Crete is the largest island of
Greece and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean.
It has an area of about 8300 sq.km. A mountainous island, it lies south
of the Aegean Sea, a link between Europe, Africa and Asia.
This geographical position, being at the junction of major
civilizations and cultural currents, has influenced its history
throughout the past 6000 years. The island has an elongated shape, 260
km long from east to west and between 15 and 60 km wide. The coastline
is over 1000 km long and consists of both sandy beaches and rocky
shores.
The high mountains are a characteristic of the Cretan landscape. They
form three mountain complexes, each with its own 'personality'. Between
the ranges lie semi-mountainous zones, which cover the greater part of
the island.
There are also a few low lying plains as well as a number of high
plateaux. Crete has about 600.000 inhabitants, of which over a third
live in the towns of Iraklion, Hania and Rethymnon.
The rest of the island is sparsely populated, with large tracts of mountainous areas frequented only by shepherds
The climate of Crete The
climate of Crete is temperate Mediterranean. As the southernmost island
of Greece it is, with Cyprus, the sunniest island of the Mediterranean
with an average of 300 sunny days a year.
The summers are long and warm. Weather stretches well into the autumn.
It is not unusual to sunbathe on New Year's eve on the South coast.
Winters are mild, with snow on the mountains and a good deal of rain in
the plains but still a good deal of sunshine.
The combination of rain and relative warmth make it one of the greenest
places in the mediterranean basin, especially in spring. The months of
July and August are hot and dry, particularly on the shores of the
Libyan Sea (South coast of Crete). Being a mountainous island the
weather changes can be sudden and it is often windy (anything from a
light breeze to gale winds)
Weather Conditions
Month
Temperature
Water Temperature
January
16ºC
16ºC
February
16ºC
15ºC
March
17ºC
16ºC
April
21ºC
17ºC
May
24ºC
19ºC
June
28ºC
21ºC
July
29ºC
24ºC
August
30ºC
25ºC
September
27ºC
24ºC
October
24ºC
23ºC
November
21ºC
20ºC
December
17ºC
17ºC
Activities in Crete
Windsurfing
Water-skiing
You can find water-skiing facilities in some of the larger resorts.
Scuba diving
There are a few companies offering scuba diving in Crete
.Horse riding
Climbing
Paragliding
Walking and hiking in Crete
Crete is a walking paradise. It has the unique combination of beautiful seas and mountains
The geographical diversity and wild beauty of the island, the
friendliness of its inhabitants as well as the climate are gradually
making it into a choice destination for walking and hiking. The whole
island is criss-crossed by trails, most of them now disused since roads
have been built or used only by shepherds.
It is possible to walk all day without meeting a soul and still reach a
village where you can eat and sleep in relative comfort before setting
off for another day in nature.
The truly dedicated hikers can go to areas that are practically unknown
and totally uninhabited, with undisturbed flora and fauna, be it in
deep gorges or high up on the mountains.
Where to begin is a difficult decision to make: In the picturesque
villages, the areas of natural beauty, the caves, the beaches or the
mountains? The inhabitants will become your friends. They will offer
you a glass of "tsikoudia" and invite you to their home. We shall be
glad to see you in Crete and... make yourself at home!
About Crete 
