Holidays to Crete

Crete, Greece

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and lies one hundred and sixty kilometres to the south of Greece. As a holiday destination, it offers stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, a fascinating culture and history, and a wide range of travel deals to suit every budget.

Crete offers every type of holiday imaginable. Whether you're looking for a family watersports holiday in the popular resort of Malia, a cultural tour of the ancient Minoan sites of Knossos, or a romantic honeymoon in the quiet fishing village of Sissi, you'll find it on Crete. If you prefer luxury accommodation on Crete, or want a simple budget family holiday, or just last minute travel with hotel reservations included in the price, we can help you find your dream holiday.

Getting to Crete is easy from the UK and we offer some fantastic discounts on last minute travel. There are two main airports on the island, at Chania and Heraklion, and a further domestic airport at Sitia. You can get cheap charter flights to Chania and Heraklion that take just under four hours direct from the UK, or there are scheduled flights via Athens, a forty to fifty minute flight from Crete.

Culture and Sightseeing in Crete

Crete is one of the most popular summer travel destinations in Greece for families, and it’s not hard to see why. If you're going on holiday as a family you’ll find plenty of cheap travel packages and lots of activities to keep the kids busy. The beaches on the north coast, where the popular travel resorts of Hersonissos and Malia are located, can get busy in the high season. However they offer plenty of opportunities for both families on holiday, and watersports enthusiasts. Two of the most popular destinations are the waterparks Aqua Splash and Star Beach, with the Aqua World aquarium in Hersonissos another favourite visitor attraction.

However there is much more to Crete than its beaches and entertainment. The island was once the centre of the Minoan civilisation and its culture is steeped in legends, including those of Zeus, Theseus and the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus. Ancient palaces, temples, houses, paintings, and sculptures can be seen throughout the island, so if you hire a car there will be plenty to explore. Nature walks, wine tasting, and performances of Cretan music and dance are also popular holiday activities.

Crete is an excellent holiday destination for those with an interest in nature, history, or literature. Popular travel sites on Crete include the Minoan sites of Phaistos and Knossos, the ancient Roman city of Gortys, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, amazing caves such as Diktaion and Idaion, and gorges including the famous Gorge of Samaria, home to the endangered kri-kri goats.

The quiet fishing village of Sissi offers biking and trekking for activity holiday enthusiasts, with a sandy beach at nearby Boufos. While car hire is recommended for exploring the less visited parts of the island, you can catch a bus from Sissi to traditional Cretan villages such as Vrahasi and Epano Sissi.

Music and Dance on Crete

Chaniotis Syrtos, sometimes called 'the dance of love', is the most popular dance on Crete and is thought to have evolved over hundreds of years. The traditional folk music of Crete is called kritika. The lýra (a three-stringed fiddle) is often accompanied by the laoúto (Cretan lute) and you'll find frequent performances throughout the island during the summer months.

Food and Drink on Crete

A holiday to Crete is the perfect opportunity to sample the delights of Greek cuisine. Honey, cheese, olive oil, and seafood play a central role in Cretan recipes. Some of the popular foods on Crete, such as dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs), are similar to those of mainland Greek, but the island is renowned for its pastries and breads. A popular food on Crete is 'mezedes' which are similar to Spanish 'tapas'. The island is also famous for its wines and Cretan appellations include Archanes, Dafnes, Peza, and Sitia.

Holiday Accommodation on Crete

Crete offers a vast range of accommodation options, and the sheer number of resorts means that it's easy to book a hotel through Fleetway Travel, even at the last minute. We can find plenty of luxury accommodation on Crete, including hotels, villas and country houses to rent, but there are cheap accommodation options too, from traditional village houses in sleepy coastal hamlets to well-equipped campsites for family holidays.

Weather on Crete

The weather on Crete is sunny and warm for most of the year. In April the temperatures are around 18°C but in July and August they often reach 29°C. A good time to pick up cheap flights and hotel deals is in September, but there are also discounts available in October and May, when the beaches are less crowded and the sea is still warm. In September, temperatures are around 26°C but in May and October, just slightly cooler.  

Here are some of our favourite hotels in Crete:

• 4* Iberostar Creta Marine
• 5* Mythos Palace
• 5* Minos Imperial
• 5* Mitsis Rinela
• 5* Mitsis Serita
• 5* Fodele Beach
• 5* Apollonia Beach

If Crete isn't for you then why not search for a cheap holiday in Rhodes, Corfu or Kos.

Crete deals from the following airports :

• Cheap holidays to Crete from Stansted
• Cheap holidays to Crete from Luton
• Cheap holidays to Crete from Birmingham
• Cheap holidays to Crete from Gatwick
• Cheap holidays to Crete from Coventry
• Cheap holidays to Crete from East Midlands
• Cheap holidays to Crete from Glasgow
• Cheap holidays to Crete from Edinburgh