Travel

Holidaying in Crete

Crete is one of the few places in the world that offers a world class get away whilst combining history and culture that has shaped the world to such a great extent, it is one of those places that must be seen to be believed. Read on to find out more about Crete and what you can do to enjoy yourself there

Book Early

Firstly I should warn you that booking a holiday to Crete should be done well in advance, it is an extremely popular tourist destination for the reasons stated above. There are various places to book accommodation and last` minute deals to Crete, so make sure you do this while you can because last minute in a place like this may be well before what you might expect. We used Rental Center Crete if it wasn’t obvious from the name, this is a good place to rent cars!

History

One of the main reasons that people visit Crete is because of the rich history of the island, it was once home to the Minoan civilisation from 2700-1420 BC and this is considered the earliest recorded civilisation in Europe. Crete is known for its music and poetry and has strongly influenced Greek culture today and the ancient Greeks were known to have influenced mathematics, science, technology and law.

It is also the subject of many Greek myths and legends, such as Theseus slaying the Minotaur in the labyrinth underneath Knossos palace, the ruins of which can still be visited today. Another famous story is of Icarus escaping from his prison by building bird’s wings from feathers and candle, but fatally flying too close to the sun and the wings melting only for him to fall to his death.

Weather

Crete’s climate falls is a mixture between the Mediterranean and North African climates with a stronger influence of the Mediterranean, this makes for a warm and humid climate that is perfect in the summertime, particularly with the large number of beautiful beaches that dot the island.

Beaches

Crete is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, one of the most beautiful being Aspes beach. This is an incredibly secluded beach that can only be reached by boat and is surrounded by steep cliffs, crystal clear water and beautiful caves. There are also many other good beaches, such as Mýrtos and Váï.