Crete

The largest of Greece’s islands Crete is a mix of beaches, ancient sites, buzzing cities and laid back villages. Crete was home to Europe’s earliest civilisation, the Minoans, and the legendary birthplace of Zeus. That’s quite a claim to fame but not content to just be historically interesting, the island also has a wealth of natural beauty and some of the country’s best beaches.

Its position in the Mediterranean means it boasts reliable sun late into the summer, with a new beach to enjoy every day of your week or two away. Inland is one of Europe’s deepest gorges to hike should you feel the urge to leave your deck chair. Elsewhere there is the Palace of Knossos, with evidence it existed all the way back to the Bronze Age. Finally, when you get the opportunity Cretan cuisine is particularly delicious, the same cannot be said for their raki, but when in Rome!