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Crete Facts

Name

Crete - Kríti - Κρήτη

Crete Facts – Location

Location of Crete in Greece



Crete is the southernmost island of Greece in Europe.

Crete is located in the Mediterranean Sea at 35◦N 24◦E, it is one of the largest Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterreanean.

Location of Crete in the Mediterreanean




Geography

• The population of Crete is approximately 620,000.

• The island of Crete is 260 km long, 60 km wide at it's widest point and 12 km wide at its narrowest point.

• The area of the island of Crete is 8,336 sq km.

• The highest point on the island is Mt Ida, also known as Psiloritis, at 2,456m.

• To the north of the island is the Sea of Crete, to the south the Libyan Sea.

• The major ports on the island are at Souda Bay, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia.

• The major airports are at Chania, Heraklion. There is a smaller airport at Sitia.

• The major mountain ranges include the White Mountains, Psiloriti Range and the Dikti Range.

Crete Facts – Maps

Below is a wonderful interactive map of Kriti.

Google Maps JavaScript API Example

Just click on the zoom buttons, at the top left, to get closer to Crete or further out, to the whole of Greece.

Click on the arrows at the top left to move in whichever direction you need. Double click to centre. You can choose a street map, a satellite image or a mixture of the two, (called hybrid).

Click for more on Crete maps...

Climate

Crete Climate Chart



The island of Crete experiences both Mediterranean and North African climates. An average of 300 days of sunshine a year. Crete has mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.






Click here for more on Crete’s climate…

Currency

Crete's currency is the Greek Euro.
The code is EUR.
The symbol is €.




Weights and Measures

Metric measurements are used. For example, distances are in kilometres and weights in kilograms.


Crete Facts – Language

The official language of Crete is Greek. There is a Cretan dialect called Kritika with sounds, accents, words and phrases differing from modern Greek. Dictionaries and texts are available in this dialect, and it is spoken by Cretans in both Crete and the diaspora.

Capital

The capital of Crete is Iraklion, located in the centre north of the island, with a population of over 150,000 it is a bustling port city with an international airport.

Click here for more on Iraklion...

Prefectures

Pefectures of Crete

Crete is one of the 13 Peripheries of Greece, and in turn has four prefectures. The prefectures, from west to east are:

Chania
Rethymnon
Iraklion
Lasithi

Click here to see a map of Kriti with information markers

Crete Facts – Main Towns

Main towns apart from the capitals mentioned above, include

Kastelli Kissamos
Paleohora
Mires
Agia Galini
Hora Sfakion
Sitia
Ierapetra

Click here for more on our beautiful Cretan towns…

Time

Crete time is equal to GMT/UTC +2


Crete Facts – Getting to and from Crete

Details on travelling to Crete...



Crete Facts – Getting around in Crete

Details on travelling within Crete...



Declared Holidays 2011

January 1st New Years Day
January 6th Epiphany
March 7th Clean Monday
March 25th Independence Day
April 22nd Orthodox Good Friday
April 23rd Orthodox Holy Saturday
April 24th Orthodox Easter Sunday
April 25th Orthodox Easter Monday
May 1st May Day
June 13th Holy Spirit Day
August 15th Assumption Day
October 28th Oxi Day
December 25th Christmas Day
December 26th St. Stephens Day



Useful Telephone Numbers

Emergencies

Ambulance 166
Directory enquiries 131
Fire brigade 199
Police 100
Roadside assistance 10400
Ambulance 166



International

Country Dialing Code+30
International access code00



Transport

Aegean Airlines80111 20000 www.aegeanair.com
Athens Airport 21035 30000www.aia.gr
Bus Schedules www.ktel.org
Ferry Scheduleswww.ferries.gr
Chania Airport 21035 30000
Iraklion Airport28102 82025
Olympic Airlines 20111 44444 www.olympicairlines.com
Roadside Assistance (ELPA)10400 www.elpa.gr



Crete Facts – Store opening hours

Banks:
8am to 2.30 Monday to Thursday
8am to 2pm on Friday

Shops:
8am to 2pm Mon Wed Sat
8am to 2pm and 5.30pm to 8.30pm Tues Thurs Fri

Supermarkets tend to keep longer hours.


Crete Facts - Hospitals

Crete has excellent hospitals, mainly located on the northern coasts of the island near the four major town centres. See location map below and names and addresses of the hospitals also below.

Chania Hospital in Crete, Greece

The Chania General Hospital Agios Giorgos "St. George" (above) is situated in the outskirts of the city of Chania, near Mournies village.

The word for hospital in Greek is nosokomeio νοσοκομείο.

List of Major Hospitals in Crete, Greece

AreaHospitalAddress
Chania Agios Giorgos General HospitalMournies, Chania
RethymnonRethymnon General Hospital17 Trantalidou St, Rethymnon
HeraklionVenizelio Hospital Knossou Ave, Heraklion
Heraklion University General Hospital Voutes, Heraklion
Agios Nikolaos Agiou Nikolaou General Hospital Knossou St, Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi
NeapolisDialinakio General HospitalNeapolis, Lassithi
IerapetraIerapetra General HospitalKalimeraki, Ierapetra, Lassithi
SitiaSitias General Hospital Sitia, Lassithi




View Larger Map








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