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Crete
Travel Information

The language of Crete is Greek but visitors don’t need to speak Greek - you’ll get by with English in most places - but if you can learn a few words it will enhance your holiday. It’s a difficult language but the local people will greatly appreciate any attempt at it, however bad.

We live in Crete and have had many lessons so our Greek is a bit beyond “tourist” level but, when we stumbled across the Earworms programme, we were surprised to find just how useful it is. We bought it and, although it’s aimed at complete beginners, it’s helped us improve our Greek.

The whole learning process is through listening - no complicated grammar, no long word lists to learn - listening to native Greek speakers with music behind the voices to instil and reinforce the rhythm of the language. You learn to speak naturally.

The Earworms program will enable you to order a coffee, buy a bus ticket, order a meal and manage many other simple, everyday things like asking for directions and dealing with money.

Listen to this demo and we think you’ll agree it’s an easy, effective way to learn.

Click here for Earworms website.

CRETE

Homer (fl. 850 B.C.). The Odyssey.

Crete Time

UK Time

The major towns and some popular resorts around Crete

Crete is a fabulous holiday destination with something for everyone. Sun, sand, sea, stunning scenery, rugged mountains, quiet countryside, bustling towns, lively night life, antiquities, varied activities, unique fauna and flora - all you could want.

The biggest and most southerly Greek island, Crete has a mainly temperate Mediterranean climate but the south east tends towards the more arid, north African climate. Spring, warm with occasional showers, is followed by long, hot, rain-free summers and mild winters.

Crete, 257 Km long by 60 Km at its widest point, would fit twice into Wales with a little room to spare. The coastline is over 1000 Km long with many beautiful, sandy beaches and hundreds of tiny coves and inlets.

Whether you want to spend long, languid days on the beach, take gentle walks through orange or olive groves, tackle demanding mountain routes, engage in various water sports, study archaeology or wonderful Venetian architecture it’s all within easy reach.

Chania Airport

Heraklion Airport

London Heathrow

CRETE CLIMATE STATISTICS
Avg.	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Air Temp	12	13	14	17	20	25	26	27	24	20	17	14
Sea Temp	17	16	17	18	20	22	24	25	25	23	20	17
Sun [hrs]	7	6	6	7	9	11	11	11	8	7	6	6
Sunny Days	26	23	24	26	28	28	31	31	27	27	23	26
Rainy Days	5	5	7	4	3	2	0	0	3	4	7	5
Temperatures are given in degrees Celsius and are average temperatures. From June to early September peak daily air temperature is usually 34+°C and can exceed 40°. 38°C = 100.4° F.

The economy is based on agriculture and tourism and there's a mixture of holiday resorts, tiny hamlets in remote mountain areas, fishing villages and larger towns like Iraklio, Hania and Rethymno - the latter two being resplendent with beautiful Venetian architecture, much of which shows the later influence of the Ottoman empire. Both have lovely harbours surrounded by cafés, tavernas and restaurants where there's a vibrant atmosphere.

Parts of Crete show evidence of continuous human habitation for more than 8,000 years so it's little wonder that there are archaeological sites scattered all over the island. The two most famous sites are Knossos and Faistos which were great centres of culture during the Minoan period. It's also no surprise that there are many wonderful museums displaying antiquities and artefacts. Many of these are quite small, intimate and often uncrowded with visitors able to view the exhibits in unhurried, peaceful surroundings.

Spring is a great time to visit Crete, especially in April and May. The temperature has begun to rise and, as the land warms up, there's a profusion of wildflowers that blanket the countryside. There are more than 6,000 species of plants, many unique to Crete. An excellent introduction is Wild Flowers of Crete, a well illustrated and informative book.

The weather is pretty good at this time of year, generally warm and sunny but you should be prepared for an occasional shower. It's an excellent time to explore the landscape and you'll find every kind of walk from a gentle stroll through olive and orange groves to challenging hikes through rugged mountains and deep gorges.

At this time of year, despite the attractions, there are relatively few visitors so you will find plenty of space to wander leisurely, even in popular tourist spots like the old towns of Rethymno and Hania.

June to late September and even into October is pretty much rain free and hot although, towards the end of summer, there might be a few brief showers and the occasional downpour but the sun soon breaks through again.