, olive oil, feta and oregano

2. Boureki – vegetarian vegetable soufflé made primarily from potatoes and courgettes

3. Myzithra – soft goat's milk cheese

4. Apaki – smoked pork, served with salads or as a side dish

5. Tyropittakia – cheese pies filled with soft cheese and coated in local thyme honey

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© Freesurf/stock.adobe.com  

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