Villas Holidays In Crete

Things to do in Crete

Beaches

The warm weather and countless hours of sunshine provide the perfect conditions for a villa holiday by the beach. Elafonissi is breathtaking, with soft pink and white sands against a backdrop of turquoise translucent sea; find yourself a secret bay to relax in while kids swim in safe, shallow waters. It’s around 75km from our villas in Chania, but entirely worth the trip for the views alone. 

Mirabello Bay in Eastern Crete is one of the largest bays in Europe, which is also home to a number of golden sandy beaches with warm shallow seas. If you’re staying in a villa in Eastern Crete then we also recommend visiting Agios Nikolaos for more family-friendly beaches, lovely shops and good local tavernas for a lunch stop.

Activities

There are countless things to do on a Crete villa holiday. Start the morning with a Greek coffee out on your villa’s terrace before heading out for a day at sea. If you’re staying in the Elounda area you can take a boat trip to the fortress-island of Spinalonga, a peaceful spot with plenty of history. Further afield and close to Heraklion, history buffs will also enjoy The palace of Knossos - Crete’s must-see historical attraction; tie-in a visit to the Archaeological Museum nearby. 

Lose yourself in the impressive coastline of Crete, where a multitude of watersports are available on your holiday along with diving and snorkelling. Active types will also enjoy walking or climbing diverse and dramatic mountainous landscapes; climb hairpin bends up to Psiloritis or walk the spectacular Samaria and Zakros gorges.

Towns and Cities in Crete

Chania and Rethymno, each gathered around a Venetian castle, lighthouse, and harbour, are the haunt of fishermen; their old towns are like sepia photographs. Chania is one of the largest cities on the Greek islands, so worthy of a visit for great shopping and restaurants if you’re holidaying in western Crete. The capital, Heraklion is bigger, more cosmopolitan, but also with an old town, harbour, and castle in golden Venetian stone. Agios Nikolaos, with an enviable hillside setting, great views of Crete's eastern mountains, and an allegedly bottomless lake, is the most relaxed and carefree of them all, and we have a lovely selection of properties here.

Eating and drinking in Crete

On holiday in Crete you are likely to encounter “choclioi” or snails, one of the most popular dishes on the island. Other traditional dishes include mutton with rice and Cretan salad (similar to Greek salad but with soft cheese instead of feta), while high quality olive oil is also very important and used in most foods as a key ingredient.   

If you’re staying in western Crete, Chania is a great place to go for a large selection of bars and restaurants along with lively nightlife; Elounda offers an array of lovely tavernas in the east. 

Our villas with built-in barbecues provide a fun option for cooking for yourselves at your leisure with al fresco dining tables for long lunches on the terrace by the pool.