Figures about Crete

Size of Crete: 8250 km² (excluding Gavdos). Crete is the biggest Greek island and the fifth biggest in the Mediterranean, following Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica.

Length of the Cretan coastline: 1020 km

Length of Crete: East to West: 250 km ; North to South: between 14 km-62 km

Mountain ranges on Crete: There are three mountain ranges; Lefka Ori (highest mountain of the range - Pachnes: 2452m), Psiloritis (Ida: at 2456m, the highest mountain of Crete) and Lashiti (Dikti 2148m).

Population of Crete: about 650,000

Population Density of Crete: 79 people per km²

Capital of Crete: Iraklio (also known as Heraklion)

Cities on Crete: Iraklio Crete (pop: 170,000), Chania Crete (100,000), Rethymno Crete (30,000), Agios Nikolaos Crete (10,000), Ierapetra Crete (9000) and Sitia Crete (8000)

Prefectures on Crete (in Greek: Nomos): There are four prefectures; Chania, Rethymno, Iraklio and Lasithi

Religion Crete: Greek-Orthodox (95%), Moslems (3%), Catholic (1%)

Economy in % of GDP Crete: agriculture 15%, industry 26%, services 59%; tourism is about 40% of the GDP

Electricity on Crete: Crete uses 220 volts as is common in Europe

Airports on Crete: There are three airports. Two of these are international airports, based in Airport Iraklio and Airport Chania, with one smaller airport in Sitia which is a domestic airport with very few international flights.

National Parks on Crete: Samaria National Park is Crete’s only National Park.

Olive Trees on Crete: around 20 Million

Sheep on Crete: about 3 Million

Goats on Crete: 100,000

Days with sunshine on Crete: 300 per year

Average Temperature on Crete: 18 degrees

Average daily high temperature on Crete: 22 Degrees

Species of Plants on Crete: about 2000

Indigenous Plant Species: 180

Important tickets for Crete

Some tickets for Crete can be bought in advance on the Internet. This improves the planning of your holiday and saves time as you don't have to queue up at the ticket offices or search for ticket sales points on Crete. Tickets for the 3 most important sights on Crete:

1. Excavation of Knossos, often long queues at the cash desk: tickets Click here

2. A good overview of bus tours to the famous Samaria Gorge, which can be booked online: Click here

3. Former leprosy island of Spinalonga. Various tickets, ferries, tours: Click here

See also: Many other tickets, excursions on Crete: Tickets Crete

Vaporetto Venice: the only public transport in the old town of Venice (ferries)