Discover luxury and boutique hotels in Crete

When to go

Crete has a long high season – from mid April to October. The island sizzles in June and July, with temperatures above 40ºC, so avoid these months if you prefer a milder Mediterranean stay.

Getting there

• Planes

  Crete has three airports: Heraklion, Chania and Sitia. Seasonal flights from a host of European cities including London, Manchester, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Frankfurt touch down at Heraklion and Chania, some connecting via Athens.

• Boats

  If you’re visiting in high season, hop on a ferry from mainland Greece. Boats from Piraeus in Athens stop at Chania, Heraklion and Sitia, and boats from Rafina drop anchor at Rethymno. Alternatively, dock at Heraklion from Thessaloniki. Ferry services are limited from November to April.

• Automobiles

  Hiring some wheels is essential if you want to explore inland. Unpaved roads aren’t uncommon in the more remote regions, so a four-wheel drive may come in handy.

• Taxis

  Flagging down a taxi in the mountains might prove irksome; ask your hotel to book cabs for you.