Holidays to Crete go big on the best of Greece – proper beach life, top-tier tavernas and ancient history like it was never taught in school.
Up north
Crete’s a real sun catcher, with the north counting a load of beaches along its coast. The Heraklion area’s a buzzing centre for history, shopping and foodie finds and has the lively Hersonissos to show for its sands. Chania takes it more chill. It’s the second-largest city on the island, and has more of a Venetian vibe with a wowing waterfront and Blue Flag beaches. From here, you can also head inland to see Samaria Gorge – a protected biodiversity site with heaps of walking trails.
Ancient sites
Put your pen and paper away – you’re surrounded by real-life history here. Ancient Greek attractions like the Palace of Knossos are meant to be explored – its associated with myths like the labyrinth and the minotaur. Then the artefact-filled museums of Aghios Nikolaos add in some extra detail and will make you think twice about pledging all your time to tanning. You’ve also got a Venetian island fortress, a peach-coloured monastery and the fountain-filled old town of Rethymnon to get through.