Online Resource ToolOnline resource tool article database

The island of Crete is the largest of all the Greek Islands, but is only the fifth largest to be found in



the Mediterranean Sea. Certainly of all the Greek Islands this is one that has visitors flocking to its shores every year many return to further enjoy everything that this beautiful island has to offer.

Getting to Crete has improved and today there are three airports on the island where flights from all over Europe come into, they are Heraklion, Akrotiri and Sitia. Plus there are two major ports on the island which are often used by many cruise liners as a port of call as they cruise around the Mediterranean. The great thing about the airports is that they are located within easy travelling distance of all the islands major resorts.

As well as over 1,000 km of coastline to enjoy visitors have plenty of other places that they can explore and visit during their stay on the island. This island is one of the most mountainous of all the islands to be found in the Mediterranean.

At the western end of the island you will find White Mountain (Lefka Ori) which stands at 2,453m tall, then in the center is Mount Idi (Psiloritis) which stands at a height of 2,456m (and is the tallest). Then on the eastern end of the island is Mount Dikti which stands just 2,148m tall. But along with these mountains you will find that Cretan Mountains that run from one end of the island to the other. It is these which help to make the island seem far larger than it really is.

If you want to spend time away from the coastal resorts then head up to Lake Kournas which



although small is very beautiful. Here you can while away an afternoon or day at one of the many taverns that are located around its shores.

Most people will tend to visit the island during the summer months, but be aware that it can get extremely hot especially between July and August. During these two months the temperatures can get well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Centigrade).

Really if you want to avoid all the hustle and bustle and still enjoy great weather the ideal time to visit Crete is in October. You will still be blessed with plenty of sunshine but also the temperatures at this time of year are a little more agreeable as well.

If you get a bit bored with spending time relaxing on the Crete beaches why not venture further afield and visit a number of the different historical sites on the island. The ones that most visitors to the island visit are Knossos Palace and Phaestos Palace and which show you just what kind of people the Minoans who inhabited this island were like.