About Crete · CreteCompass

Useful information & emergency numbers Emergency numbers, hospitals, money, plugs, water, time zone and local etiquette. Read guide

When to visit Crete Month-by-month: sea temperature, wind, crowds, hiking season and festivals. Read guide

Where to stay in Crete The best bases in each region for beaches, culture, families and nightlife. Read guide

Crete in 7 days: the classic route A one-week road trip from Chania to Elounda, with the essential beaches and sights. Read guide

Cretan culture & traditions Hospitality, music, mantinades, raki and the feasts that keep village life going. Read guide

Crafts & arts of Crete Weaving, pottery, knives, lyra makers and where to see them. Read guide

Crete’s economy Tourism, olive oil, greenhouses, wine and why Crete feels so self-sufficient. Read guide

Towns & municipalities How Crete is divided, its four regional units and the main towns in each. Read guide

Islands around Crete Gavdos, Chrissi, Gramvousa, Spinalonga, Dia and the islets worth a boat trip. Read guide

Location & climate Where Crete is, how big it is and what the weather is like through the year. Read guide

A short history of Crete From the Minoans to the Battle of Crete, the story behind the sights you visit. Read guide

Nature & wildlife Kri-kri goats, vultures, wild herbs, palm forests and where to see them. Read guide

Geology: mountains, gorges & caves Why Crete has so many gorges and caves, and the best places to see them. Read guide

People & population How many people live in Crete, where they live and a bit about the Cretan dialect. Read guide

Cretan wine Native grapes, wine regions and how to visit wineries. Read guide

Cretan food: what to eat Dakos, kalitsounia, staka, snails, gamopilafo and the dishes you have to try, region by region. Read guide

Cretan products to taste and take home Olive oil, graviera, pichtogalo, xygalo, thyme honey, dittany, mountain tea, raki and more, and where they come from. Read guide