About Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous island of Greece, the 89th largest island in the world, and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Crete is located approximately 100 km (62 mi) south of the Peloponnese, and about 300 km (190 mi) southwest of Anatolia. Crete has an area of 8,450 km2 (3,260 mi2) and a coastline of 1,046 km (650 mi). It bounds the southern border of the Aegean Sea, with the Sea of Crete to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. Crete covers 260 km from west to east but is narrow from north to south, spanning three degrees of longitude but only half a degree of latitude.
Cheap flights to Crete
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $994 from New York, travelling 9 Nov – 25 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- JFK New York to Crete9 Nov – 25 Nov · HER from$994
- BOS Boston to Crete23 Nov – 7 Dec · HER from$1,098
- ORD Chicago to Crete13 Dec – 14 Jan · HER from$1,092
- IAD Washington to Crete17 Mar – 31 Mar · HER from$1,399
- ATL Atlanta to Crete1 Jan – 10 Jan · HER from$1,242
- SFO San Francisco to Crete23 Nov – 30 Nov · HER from$1,239
- LAX Los Angeles to Crete7 Sep – 20 Sep · HER from$1,054
- CMH Columbus to Crete5 Nov – 12 Nov · HER from$1,096
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Aer Lingus, Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa, Finnair.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to CretePlaces to visit in Crete
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Knossos
Historic · 15 mi from centreThe largest Minoan palace site, partly reconstructed and linked to the legend of the Minotaur. Arrive early to beat the crowds, and consider a guide to explain the ruins.
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Samaria Gorge
Nature · 53 mi from centreA long, dramatic gorge in the White Mountains, popular for a full-day hike. Start early, wear sturdy shoes, and check whether the gorge is open, as it closes in bad weather.
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Elafonisi
Beach · 77 mi from centreA beach in the southwest known for its pink-tinged sand and shallow turquoise lagoon. Go early in the day, and avoid taking any sand away, as the area is protected.
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Balos Lagoon
Beach · 77 mi from centreA shallow lagoon with white sand on the Gramvousa peninsula. Reach it by boat from Kissamos or by a rough road and a steep walk.
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Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Museum · 14 mi from centreA museum holding the world's finest collection of Minoan art, including frescoes and the Phaistos Disc. Visit before going to Knossos to better understand what you will see at the site.
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Spinalonga
Historic · 48 mi from centreA small island with a Venetian fortress that later became a leper colony. Take a boat from Elounda or Plaka, and bring sun protection for the walk.
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Phaistos
Historic · 18 mi from centreA Minoan palace site with views over the Messara plain. It is less crowded than Knossos, and can be paired with the nearby site of Agia Triada.
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Rethymno Fortezza
HistoricA large Venetian fortress overlooking the old town and harbor of Rethymno. Visit in the late afternoon and walk the ramparts for views over the sea at sunset.
Things to do in Crete by type
66 tours, tickets and experiences across 8 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Day Trips & Excursions 22 experiences Boat Trip to the Legendary Island of Gramvoussa - Full day Tour -
Art & culture 16 experiences Archaeological Beauties of Crete: Gortyna, Phaistos, Matala and Zaros from Heraklion - Full-Day Tour -
Gastronomy & nightlife 9 experiences Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour from Chania -
City tours 7 experiences Chania by Sunset: An Evening to Explore at Your Own Pace from Rethymno -
Cruise & Water Tours 6 experiences Black Rose Pirate Boat: 4.5 Hour Trip with lunch from Port of Hersonissos -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 6 experiences Archaeological Museum of Chania - e-Ticket with Audio Tour -
Outdoor activities & Adventure 6 experiences Horse Riding in Heraklion – Full-Day Tour -
Classes 3 experiences Cretan Cuisine Cooking Class in Small Groups in Chania
- Over 6 hours 27
- 3-6 hours 15
- 1-3 hours 10
- Flexible 1
- Private 4
- Small group 2
Top experiences in Crete
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 66 available.
Uncover the Past and Present in Heraklion - Walking Tour with Tasting
From $44 per adult
Knossos Palace - Ticket
From $34 per adult
Discovering Chania and 7 Traditional Cretan Villages - Half-Day Tour
From $150 per adult
Explore the Archaeological Museum and Κnossos Palace - Half-Day Guided Tour
From $99 per adult
Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion - Private Tour with Transfer
From $674 per adult
Cretan Wine and Olive Oil Experience - Full-Day Tour
From $162 per adult
Explore Knossos Palace - Half-Day Guided Tour
From $59 per adult
Knossos Delights: Knossos Palace and Heraklion Food Tour - Private Tour
From $699 per adult
Cretan Cuisine Cooking Class in Small Groups in Chania
From $162 per adult
Heraklion for Foodies: Gastronomic Experience - Private Tour
From $499 per adult
Traditional Cretan Cooking Class - Private Tour
From $561 per adult
Hunt for History at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum - Half-Day Guided Tour
From $54 per adult
Where to stay in Crete
Popular hotels in Crete, out of 2,018 properties you can book.
Lato Boutique Hotel
From $85 per night
Metaxa Hotel Urban Boutique Living
From $120 per night
Olive Green Hotel
From $91 per night
Elounda Residence Resort & Waterpark
From $7,768 per night
Olympic Palladium by GHH
From $60 per night
Cretan Dream Resort & Spa
Semiramis Village
Begeti Bay
ATLANTIS BEACH HOTEL
Notos Heights Hotel & Suites
Kalyves Beach
Annabelle Beach Resort
Best time to visit Crete
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Crete is June and August to October, when average daytime highs are around 71–83°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Crete weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 69° 53° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 74° 59° 0%
- Fri 23 Oct 69° 57° 13%
- Sat 24 Oct 64° 55° 10%
- Sun 25 Oct 65° 56° 7%
- Mon 26 Oct 68° 60° 25%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)1 US dollar ≈ €0.89
- Language
- Greek
- Calling code
- +30
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/AthensUTC+3
- Capital
- Athens
Upcoming public holidays in Greece
- Ochi DayΤο Όχι
- Christmas DayΧριστούγεννα
- St. Stephen's DayΣύναξις Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας
- New Year's DayΠρωτοχρονιά
- EpiphanyΘεοφάνεια
- Clean MondayΚαθαρά Δευτέρα
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Crete
These are the airports closest to central Crete. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- HER Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis"16 mi (26 km) from the city centre
- CHQ Chania International Airport45 mi (72 km) from the city centre
- JSH Sitia Public Airport "Vitsentzos Kornaros"68 mi (110 km) from the city centre
Getting around Crete
See the Orientation section for a description of how the roads are set up.
By bus
Public transportation is fairly frequent and timetables are quite trustworthy. Bus drivers usually divert from their marked routes to enter little villages if asked to do so. Bus services along the north coast and towards the south coast are excellent, reliable, frequent and cheap.
By ferry
Crete has many ferry connections for example: You can go from Piraeus to Heraklion with Minoan Lines , to Chania with ANEK Lines or Hellenic Seaways, to Ayios Nikolaos and Sitia with LANE Lines. LANE also operates routes from Ayios Nikolaos/Sitia to Rhodes and other Greek islands. In the summer, there are daily catmarans (hydrofoils) from Heraklion to Santorini. The trip takes about 2.5 hours. Hellenic Seaways and SeaJets offer these sailings.
Crete travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Crete?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Crete is June and August to October, when average daytime highs are around 71–83°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.
What is the weather like in Crete?
July is usually the warmest month in Crete, with average highs of 85°F (30°C). February is the coolest, with average lows of 42°F (6°C). The wettest month is typically January, with about 159 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Crete?
Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (HER) is the closest airport, about 16 miles (26 km) from the centre of Crete. Other nearby airports include Chania International Airport (CHQ, 45 mi) and Sitia Public Airport "Vitsentzos Kornaros" (JSH, 68 mi).
How much are flights to Crete?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Crete in the last 30 days was $994 from New York, travelling 9 Nov – 25 Nov. November is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $994.
What currency is used in Crete?
Crete uses the Euro (EUR). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ €0.89.
What time zone is Crete in?
Crete uses the Europe/Athens time zone (currently UTC+3). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Crete?
See the Orientation section for a description of how the roads are set up.
What are the best places to visit in Crete?
Top sights in Crete include Knossos, Samaria Gorge, Elafonisi and Balos Lagoon. The largest Minoan palace site, partly reconstructed and linked to the legend of the Minotaur. Arrive early to beat the crowds, and consider a guide to explain the ruins.
What are the top things to do in Crete?
Popular experiences you can book in Crete include Uncover the Past and Present in Heraklion - Walking Tour with Tasting, Knossos Palace - Ticket and Discovering Chania and 7 Traditional Cretan Villages - Half-Day Tour. Destina Holidays offers 66 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Crete?
The most popular types of experiences in Crete are day trips & excursions (22), art & culture (16), gastronomy & nightlife (9) and city tours (7). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Crete?
Popular areas for hotels in Crete include Heraklion City, Elounda and Rethymnon. Well-reviewed options include Lato Boutique Hotel and Metaxa Hotel Urban Boutique Living.
How many hotels can I book in Crete?
Destina Holidays currently lists 2,018 properties in and around Crete, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
