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Crete
Travelers wanting it all: ancient history, mountains, gorges and some of Greece's best beaches.
Fitting Crete into your route
About Crete
Crete is Greece's largest island, essentially a small country of its own, home to the Minoan palace of Knossos, the dramatic Samaria Gorge, and cities like Chania and Rethymno with Venetian harbors. Its size means huge variety, from lively resorts to remote mountain villages where shepherds still outnumber tourists.
Beaches range from the pink sands of Elafonisi to the palm-fringed lagoon of Vai, and the White Mountains offer serious hiking beyond the coast.
Weather on Crete
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Right now °C (°F)
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Average temperature by month
| April | May | June | July | August | September | October |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18°C / 64°F | 22°C / 72°F | 26°C / 79°F | 28°C / 82°F | 28°C / 82°F | 26°C / 79°F | 23°C / 73°F |
Average afternoon temperature, °C. Useful for spotting when it actually turns summer-warm.
Tips
- Hike the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's longest, best done early morning in season.
- Explore Chania's Venetian harbor and old town, one of Greece's most atmospheric.
- Rent a car — Crete is large, and its best villages and beaches are spread far apart.
Islands near Crete
Closest first, measured between main ports.
