The Greek islands are miles of pristine beaches, dishes made from natural products in cozy restaurants, pine and olive groves and very hospitable locals. Holidays on the Greek islands will no doubt be great, but each of the islands has its own characteristics. Whether you want to choose whether to visit Crete or Zakynthos, you should know the features and benefits of each of these resorts.
How to choose between Crete and Zakynthos?
If you are in the process of choosing the perfect holiday destination between Zakynthos and Crete, you need to decide when you will fly and what you want from your holiday destination. Zakynthos and Crete are very different islands that can provide a wonderful holiday with the right choice of resort.
Crete is a large island and it is worth going to it for at least a couple of weeks. Here you will find many attractions and clean beaches on the warm coast. Zakynthos is smaller in size, to explore the entire island, you may need only two to three days.
The time of visiting the island also matters, since flights to Crete are quite frequent at any time of the year, but planes fly to Zakynthos only in summer, during the holiday season. A flight to Cretan Heraklion will cost about 22 thousand rubles, and the flight itself lasts 4 hours. A charter flight to Zakynthos takes 3.5 hours, but you can fly to Athens, and from there take a domestic flight to the island. The flight from Athens to Zakynthos takes less than an hour.
The weather on the islands is also uneven. Despite their geographical proximity, it gets warmer in Crete earlier than in Zakynthos. In Crete, the optimal holiday season lasts from May to September, while in Zakynthos - only three summer months. The climate in the high season is approximately the same on the islands. On the south coast of Crete it gets a little hotter due to African air currents. On average, in July on the islands, the temperature is around 26 degrees, but the air can warm up to plus 35. Low humidity makes the climate comfortable even for weather-dependent.
The choice of hotels in Crete is much wider than in Zakynthos, especially when it comes to five-star hotels. Therefore, lovers of comfort are better off heading to Crete, where you can comfortably stay in one of the many hotels. If you plan to spend all the time outside your room and do not attach much importance to where you will live, then there are enough three-star hotels on both islands. In Zakynthos, you will have to pay about $ 50 per night in a double room, while you get free Wi-Fi, breakfast and the opportunity to swim in the pool. In a Cretan three-star hotel, the night will cost a little more - around $ 55, but you can find cheaper rooms in a boarding house or guesthouse on the south coast.
Entertainment on the islands
If you are interested in nightlife, you better head to Crete. There is much more entertainment to be found there at night. But Zakynthos is not devoid of nightlife, and due to the small size of the island, you can get to a nightclub or a bar much more. In Crete, hotels are usually located at a distance from cities to make the rest more relaxed, so it will take some time to get to the clubs.
If you go on vacation with the whole family, Zakynthos offers not only beautiful beaches, but also some entertainment for children - a zoo, a water park, etc. Crete has more entertainment, including for children, but again, its large size does not attract all families with children - not everyone likes spending a lot of time on the road.
As for the beaches, both islands simply abound in them. Crete offers more "civilized" beaches. There are changing rooms, showers, umbrellas and sun loungers, restaurants and cafes are located near the beaches. You can book a yacht tour or go diving here. There are also many beaches in Zakynthos, both large and noisy, and remote secluded coves.
We can say that both of these islands offer everything you need to relax - beaches, hotels, attractions, nightlife. In Zakynthos, it is worth seeing the Monastery of St. Dionysius and the Byzantine Museum, winged giants in the waters of the Ionian Sea. Crete has the famous labyrinth of King Minos, magnificent palaces and the Archaeological Museum.
Zakynthos is best suited for those who:
- does not want to spend a lot of time traveling;
- prefers secluded calm beaches;
- goes on a trip for just a few days;
- goes on vacation with children.
Crete is preferred by those who:
- prefers comfort and five-star hotels;
- wants to get a large number of attractions;
- ready to discover new places for myself every day;
- not afraid to spend a lot of time on the road;
- goes on vacation in May or September.
Regardless of which of the islands you prefer, you can be sure that your vacation on them will be bright, positive and unforgettable.
