When you are searching for the perfect place to get away during the warmer months, a holiday in Crete will certainly fit the bill. Not only does Greece’s largest and most populous island have some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, it also boasts a huge amount of history that dates back some 130,000 years to when the first humans settled there. A more datable history of the island began around the seventh millennium BC, and today, on your holiday in Crete, you can still see plenty of the historic sites that were so important in days past.
Beautiful Beaches
If the idea of a Mediterranean island conjures up images of long, sandy, idyllic beaches, then a holiday in Crete is the answer. One of the most popular beaches is Itanos Beach, which is located near Sitia. Named after the archaeological site that is found very close nearby, Itanos Beach is especially interesting for the underground ruins that you can snorkel above. With white sands and calm, crystal-clear waters, it is a perfect place for a day away from it all. Lined with sand dunes and Juniper trees, Kedrodasos Beach is rather secluded and is a great place to go for nature lovers who want to visit the cedar forest nearby. Famous for its turquoise waters and as a well-loved haven of European royalty, Balos Lagoon is the place that tourist brochures love to display. With its shallow, warm waters and long stretches of white sand, it is a great place for families – but be warned, it is very popular and can get very busy in the high season. Bringing to mind the beaches of the Caribbean, Elafonisi Beach on the south-westernmost point of Crete is a great place to visit. It is practically a separate island, but getting there is easy as the waters there stay around just one metre deep.
Historic sites
If you want to mix up your holiday in Crete by adding in some historical adventures while there, you are in luck as the island is steeped in history and legend. The first place to begin is in the capital city of Heraklion. Though the Old Town has been usurped by the modern city, you should certainly start your exploration at the Archaeological Museum. The museum was built to house the host of Minoan artefacts and today it is one of the most important historical museums in the world.
You should also pay a visit to Knossos while in Crete. It is considered to be the oldest city in Europe and can be dated back to the Bronze Age. The site is linked to Greek legend, in which King Minos built the maze to contain his son, the Minotaur. Explore the site of the ruined palace and pay particular attention to the details, like the three water management systems, which were very high-tech for the period.
