Crete

Crete is the largest of all of the Greek islands and it draws a large number of tourists each year thanks to its stunning scenery, cultural and historic legacy and friendly people and atmosphere. Whilst Crete itself has its own long and distinguished history it has played a major role in shaping the history of Greece at large as well; Cretan culture is most certainly Greek although it stands on its own two feet thanks to a unique linguistic dialect amongst other things. The capital of Crete is Heraklion, a truly majestic city full of interesting sites and sounds that is an intriguing and exciting destination to visit when holidaying in Crete.

Many of the most popular tourist destinations on Crete itself are based around the ancient history of the island, it was originally the oldest Greek civilisation and was home to the Minoan's up to 1500 years BCE. The mountainous regions of Crete are also popular tourist regions and there are many holiday homes to enjoy in the area; whilst Crete itself is generally a mountainous island the main peaks are Lefka Ori, Psiloritis, the Ditki Mountains, Kedros and Thripti the highest of which tower up to 2,500m high.

Thanks to the unique geography of Crete there are also a number of lush and fertile areas and many endangered species thrive on the island. One of the main draws that attracts people to Crete and leads many to stay in holiday homes on the island is the climate; the beautiful temperate climate is a result of Crete saddling the Mediterranean and North African climate zones resulting in warm, humid weather in summer with mild, pleasant winters with the odd spot of snow. With average temperatures in summer usually reaching the high 20's or low 30's (measured in Celsius) it is easy to understand why so many fall under the spell of Crete and visit the island year after year.

The southerly regions of Crete are typically warmer with higher temperatures year round allowing the cultivation of many different kinds of fruit and making the area habitable by many unique bird species. As one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece Crete caters well for tourists with a major international airport in Heraklion providing flights to various locations around the globe.