Visiting the Stunning Island of Crete

The first thing most visitors get to experience of the gorgeous island of Crete is the Heraklion airport transfers to their final resort destination. That’s fine, though perhaps not the most exciting introduction to one of the world’s great holiday and historic attractions! Heraklion airport transfers are quick and efficient (though book ahead in the peak holiday season) and they’ll get you to wherever you’re staying. But then your holiday really begins! North and South

Geography has made a huge difference to the way the island has developed over the centuries. The south coast is wild and rugged while the north is much flatter, for some of its length, meaning that the majority of the natural beaches are there. So, naturally enough, historically, the towns - and more recently, tourism - tended to develop largely on the north coast.

Today, most of the better-known and well-established resorts serviced by the Heraklion airport transfers are on the northern coast, though there are some typically smaller and quieter resorts on the southern coast. Ierapetra is often quoted as being the only town on the southern side of Crete and is a slightly larger resort - but it’s still relatively modestly-sized by the standards of other Mediterranean resorts or indeed those on the northern coast.

The character of Cretan holidays

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands; that means that the island has a sense of space that isn’t always the case on some of the other islands.

The central and southern parts of Crete are extremely mountainous and wild. If you like getting way of the beaten track and exploring wild countryside with its flora and fauna, then you’ll love it here. Note that if you’re going to explore the island’s interior, car hire is essential and it might be wise to spend a little extra and get a 4 x 4 jeep-style vehicle. They’re reasonably priced and will give you a sense of more security on some of the mountain tracks.

Of course, for many visitors, Crete is all about its beaches. There are some very good beaches around the coast, though at the height of summer some of the smaller ones can be crowded. If you have a hire car though, you’ll be able to find numerous coves where you can get away from it all.

Nightlife here is extensive and good-natured. No people enjoy a party more than the Greeks and they’re great providers of plenty of opportunity to have fun with great food, dancing and of course, a few drinks! The major resorts have their fair share of international-style discos, and in some of the larger resorts there’s a tradition of partying hard into the small hours. However, in the smaller resorts you’ll find quiet tavernas and a calmer pace of life in the evenings if that’s your preference.

Of course, a final word needs to be said about history. If you love exploring fascinating historical sites, you’ll be in heaven on Crete. Home to Europe’s first civilization and already ancient at the time of the ‘ancient’ Greeks, Crete offers amazing locations to explore, like the palace complex at Knossos.

So, while your first taste of Crete on the Heraklion airport transfers may not be hugely interesting, the island they’re taking you to most certainly is!

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Heraklion airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.