Compare cheap Crete holidays

For foodies, Crete has a menu that ranges from distinctive Cretan delicacies such as patsas (tripe soup) and chochlioi (wild snails) in red sauce to upscale Mediterranean-fusion in fine-dining restaurants. Pair your meal with any one of the new-style Greek wines. It's not just about cheap and cheerful retsina these days and you’ll find plenty of drops made from uniquely Cretan grape varieties.

While you can easily spend a holiday to Crete hopping between pretty beaches, tasting Greek treats and sunbathing your days away, it’s rewarding to get off the beaten track here. Hidden valleys, secret grottoes and tiny offshore islands let you play castaway for a day are just a stone’s throw away from the big hitters – if you know where to look.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

Winter is the cheapest time to visit Crete but be aware that most hotels, and many restaurants, clubs, and waterparks close between late October and early April. Expect cool, wet and windy weather between November and March.

When to go for the best of both

For some of the best deals on package holidays to Crete, try travelling in the shoulder seasons. In early June or September and early October, you’ll find cheaper prices, fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures still in the high 20s to low 30s.

Sandy beaches from Platanias and Rethymnon to Malia and Plaka offer all manner of watersports. For low-key days on the water, you’ll find banana-boats, paddleboards and pedalos for hire, or you can take things up a notch with parascending, jet-skiing and windsurfing.

Water parks for kids and kids at heart include Star Beach, which has its own sandy bay near Hersonissos, and Heraklion’s Watercity Waterpark, where kids under 90cm tall go free.

Minoan Palaces

Hub of the 4,000-year-old Minoan civilisation, the ancient Palace of Knossos – rediscovered and reconstructed in the 20th century – is a dazzling complex of brightly painted columns and vivid fresco paintings of bulls, dancers and dolphins.

Knossos is the best known and most spectacular of Cretan ancient sites, but it's not the only one – Festos, another Minoan palace site, and the ruins of the Roman city of Gortys nearby are also well worth a day trip.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Plunge into Crete's past in this spectacular museum, crammed with over 5,000 years of history. Some 27 rooms are filled with gorgeous Minoan, Hellenic and Roman treasures, but pride of place goes to an exquisite 16th-century BC drinking vessel in the shape of a lifesize bull's head. Carved from black stone, it’s embellished with gilded horns and rock crystal eyeballs.

Kids will like the displays of miniature pottery animal figures, and in the garden, you’ll find the ruins of a Venetian monastery.

Samaria Gorge

A daily cavalcade of walkers troop down this breath-taking gorge as it carves its way from high in the White Mountains to the south coast of Crete. At 16km long (almost 10 miles), expect to take at least six hours to complete the medium-difficulty trek to the sea.

Tour buses take you from most resorts to Omalos, where the trail through walk begins, and boats pick you up from Agia Roumeli, where it meets the sea. Go in early May or late October to dodge the crowds and enjoy the best walking weather.

Island trips

Take a boat trip to Spinalonga, an island fortress island in the Gulf of Mirabello with a grim history. Covered by formidable fortifications built by the Venetians, it held out against the Turks until 1715. It was later used as a prison and – until less than a century ago – as a leper colony.

Much less gloomy is tiny Elafonisi. Leave the crowds that flock to its mainland counterpart and set off across the shallow turquoise lagoon on foot to discover a quieter side to the area. Don’t forget your camera – this stretch of coastline looks more Caribbean than Cretan and is famous for its pink sands.

Stalis, midway between Hersonissos and Malia, has warm shallow water and soft yellow sands, while further east, Agios Nikolaos, with its four beaches and lively atmosphere, is a good pick if you’re travelling with older kids.

For travellers on a budget

It’s possible to find cheap deals in many of Crete’s main resorts if you’re travelling on a budget. Chose a small hotel or a self-catering apartment along the strip of lively resorts that stretch eastward from Gouves. From Hersonissos to Malia, Stalis and Sissi, you’ll have plenty of options to suit your wallet.

Chania, the island’s second largest city, also has a decent range of affordable holiday deals and is relatively close to two of the island’s loveliest beaches: Balos and Elafonissi. If you’re planning on relying on public transport, be aware that it can be pricey. A hire car could be a better option.

For food and drink

Elounda is guaranteed to please foodies, with a big choice of upscale restaurants serving up a fabulous menu of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian-fusion dining. Sissi’s harbour also has a clutch of good options.

For authentic Cretan food, stay in Heraklion or in Rethymnon's old town, where you'll find ouzeri restaurants offering tasty meze platters and local wines.

For nightlife

Malia is the best area in Crete for party animals who like to chill all day and rock all night. There's a long sandy beach with a huge choice of watersports, and it’s easy to find cheap hotel and apartment deals right in front of the resort.

After dark, top DJs host spectacular club nights but you don't have to wait until sunset to start the party – beach venues host all-day events by the sea.

For culture

Choose a hotel in Heraklion to be close to cultural attractions such as the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the Palace of Knossos. Alternatively, stay in Rethymnon to discover the hidden history of Crete under Venetian and Turkish rule in the picturesque old town, as well as island traditions at the Historical and Folk Art Museum.

Elsewhere, Chania is known for its 14th-century Venetian harbour, lighthouse and the Firka fortress. You’ll also find the Nautical Museum here, and the delightfully simple but well-reviewed Greek National Football Museum.