Crete has got everything from gorgeous sands to pebble coves and dramatic cliffs. The island is steeped in legend, soaked in sunshine, and littered with little villages, romantic retreats and perfect places to party. Crete’s long, long summers promise sunshine whenever you’ve got a break.

There are watersports galore from lively beaches, and peaceful bays for snoozing in the sun. On Crete you can find fast food, fine food and fresh fish dishes in a feast of bars, restaurants and traditional tavernas. And summer holidays in Crete can be as lively or leisurely as you like. Walkers will love the wild and rugged Samaria Gorge – a sturdy hike from the hills to the sea.

The largest of the Greek Islands, Crete boasts historic ruins, electric blue seas and buttermilk beaches that beg to be sprawled upon.

Clear, warm seas wash the silky sands of Crete, a breathtaking land of snow-dusted peaks and flower-filled slopes. Unspoilt fishing villages and tiny hamlets share the Mediterranean’s fifth biggest island with bustling cities and sophisticated beach resorts so you can pick the part of Crete to suit your taste.

Go for a wander round the labyrinthine streets of Chania, where you’ll find ancient churches, gentle fountains and fascinating museums. Or head for bustling Heraklion, the island’s capital, home to the world’s greatest collection of Minoan art. Or opt for a remote spot on the coast and devote your days to sunning on the sands, carving a trail through spectacular countryside, and lunching in traditional tavernas.

No visit to Crete is complete without a trip to the famous Samaria Gorge. When you rent a holiday home in Crete through us, you deal directly with the owner, who is your best source of information for local attractions, restaurants, entertainment near your accommodation in Crete.

One of the Greek Island’s most famous holiday destinations, Crete caters for every taste but while its better-known resorts are geared for tourism and busy nightlife, vast areas remain beautifully untouched.

Many people take a holiday on the Greek island of Crete and enjoy the fantastic beaches, charming villages and endless sunshine. But Crete offers the visitor much more than this. As if welcoming people, charming mountain villages, rocky bays, sandy beaches and one of Europe’s best climates were not enough reasons to visit Crete, it is also a historian’s and an archaeologist’s paradise.

The famous Minoan Palace of Knossos, just south of Iraklion, was one of Europe’s finest buildings during Bronze Age (2800-1100 BC) with around 1,400 rooms. Staircases with shallow alabaster steps lead to upper or lower floors and lovely frescoes, with scenes from everyday life, decorate the Palace walls. The King’s and the Queen’s apartments feature blue dolphins, while the throne room contains the oldest throne in Europe, the alabaster throne of King Minos.

Central Crete’s prehistoric site of Gortys, once the largest city in Crete. Besides being the first city to accept Christianity, and with a history as far back as the Minoan period, Gortys was occupied by the Romans in 68 BC and destroyed by the Arabs 900 years later. This layer on layer of civilization brings history to life.

When you rent a holiday home in Crete through us, you deal directly with the owner, who is your best source of information for local attractions, restaurants, entertainment near your accommodation in Crete. Local knowledge helps to make the most of holidays in Crete. Use this site to book your Crete holiday, Crete villa, Crete apartment, Crete house or farmhouse holiday and arrange your Crete flights and travel and excursions.

Luxury villas in Crete for rent from Owners Direct. Apartments, houses, cottages in Crete for rent from Owners Direct; holidays to Crete and flights to Crete.

Holiday rentals from owners in Crete bookable safely on-line.