Renowned for its incredible music, spectacular food and impossibly beautiful landscapes, Crete is perhaps the most magical of all the Greek islands – and your Crete holidays can take it all in with ease. Divided into four distinct regions – Chania, Rethymon, Iraklio (Heraklion) and Lasithi, Crete is blessed with a mystical scenery and dynamic local culture. You’ll find a vibrant countryside dotted with picturesque villages, giant mountains looming skyward and stone gorges cutting through the land.

The 1,000-kilometre coastline features blue lagoons, swaying palm trees and pink sand beaches – while the cities, particularly Chania and Iraklio, have a distinct cosmopolitan flair and boast fantastic museums, nightlife, restaurants and hotels. History is alive and well on holidays to Crete. You’ll find traces of ancient civilisations, relics from the Ottoman and Venetian occupations, and Byzantine-era buildings. And while there’s a millennia’s worth of heritage to explore, Crete also has a vibrant, contemporary local culture that’s evident across the island. Food, drinking, and socialising are all huge parts of Cretan life. You can have some of the best nights of your life here – chatting with locals, joining the traditional dances and eating sun-warmed figs, grilled lamb chops and crunchy rusks of carob bread – all washed down with bottles of local wine and raki.