The essentials to know before leaving

Facts about the island

Crete in greek: Kríti, formerly called “Island of Candia”

Continent: Europe

State/Region: Greece

Capital: Heraklion

Main cities: La Canée (Chaniá), Réthymnon, Lerapetra, Agios Nikolaos

Area: 8,336 km², it is the largest of the islands of Greece

Maritime coasts: of coastline with the Libyan Sea to the south and the Cretan Sea to the north

Highest point: Mount Ida at 2,456 m

Population : about 670,000 inhabitants

Languages spoken: Greek and English

Currency: Euro

Time difference: UTC+2h time zone. There is an hour difference (in addition) compared to France, in winter and in summer

Telephone & Internet : the telephone code for Crete is +30

Driving: on the right (see the article “Driving in Crete”)

The climate in Crete and the best periods to go there

Like its neighbours, Greece and Turkey, Crete has a typically Mediterranean climate with little marked seasons, however, its geography leads to some variations depending on the region. The  island is the windiest part of the region. The “notias” is a hot wind from Africa that blows from spring to autumn and chases away clouds and rain! It has a climate considered to be “sub-desert”.
• The north is more humid and the rains are quite abundant in winter.
• The centre is mountainous and is often snowy in winter.

Although pleasant all year round, the best time to go to Crete is from April to the end of October when the weather is hot and dry. If you like hiking, avoid the summer period, the heat can quickly become unbearable for you while hiking.  The gorges and canyons are often very arid, and it would be a shame to experience them in this season. The ideal period for hiking is from April to June and from September to November. If you are historical site enthusiasts, idem, you should travel in the spring and autumn to discover the archaeological wonders of the island. 

If you enjoy swimming and snorkelling, the ideal period is from June to September when the water temperature is around 26 degrees… However, May, October and November are some spectacularly hot months!

And what about winter? Between December and March, Crete experiences higher temperatures than in northern Europe, but again it all depends on the region where you are staying. The north remains very wet, the central mountains, snow-capped with temperatures around 0 and along the coasts the weather is milder and less humid.  There is no so-called ideal period, it all depends what you are looking for during your stay in Crete.

A few ideas for visits and must-see places

Are you budding archaeologists?

The rebellious island has had a long and rich history, in particular thanks to the imprint of the Minoan civilization.Here are some examples of fascinating sites for all stone lovers.
• The Minoan site of the Palace of Zakros
• The ancient city of Late

Fans of Venetian art?

The cities of Chania and Rethymno, marked by long Venetian presences, will undoubtedly please you. Without forgetting the most famous of all, the island of SPINALONGA, better known as the island of lepers or the island of the forgotten.