Luxury Crete Holidays

Ancient mythology and natural beauty

Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, is a beautiful myriad of stunning beaches, pretty harbours and quaint tavernas, mixed with historic architecture, impressive gorges, majestic mountains, and scenic valleys. Secret villages and hamlets showcase the authentic side of the island, while Heraklion is the perfect place if you are looking for vibrant nightlife.

An abundance of nature reserves offer the chance to see some of Crete’s exquisite wildlife and flora, where you’ll find the scent of lemon and orange groves floating through the air. If you fancy some action, there are plenty of water parks all over the island, including Watercity Water Park in Kokkini Hani and Hersonisson’s Acqua Plus Water Park. Here you can try a range of exhilarating rides and slides, with something for all ages. The spectacular White Mountains take centre stage of the island and provide ample opportunity for scenic hikes or a drive amidst astonishing landscapes, while Heraklion, the island’s capital offers everything from history, architecture and culture, to designer shopping and fine Cretan dining.

Crete – the perfect location for families and couples

Crete is both family-friendly and sophisticated with a true air of luxury mixed with authentic Greek charm. Elounda and Aghios Nikolaos ooze luxury and class blended with traditional Greek charisma. Picture perfect Chania is the perfect place to unwind among the tavernas and quaint piazzas which are dotted throughout the cobbled streets. The castle perches overlooking the town, while the golden sandy beach provides the ideal spot to ease you into holiday mode. It’s the ideal holiday getaway for families and couples with endless palm lined beaches edged with crystal waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Culture vultures will embrace the wealth of Minoan legend and ancient history which is displayed in Crete’s inspiring palaces and impressive architectural delights. The legend of the Minotaur descends from Crete, which is the birthplace of Zeus, the father of the Greek Gods, and today history is portrayed in its poetry and music. A Venetian influenced waterfront headlines in Heraklion, which also features chic cafés and bars, alongside world famous museums and Mediterranean architecture. An authentic Greek breakfast known as Bougatsa is not to be missed, as well as Dakos rusks which are Crete-style pizza. Each village is said to have its own speciality dish, which can be washed down with fine wines from the island on your luxury holidays to Crete.

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Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Sovereign holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.

Our Top Offers for Crete

Save up to £150 per couple

Crete, Missiria Near Rethymnon

Tripadvisor hotel rating
1652 reviews
7 nights from £1100 per person
Itinerary:
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Tuesday, 06 May 2025
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London Gatwick
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Half Board | Bungalow Garden View
Special Offers:

Up to 15% room discount

Save up to £550 per couple

Crete, Plaka Near Elounda

Tripadvisor hotel rating
2771 reviews
7 nights from £1209 per person
Itinerary:
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Sunday, 27 April 2025
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London Gatwick
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Half Board | Core Open Plan Suite With Outdoor Jacuzzi 
Special Offers:

Up to 25% room discount

Up to 10% exclusive Sovereign discount

Save up to £470 per couple

Crete, Aghios Nikolaos

Tripadvisor hotel rating
1593 reviews
7 nights from £1485 per person
Itinerary:
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Tuesday, 06 May 2025
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London Gatwick
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Half Board | Classic Double Limited Sea View
Special Offers:

20% room discount

Our pick of the top hotels in Crete

Every one of our hotels is handpicked and personally visited by our team

View all hotels in Crete
Destinations in Crete
Bright blue wooden chairs in the Greek village of Adele on the island of Crete
Adele Near Rethymnon
Adele is a classic Cretan village secreted away among the hills south-east of Rethymnon, the Venetian island capital. Ivory-white houses and olive grove eco-villas are the theme here.
The lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos,  a picturesque coastal town with colorful buildings around the port in the eastern part of the island Crete, Greece
Aghios Nikolaos
 Aghios Nikolaos is a fishing town with three centres – Kitroplateia Beach, the taverna-lined port, and a marina that invites in king-sized yachts. And it all overlooks northerly Mirabello Bay.
 
Sea view in Hersonissos on Crete. Greece
Hersonissos
The cosmopolitan, lively resort of Hersonissos, located on the north coast showcases more new than it does old. You have a gorgeous waterfront, home to fantastic dining choices and world-class beachfront resorts. 
Famous sandy beach of Falasarna at the north west of Chania, Crete, Greece.
Chania
Venetian, Minoan, Turkish, Victorian – Chania dishes up all eras of architecture in its walled old city. The star? A colourful harbour that reaches out towards beaches on both sides.
Aerial view of Elounda - Crete, Greece.
Elounda
 Elounda is a north-eastern fishing village with a difference – it collects luxury beach and spa hotels under its wing. They all watch over the island-speckled Bay of Elounda.
 
Marina Port Gouves, Crete, Greece - late afternoon drone aerial photo, city landscape, buildings and blue water, sandy beach
Gouves
Gouves lies just east of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. You’ve got the best of both worlds here – the hillside village centre and the beachfront promenade of hotels and tavernas. 
Pictorial colorful Greece series - Rethymnon with old lighthouse and fishing boats, Crete island
Missiria Near Rethymnon
Missiria is so close to the island capital of Rethymnon that it’s practically a suburb, rolling out a long sandy beach stocked with palatial hotels and sea-view bars.
Aerial view of Plaka village, at the gulf of Elounda, near the famous island of Spinalonga, Crete, Greece.
Plaka Near Elounda
Plaka is the closest village to Spinalonga – a near-mythical island that’s doubled as a Venetian fort and a leper colony. Trips launch from the marina, where restaurants and designer hotels gather.

Sovereign-2024-Greece-Destination-Guide-001-300114-Hybris

Enjoy the best of Greece with our mini destination guide. Find out more about the Greek islands and our favourite hotels by clicking here.

Family holidays in Crete

With so much to do family holidays in Crete are becoming increasingly popular. Spend your days relaxing on the warm sands of the beach, take a fun family trip to the water parks or visit historic and cultural sites and towns. 


Find out more about Family holidays in Crete

Typical Costs

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Bottle of beer
€2.50-4
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Bus return
€3-30
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Cup of coffee
€3-4.50
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Glass of wine
€3-6
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Main course
€8-15
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Small souvenir
€3-5

Flight Information

Flight time from the UK to Crete is around 4 hours. 

If you're planning a trip to Heraklion (HER) from the UK, the following airports have direct flights:
Belfast (BFS), Birmingham (BHX), Bournemouth (BOH), Bristol (BRS), Cardiff (CWL), East Midlands (EMA), Edinburgh (EDI), Exeter (EXT), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds Bradford (LBA), Liverpool (LPL), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN), Newcastle (NCL) and Norwich (NWI).

If you're planning a trip to Chania (CHQ) from the UK, the following airports have direct flights:
Birmingham (BHX), Bristol (BRS), East Midlands (EMA), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds Bradford (LBA), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN) and Newcastle (NCL).

When to go

The southernmost Greek island, Crete’s summers are something special. The temperatures are beach-worthy by April, climbing steadily throughout summer and peaking in July and August, when highs of 35°C are possible. Luckily, the island is prone to some cooling winds during summer that stop things getting too hot and sticky. 

Visa Information

Currently visas are not required for UK citizens travelling to Greece

Tipping

In Greece, a service charge will be included in the bill at restaurants and bars. Much like the UK, an additional tip is not required, although is appreciated for particularly good service. It is common to round off the amount when paying cash, particularly with wait staff and taxi drivers. 

Introduction to languages

The official language of Greece is Greek.  English is widely spoken, too, so getting by is easy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Samantha Grist

I really recommend giving island-hopping a go. I combined Mykonos, Santorini and Crete in one trip - so easy to do, and it was fantastic to be able to experience three such different islands in one holiday.


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What our guests think

We've been finding people their own slice of paradise for 50 years, and like to think we're pretty good at it. 
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