| The Greek Island of Crete is attracting an | | | | Nikolaos and Sitia being popular tourist destinations. |
| increasing number of visitors, this is a guide to the | | | | In between Heraklion and Rethymno is the small |
| island that is set to be a holiday home hot spot | | | | town of Panormos, where a new home |
| The Mediterranean island of Crete is a favorite | | | | development is under construction. Panorma |
| for Europeans who are looking for a second | | | | Seafront homes all have sea views, shared or |
| home, vacation spot or retirement haven. It has | | | | private swimming pools and are located within 50 |
| year round sunshine and beautiful scenery, and is | | | | meters of the sea. Homes here begin at under |
| currently undergoing a development boom. Crete | | | | ¬70,000 for a 1 bedroom property, while 3 |
| has over 1,000 kilometers of coastline, is the | | | | bedroom houses can run over ¬200,000. This |
| largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the | | | | development is a fine example of the type of |
| Mediterranean, and is important historically as the | | | | property available off-plan and nearly new on this |
| home of the Minoan Civilization and has many | | | | idyllic island. |
| archaeological remains for visitors to see and | | | | Chania is the major tourist destination on Crete. It |
| explore. | | | | has many resorts as well as the scenery and |
| Crete, approximately 160 kilometers south of the | | | | weather that Crete is known for. Chania has |
| Greece mainland, has a population of nearly | | | | some of the best nightlife on the island, in the |
| 650,000 residents, who mostly reside on the | | | | capital city of Chania Town and at resorts such |
| north coast of the island. A long mountain chain | | | | as Platanias and Paleohora. The Golden Beach is |
| runs through the island, coming right to the sea | | | | within walking distance of downtown Chania and |
| along much of the southern coast, where there a | | | | provides a sandy beach for those who want to |
| number of smaller towns and beaches. The | | | | stay in this lively city |
| climate is temperate, with summers long and hot | | | | The main airport for Crete is Heraklion |
| and winters mild. During the winter, snow falls in | | | | International Airport, also known as Nikos |
| the mountains, and occasionally along the northern | | | | Kazantzakis International Airport (HER), which |
| side of the island but rarely on the south. | | | | serves many UK and European cities with daily, |
| The largest city on the island is Heraklion, with | | | | nonstop flights. The other international airport on |
| nearly 150,000 residents, followed by Chania, with | | | | Crete is Chania International Airport (CHQ), |
| 54,000 residents and Rethymno. Chania and | | | | serving the western part of the island. A number |
| Rethymno are the most popular destinations for | | | | of discount airlines fly to both airports, making it a |
| tourists on the western part of the island. On the | | | | reasonably priced destination. There are also |
| eastern half, Heraklion is the business and | | | | ferries that travel to and from the Greek |
| commerce capital of the island, with Agios | | | | mainland, often taking an overnight for the trip. |