Mykonos

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. It is an incredibly scenic place, with majestic mountain ranges, deep gorges, winding rivers and richly-soiled plateaus. The White Mountains of Crete, Lefka Ori, is the island’s largest mountain range and a typical tourist draw for those with hiking and trekking inclinations, with more than 30 summits that rise imposingly high over 2000 meters. The famous Gorge of Samaria is also found in the depths of the White Mountains—so called for its persistent snowcaps and the sunlight reflecting off its limestone rock in the summer.

As with the rest of Greece, Crete is steeped in history, and has many an ancient monument to marvel at. A shining example is the Palace of Knossos, palace of King Minos, which is located in the city of Knosses, the largest Bronze Age archeological site in Crete. The site also harbors a villa and traditional Minoan houses, as well as a Royal Temple. But the Palace, perhaps, most impresses. Divided into two wings, east and west, one can walk among prayer and official staterooms and living quarters and workshops of the ancient past—a small sense of the sophisticated civilization that once existed there.

Modern-day Crete is a bustling metropolis, with three major airports (at Heraklion, Chania and Sitia) and four large ports (located in Heraklion, Chania, Rethimno, and Agios Nikolaos). Studded with luxury hotels and sports and recreational facilities, it is evident that Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Although one might think that the hustle-and-bustle of the island is not what a workaholic or a keen traveler might fly miles on a plane to see, the heart of the matter is that, in this place, many old and local customs still thrive. Within the community, Cretan culture has remained very strong despite the increasingly (and already pervasive) exchange of the various world cultures throughout Greece: The Cretan Greek dialect is spoken by the majority of the inhabitants on the island, and Cretan wine is the traditional drink of choice. There is indigenous music and dance, and the most well-known of the latter is the sprightly, fast-paced Pentozali, quite guaranteed to make all but the most fit and determined breathless and dizzy.