Travel Focus on Crete

Balos beach in Crete - one of the best sun-spots on the island

This week Cheapflights is profiling Crete as an ideal place to enjoy an Easter family getaway.

Crete's mythical history is enough to fill any family holiday with inspiration and awe. Legend has it that the island is the birth place of Zeus – a claim that's easy enough to believe when you come face to face with its other-wordly landscape of mountains, caves, grottos and sprawling beaches.

It's also an ideal place to visit during Easter, as Greek Orthodoxy views the holiday as the most important in the year. The island will be packed with festivities for every age group, ranging from fireworks displays to midnight mass to the procession through town that mark the resurrection of Christ.

Top 5 things to do in Crete

1. Escape the hustle and bustle of more touristy areas by taking a stunning coastal drive along the north-east of Crete.
2. Visit the ruins and reconstructions at Knossos Palace.  Though destroyed by earthquakes, fires, and the passage of time, you can still see the ingenious underfloor drainage systems and get a feel for the granduer of the palace as it once was.
3. Go caving!  Many of Crete's splendid caves are archaeological sites littered with fossils and home to amazing rock formations.  A fear of the dark may put off some children, but a guided tour should be able to accommodate all abilities and tastes.
4. Take the kids to Makrigialos beach (southeast of the Lasithi prefecture), which is perfectly designed by nature with shallow waters that are ideal for the little ones.
5. Enjoy a day in Crete's second largest city, Chania, home to a stunning 16th century Venetian lighthouse.

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Images provided by Flickr users Enricod, and Sleepy Chincilla

Further reading on Cheapflights.co.uk: Flights to Crete, Crete Travel Guide

Other resources: Crete's Tourist Office

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