Holidays in Crete GreeceCrete is the largest amongst all Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It is since decades a very popular tourist spot for Greek beach vacations and as result there landing every year millions of vacationers who occupy up to the last room all hotels in Crete! The main holiday attractions in Crete include the archeological sites of Knossos, Phaistos and Gortys. Many other tourist spots such as the Venetian castle from Rethymno, the Samaria gorge and other minor gorges (like Agia Irini or Aradena) are worth for a visit during holidays in Crete.
Crete was the center of the Minoan civilization between 2600-1400 B.C. (the oldest civilization in Europe!) and today is one of the top travel destinations in Greece for summer holidays due to the numerous all inclusive hotels and luxury resorts offering very attractive vacation deals and accommodation packages. Crete is the most popular of the Greek islands, 15% (which represents more than two millions of holiday makers) of all tourist arrivals in Greece coming through the city of Heraklion!
Even if it is a top vacation spot, there can be found all types of accommodation estates, from large all inclusive hotel resorts and luxury villas lining awesome beaches up to family owned apartments and small houses.
Holiday Attractions & All Inclusive Hotels in CreteTravelers coming to Crete to spend relaxing holidays arrive on the island through two international airports (located near Heraklion and Hania) or by boat, in the ports of Heraklion, Hania, Rethimno and Agios Nikolaos.
Heraklion (the "City of Hercules") or Iraklion is the largest city and the capital of Crete and of Heraklion Prefecture. The town is located close to the ruins of the palace from Knossos, which was in the Minoan civilization times the biggest populated center on the island. The present city of Heraklion was founded in 824 A.D. by Saracens, who built a moat around the city for protection and named the city Handaq. The Byzantine Empire attacked and defeated the fortress in 961, slaughtered the Saracens, looted the city and burned it to the ground! They ruled the rebuilt Khandak for the next 243 years! In 1204 the city was bought by Venetia as part of a complicated political deal. The Venetian built giant fortifications, from which most are still in place, including a big wall with 7 bastions and a fortress settled in the harbor.
The name Khandak became Candia in Italian. The Ottoman Empire defeated Venetia and ruled the city for 22 years. During the Turkish occupation the city was named Kania and the harbor silted up, therefore most of business moved to Hania, in the western part of the island. The city became in 1908 part of the Cretan state, which was incorporated in the Kingdom of Greece in 1913.
On island of Crete can be spent some of the best holidays in Mediterranean because of the wonderful environment, excellent beaches, awesome sights, numerous resorts, all inclusive hotels and luxury villas. Due to the high popularity of the island, tourists planning trips to this Greek destination are advised to book accommodation in advance, otherwise in the peak season they could have the unpleasant surprise to not find any free hotel room!
Featured All Inclusive Hotel Resorts in CreteHotel Rethymno Mare Royal
Hotel Fodele Beach
Hotel Evelyn Beach
Hotel Hersonissos Palace
Hotel Blue Bay
Hotel Chrissi Amoudia
Hotel Mareblue Neptuno Beach
Hotel Cactus Beach
Hotel Eri Beach & Village
Hotel Arina Sand
Hotel Heliotrope
Hotel Semiramis Village
Hotel Orion
Hotel Iberostar Mirabello Beach Hotel & Village
Hotel Iberostar Creta Panorama
Hotel Iberostar Creta Mare
Hotel Apollonia Beach
Hotel Knossos Beach
Book accommodation in above hotels & more on Hotels in Crete
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