Crete is the largest Greek island and is often referred to as Little Greece in the Aegean Sea. In Crete, the Libyan Sea touches the Aegean Sea. The inhabitants of Crete are known for their hospitality, for their good Mediterranean cuisine and their Mantinades (15-syllable Iambic rhymes, which are always formed strictly according to rules). An almost magical place lures visitors with some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, and mountainous landscapes that take your breath away.

In Crete, there are exotic-looking beaches, organized and developed for tourism. Elafonisi is considered a natural wonder: white-golden sands, clear turquoise to green waters, ideal for swimming and relaxing (among the 10 best and most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean). Here, you’ll also find Matala, with the caves that fascinated the hippies in the 1970s, Malia, where the party never ends and Vai, located on a palm beach.

Crete is just as close to other Greek regions as it is to castles (Kazarma, Forteza, Koules), fortresses, museums, churches, monasteries and archaeological sites that testify to its rich past. The small, deserted island of Spinalonga, also known as the "Island of the Lepers", is a popular destination in Crete. You can quickly take a boat from the port of Agios Nikolaos to the island, where you can visit the partially collapsed buildings as well as the hospital for leprosy patients, that operated until 1957. Looking for traces of the first European high culture? Then Crete is ...