'Crete, Greece' - Attribution: Crete is not just a mythical place from legends – it's a real, reachable island, and a spectacular one at that. If you're daydreaming about azure seas and ancient ruins but not exactly sure where to point to on a map, let me, a local, paint the picture. Where is Crete? In short, it's at the southern edge of Greece, anchoring the southern border of the Aegean Sea. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, floating about 160 km (100 miles) south of the Greek mainland. To its north is the rest of the Aegean and mainland Europe, and to its south lies the vast blue of the Libyan Sea leading towards Africa. In fact, Crete's position is roughly between the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa – a crossroads of civilisation through the ages.
If you look at a map of the Mediterranean, Crete is the long island that stretches east-west, kind of like a breakwater at the bottom of the Aegean. It's roughly 260 km (160 miles) long and quite narrow in parts – at one point only about 12 km separates the north and south coasts! I often boast that Crete is like a mini country, being the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean (after giants like Sicily and Sardinia) means it has wide-ranging landscapes from beaches to high mountains. The White Mountains (Lefka Ori) in the west and Mount Ida (Psiloritis) near the centre dominate the skyline – on a clear winter day, I've seen their snowy peaks while I was literally swimming in the sea down below. Talk about contrasts!
Geographically, Crete forms the divide between the Aegean Sea to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. This means its northern coast has the major cities and ports (facing mainland Greece), while the southern coast faces the open Mediterranean with a sparser, wilder charm. The island's capital is Heraklion, roughly in the centre of the north coast. It's also the largest city, home to around 175,000 people and the main hub for flights and ferries. For context, Heraklion is about 320 km (a one-hour flight) southeast of Athens. So Crete is definitely part of Greece, both politically and culturally (though we Cretans like to say we have our own distinct identity too, in good humour).
Most travellers reach Crete by air or sea. The island has two major international airports: Heraklion Airport in the centre (which is the second busiest in Greece after Athens) and Chania Airport in the west. A smaller airport in Sitia (east) handles some domestic flights. In summer, direct charter flights from many European cities fly straight to Crete – so you might catch a plane from London, Berlin, or Paris and land in Crete in about 3-4 hours. Otherwise, a common route is via Athens: a short hop of about 45-50 minutes by plane. I often take the Athens-Heraklion flight when I'm in a hurry – blink and you've arrived.
If you prefer the journey over the destination, ferries are a classic way to arrive. Overnight ferries run from Athens' port of Piraeus to Heraklion, Chania, and occasionally Sitia. Many a night I've spent on the deck of the ferry, feeling the salty breeze, as the ship departs the Athens lights and heads south. By dawn, you see the outline of Crete on the horizon – it's magical. The ferry takes around 8-9 hours, so many people book a cabin or aeroplane-style seat. It's an adventure and can be part of the holiday fun, especially for families (kids love exploring the big ship). During summer, there are also some fast ferries and additional routes, like from Santorini or other islands to Crete.
One thing to note: Crete is quite large and divided into four prefectures (from west to east: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Lassithi). So “Where is Crete?” could further be asked as “Where in Crete should I go?” If you're looking at a map and planning, it's good to know that distances can be deceiving. A drive from the far west (Chania) to the far east (Sitia) can take over 6 hours. So understanding the geography can help plan if you want to focus on one or two regions or try to see it all (ambitious, but doable with time).
Historically and culturally, Crete's location made it a crossroads of civilisations. Positioned between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, it was a prized jewel for many empires. This strategic spot is why you find Venetian fortresses, Ottoman minarets, and Minoan palaces all on the same island. As a local, I feel that blend in daily life – the Italian-sounding last names in western Crete from Venetian times, the Arabic-influenced words in our dialect from Ottoman times, etc.
From Crete's southern coast, the closest African land is the shores of Libya, roughly 300 km away. There's even a tiny islet called Gavdos south of Crete which is the southernmost point of Europe, a few hardy souls live there and you can visit by ferry. I camped on Gavdos one Easter with friends – standing at the clifftop marked “Europe's South End” was surreal, knowing Africa was the next stop if one continued south.
Crete's separation by sea has allowed it to develop its own traditions. While firmly Greek, it long had a degree of autonomy and even independence (briefly between Ottoman and Greek rule). This distinct position at the edge of Greece means we have our own regional customs, music, and even a unique dialect of Greek. But worry not, everyone speaks standard Greek and plenty speak English too, especially in tourist areas.
To get technical for a moment: Crete sits roughly between latitudes 34°N and 35°N – similar to parts of southern Spain or California, which gives you an idea of the climate (hot summers, mild winters). Its longitude is around 24°E to 26°E. Time zone wise, Crete is in the Eastern European Time (GMT+2, or GMT+3 in summer). So if you're coming from London (GMT), you'll be 2 hours ahead here, from New York, 7 hours ahead.
The island's weather is influenced by both the sea and mountains. The north coast (facing the Aegean) gets more rain in winter due to weather fronts from Europe, while the south coast is drier and can be a touch warmer – sometimes we joke that south Crete almost has a hint of African climate. For instance, I've driven through pouring rain in Chania, then an hour later found the south coast sunny and a few degrees warmer. This means Crete has pockets of unique flora and even tiny variations in accent between north and south villages (a charming quirk).
Knowing where Crete is helps with practical travel planning too. It explains why the island has such rich produce – sitting in the Mediterranean sun, Crete grows fantastic olives, grapes, and oranges. It's also why the sea is warm enough to swim May through October. Being southerly, Crete enjoys a longer summer than most of Europe. I often welcome visitors in late October who are astonished they can still swim and sunbathe comfortably while their home country is pulling out winter coats.
Crete's spot in the Med also means it's a great base if you want to combine destinations. Some travellers hop from Crete to Santorini (a few hours by ferry), or from Crete to Rhodes by a short flight. Direct flights also connect Crete to places like Cyprus or Israel seasonally, due to the eastern Med proximity.
In essence, Crete's location is at the heart of the Eastern Mediterranean. It's far enough south to have a distinct feel from the Greek mainland – warm, maybe a tad more laid-back, and geographically diverse – yet it's close enough that getting here is straightforward. I often describe Crete to first-timers as “Greece, but with an extra pinch of wildness and warmth” thanks to how the island has been both connected and a world apart.
So, if you were staring at a globe: find Greece, trace your finger all the way down to its southernmost large island… that's Crete! It's waiting for you with open arms, roughly equidistant from Athens and Cairo, a bridge between continents but wholly unique. And now that you know where Crete is, you're one step closer to experiencing why it's so special.
Now that you can pinpoint Crete on the map, you might be curious about practicalities and curiosities – for instance, can you drink the tap water here? Flip to our next section Tap Water: Safe or Not? to quench that thirst for knowledge.