Introduction to Crete

The cradle of Minoan civilization, the birthplace of Zeus and the home of Zorba, Crete is steeped in myth, culture and 4,000 years of history. Greece's largest island feels more like a country; you can go from the tropical palm groves of Vaï to the near-Alpine heights of the White Mountains in a day. The Venetian splendor of Rethmynon, the precipitous Samaria Gorge, Malia's party beaches -- if ever an island could say it had something for everyone without sounding like a cliché, it would surely be Crete.

Beaches

Sugar-fine sand and water the color of Blue Curaçao: believe the hype about Elafonisi Lagoon and palm grove-fringed Vaï. Near crescent-shaped Matala Beach on the south coast, lonely Kommos Bay attracts nesting loggerhead turtles and nudists. Windsurf off blustery Kouremenos Bay and unspoiled Sitia. A rugged path wends down cliffs to Preveli's lagoon. Share the sand with families, watersports enthusiasts and suntan oil-slicked revelers in Malia and Hersonissos.

Things to Do

Slip back to sea-faring Minoan times contemplating the intricate Dolphin Fresco at Knossos, the legendary home of the Minotaur. Many of Knossos' treasures are displayed at Heraklion's Archaeological Museum. See El Greco's birthplace, Byzantine churches and a 1,000-year-old plane tree in bucolic Fodele. Perched at the foot of the White Mountains, Anogia is a rare snapshot of rural Cretan life. Trace Crete's Venetian past in Chania and the narrow lanes of Rethymnon, dotted with pastel-colored Renaissance mansions and Ottoman minarets.

Eating and Drinking

Crete's distinctive cuisine is hearty, herby and inspired by the land. Only church bells interrupt the calm in mountain villages like Anogia, Amari and Neapolis. Here, family-run tavernas serve Cretan fare like sautéed goat, snails and marathopita (fennel pie) with potent raki firewater. Eat fresh seafood in Rethmynon's Venetian harbor or on a lively terrace overlooking Ayios Nikolaos' lagoon. Chania is famous for its bougatsa (sugar-sprinkled cheese pie) and the Middle Eastern fusion cuisine served under stone arches at the much-lauded Well of the Turk.

Nature

Crete's springtime eruption of wildflowers is best appreciated on a 16km trek from the mountains to the Libyan Sea through the yawning Samaria Gorge. Rising above the often snow-capped White Mountains, Crete's highest peak, the 8,000-foot Mount Psiloritis, beckons walkers to its rugged trails. It also affords views over much of the island to the Aegean Sea. See stalagmites glisten in Dikteon Cave, the mythical birthplace of Zeus and a center of cult worship in Minoan times.