The largest of the Greek islands, Crete’s natural beauty is equalled only by the richness of its history and the freshness of its bountiful cuisine.
Nature here is prolific, creating a dramatic quilt of big-shouldered mountains, undulating hillsides blanketed in olive groves and beaches that conjure up the Caribbean.
With the highest concentration of Greece’s 5-star resorts, Elounda has mastered the balance between upscale sophistication and Cretan simplicity.
One of the best hikes in Greece, Samaria Gorge snakes down through an ancient riverbed to the Libyan Sea; walk it in spring to enjoy a dazzling array of wildflowers.
Ponder the past on a private boat trip to Spinalonga, the former leper colony that shot to stardom thanks to Victoria Hislop’s award-winning book, The Island.
Hidden away in Crete’s north-eastern corner, stunning Vai beach is an exotic ribbon of white-gold sand backed by a forest of tropical palm trees.
If you want to experience Crete at its most beautiful and traditional then the western half is a good place to start. Historic pastel-coloured houses rim the waterfront promenade of Chania’s Venetian harbour, the winding streets behind filled with some of the island’s best restaurants. Hikers come from all over the world to trek the grand Samaria Gorge, one of the longest in Europe, while pink-cream sands are on offer at the beaches of Elafonisi and Falasarna.
In the east, Elounda retains a charming down-to-earth feel, its harbour lined with attractive shops, bars and tavernas. South of Elounda is Agios Nikolaos, one of the loveliest towns in Crete, helped in no small part by its show-stopping setting on Mirabello Bay. Boats depart from both to Spinalonga, the Venetian fortress turned leper colony that forms the backdrop to the award-winning book, The Island.
Beyond Mirabello Bay, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Minoan Palace of Knossos provide fascinating windows into Crete’s ancient past, while the vineyards of Iraklio produce about 70% of Crete’s ever-improving wine.
Combining refined design with Cretan warmth, Ikos Kissamos offers an effortlessly elegant beachside escape where everything is taken care of, from sunrise swims to sundown drinks and immersive island adventures.
Proof that traditional luxury beach resorts will never go out of fashion, St Nicolas Bay is ideally situated on the peaceful eastern side of the island, between Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, and boasts breathtaking views of Mirabello Bay.
Offering mesmerising views across Mirabello Bay to the island of Spinalonga, Phaea Blue has been welcoming guests to the north-east coast of Crete for over two decades. Now totally revitalised, the property has relaunched as a boutique hotel with just 46 rooms and suites and an exceptional Phaea Blue Villa, designed to offer guests a truly personal and intimate experience.
Private pools in every suite, near-faultless service, two truly exceptional restaurants and a futuristic spa make this slick and contemporary hotel on the north coast of Crete a hard one to beat.
This contemporary design hotel offers sweeping views across Elounda’s Mirabello Bay to the island of Spinalonga. Among the rooms and suites, all have private pools with sunbeds and outdoor showers, and because the whole resort is staggered up a hillside, every room boasts exceptional sea views.
One of Crete’s most exclusive addresses, Daios Cove is a sprawling, modernist complex carved into the hillside above a ravishingly pretty bay near the upbeat town of Agios Nikolaos. Yet despite the designer trappings and its sleek good looks, Daios Cove is famously family friendly.