Over 3,200 square miles in size, with a 650-mile coastline, Crete is not only Greece’s biggest island, it's the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. In order to make the most of your time, it’s generally best to stick to certain areas of the island during your visit, depending on what you’d like to see. Having a car is key if you want to reach the island’s ancient sights and beaches. Although public buses are good, having your own transport allows you to explore off the beaten track and not be tied down by a timetable. With mountainous villages, award-winning bays, caves, and ancient towns, Crete is just waiting to be unpacked.

Taking Crete’s size into consideration, it’s a good idea to base yourself in one of Crete’s larger towns and explore from there. Many of Crete’s most popular towns, attractions, and beaches run along the island’s north coast. Chania, a city in the west, and Heraklion, in the center of the northern coast, are typically the most popular cities--but it's more than a two-hour drive between them. Rethymno is roughly in the middle of them--an hour's drive to each one. Another popular option is Agios Nikolaos, which is east of Heraklion, and sits on one of the most beautiful bays on the island. And while the southern coast has stunning beaches, it's often better for day trips than as a base--it's fairly remote with only a few access roads that wind through Crete's mountainous center.

Greece is a country that oozes ancient history—and Crete is no exception. The oldest city in Europe can be found here, 10 minutes by car from Heraklion and two hours from Chania. The Minoans, thought to be the first great civilization in Europe, built Knossos, a city first inhabited during the Neolithic age dating back to 7000 B.C.E.  A visit to Knossos is actually a visit to what remains of the original Minoan palace site with some artifacts and frescos still intact, a throne room, and peacocks boldly strutting around. Though the ruins aren't as impressive as the Parthenon in Athens, it's still a fascinating and important spot. To really understand it, it's best to hire a guide, as self-guided tours might prove underwhelming.

Blue Flag certification notes sustainable tourism with a commitment to preserving marine life and coastal ecosystems, and Crete boasts a remarkable array of these designated beaches. Celebrated for their pristine waters, environmental excellence, and high-quality facilities, beaches such as Elafonissi, Balos, and Vai offer waters to rival that of the Caribbean, plus soft sand, and lush surroundings, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. You’ll appreciate their award-winning cleanliness, safety standards, and access to amenities. But many of these beaches are remote, so it's best to rent a car to access them.

According to mythology, Zeus, King of the Gods and ruler of Mount Olympus, was born in Crete inside the Dikteon Cave–just over an hour’s drive inland from Heraklion. Open to the public, the awe-inspiring stalactite and stalagmite formations are a must-see attraction. Another cave, the Ideon Cave in Crete's tallest mountain, Mt. Ida, is where Zeus' mother, Rhea, hid him from his father, Cronus, who wanted to kill and eat the child. Outside of mythology, Crete's mountains and fields boast roughly 30 million olive trees, including what's thought to be the oldest olive tree in the world—which is in the village of Ano Vouves—and may be as ancient as 4,000 years old.