Rhodes or Crete: which Greek island is right for your next holiday?
Greece is sprinkled with an endless supply of gorgeous islands, each with its own look and personality, but all offering the same irresistible laid-back rhythm.
Two of the biggest and most varied are Crete in the South Aegean and Rhodes in the Dodecanese, with their winning mix recipe of near-guaranteed sunshine, alluring beaches, taverna life, family activities and ancient history. But which is right for you? We've squared off both islands to help you decide.
Getting to Greece: find great value breaks to both Crete* and Rhodes* with Jet2holidays, which offers breaks to Greece* from airports across the UK.
Battle of the beaches
Crete* has the edge. In the South Aegean, the biggest Greek island has long, hot summers that drift lazily into autumn and a whopping 650-mile coastline. Palm-fringed bays, flour-white sands, turquoise coves; you'll find the lot here.
Down south, seek out wild, rugged Preveli, backed by the river-veined Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Reach it on foot by tripping down a steep path to the sea. A stone-skim east, cliff-clasped Agios Pavlos is a delightful crescent of creamy sand sliding into a jewel-coloured sea.
Head to Crete's easternmost tip for two treasures. First up: Vaï, with its great arc of golden sand flanked by a date palm grove that gives it a Caribbean vibe.
It's crazily popular, so either come in the low season or arrive at the crack of dawn to dodge the crowds. Far quieter is Xerocambos, where narrow roads snake through rocky heights and down to a necklace of gold-sand coves.
Go west to flop on lovely Balos, a lagoon-like beach with startlingly turquoise waters swirling into white sands and, dropping south, Elafonissi, with pink-hued sands easing into shallow waters so azure they look Photoshopped.
Moving over to Rhodes*, there's a beach to suit every mood and moment, too; from party-mad Faliraki*, with three miles of Blue Flag sands and water sports, to quieter, prettier Afandou*, where pebbles gently shelve into a brilliantly blue sea.
Other northeastern stunners include Ladiko, a sweep of sand backed by tree-cloaked hills. This shoulders up Anthony Quinn Bay, a photogenic half-moon of pale sand and translucent sea, where scenes from the 1961 film The Guns of Navarone were filmed. Both are crazily popular, so avoid rocking up in peak season.
Family-friendly holidays
Crete is brilliant for families, with sandy, gently shelving beaches, kid-friendly activities, water sports and plenty of chilled places to eat and drink. Top billing goes to Hersonissos* (home to Aquaworld Aquarium) and prettily Venetian Chania* in the north as well as Elounda and Agios Nikolaos further east.
Nature takes centre stage. In the island's rugged interior, kids love diving into ancient legends exploring Dikteon Cave, the alleged birthplace of Greek god Zeus. Here steps twist deep into chambers encrusted with stalactites.
In a quiet valley further west, mountain-rimmed Lake Kournas is ideal for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. Or rent a pedalo and take the whole family out for a splash across its turquoise waters, keeping eyes peeled for turtles.
Fort-topped Rethymno* is a terrific springboard for taking the kids on a half-day trip to castaway coves, caves and rock formations. Hop aboard the Captain Hook pirate ship for the full-on Robinson Crusoe fantasy.
More outdoor action, you say? Saddle up a horse, pony or donkey in Plakias for a gentle trot through olive groves, mountains and along south-coast shores.
Or for more of a challenge with older kids, hike the sensational Samaria Gorge through Crete's White Mountains, a 16-km trek between towering rock walls to the Libyan Sea.
And what kid doesn't love a water park? One of the best is Acqua Plus near Heraklion in the north, with pools and tons of whizzy slides and flumes, including hair-raising ones like Kamikaze and Tsunami.
Rhodes is a surefire kid-pleaser, too. On the north coast, boats judder across to Blutopia Marine Park, where you can swim with thousands of fish, snorkel with bottlenose dolphins and discover uninhabited islands.
In summer, skip further north to the Valley of the Butterflies, where kids are entranced by storm clouds of colourful butterflies that are drawn to the storax trees in waterfall-splashed woods straight out of a fairytale.
For older kids, there's action on the water. In Pefkos* (near Lindos), Lepia Dive takes eight-year-olds under the sea with Bubble Maker lessons.
And kids over 12 have a blast at east-coast Stegna, with Paddle Paradise leading four-hour SUP adventures that involve snorkelling, cliff jumping and sea cave exploring. Or for a splashy, fun-filled day, try Faliraki Water Park.
By night, the dark skies glitter with stars and at the Rhodes Observatory, you can peer up at constellations and distant galaxies through giant telescopes.
Historic heights
If you would put Crete and Rhodes in the ring to battle it out in the history stakes, both would emerge victorious. These islands are jam-packed with castles, Venetian-Ottoman towns and archaeological sites whisking you back to ancient times and swirling in godly legend.
First up on Crete is the unmissable Palace of Knossos, mythical home of King Minos and the Minotaur. These spectacular ruins are all that is left of a Bronze Age palace that was once the beating heart of Minoan civilisation on the island 4000 years ago.
It's popular, so visit when the site opens at 8.30 am to avoid the crowds. Knossos can easily be tied in with a visit to nearby Heraklion Archaeological Museum, a 15-minute drive north. Exhibits canter through 5,500 years of history from Neolithic to Greco-Roman times. The stash of Minoan treasures, including frescoes, pottery and jewellery, is superb.
On the north coast, Rethymno* is an enticing slice of living history, with its mazy, alley-woven, bougainvillea-draped old quarter taverna-lined Venetian harbour and star-shaped Venetian fortress. Climb to the top for far-reaching views over the mountains and Med.
Not to be outdone, Rhodes packs a mighty historic punch for an island of its size. The showstopper is Rhodes Town* and its UNESCO World Heritage walled medieval city, where the Knights of St John made their mark in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Mosques, synagogues and churches all sit side-by-side. Avoid peak summer season for a less-crowded feel when ticking off big-hitters like the Knights' Quarter, fortified Palace of the Grand Master and outstanding Archaeological Museum in what was once the Hospital of the Knights.
Just west of town, atop Monte Smith, check out the atmospheric Hellenistic ruins of the Acropolis of Rhodes.
With its tangle of narrow alleys and white cubic houses tumbling down the hillside to a glimmering turquoise sea, Lindos* in the island's south is an instant heart-stealer. Climb the steep path to the impressively preserved remains of the town's Acropolis, crowning a headland, which was first fortified in the 6th century BCE. The Knights of St John added ramparts and towers.
Island flavours
You'll find the taverna dream on both islands, where pitchers of local wine are paired with the likes of meltingly tender lamb, boat-fresh seafood and mezze including taramasalata (fish roe), dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), tzatziki (yoghurt, cucumber and garlic) and keftedhes (spicy meatballs).
Crete wins when it comes to wine, though. The island has one of the world's longest viticulture traditions, reaching back to the Bronze Age. And in 4,000 years they have learned plenty.
Pop a cork in Heraklion Wine Country, a hilly, vine-ribbed region sprinkled with dozens of family-run wineries. These fling open doors for tours and tastings of wines produced from distinctive Cretan grapes like Mandilari, Malvasia and Kotsifali.
One of the best is Douloufakis. Here standouts include Vidiano sparkling wine, with apple, apricot and honey aromas, and citrusy, herby Amphora Vidiano, a white wine naturally fermented in a clay amphora.
For some of the finest tavernas on the island and uplifting views out to sea, head to the warm-stone hill town of Maroulas and go alfresco at Taverna Katerina, serving up a farm-fresh feast of homemade cheeses and olive oil and meats grilled to perfection over charcoal.
With tables set up right on the sand, Thalassino in Chania has knockout sunset views and some of Crete's most stunning seafood; the lobster spaghetti and squid with crushed fennel and green olives are incredible.
Rhodes might not have the same cachet as Crete for wine, but viticulture is on the up. Swing along twisting roads to the village of Embonas on the slopes of Mount Attavyros to try organic tipples at wineries offering free tours and tastings, such as Kounaki.
Its award-winning drops include oaky whites and sweet orange wine made with sun-dried grapes that is pure nectar. While here, check out some properly authentic tavernas dishing up classic Greek cooking.
Alley-woven Rhodes Town is packed with tavernas, many of which open onto prettily lit terraces or courtyards. Favourites include Mama Sofia, right in the medieval heart, where classic dishes like souvlaki, seafood mezze and lamb kleftiko (baked with onions, carrots, peppers and feta) are done well.
If fresh fish rocks your boat, head instead to Kerasma in a restored mansion by the sea to try spot-on island dishes like grilled octopus with fava bean puree and honey-vinegar sauce.
Compare weather
Use the graphs below to compare the weather in both destinations. Find out more about the climate in Rhodes and the climate in Crete as well as conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Greece.
Rhodes vs Crete
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- Hours of sunshine
- Days with some rainfall
- Monthly rainfall
- Sea temperature
Maximum daytime temperature (°C)
Hours of sunshine per day
Days with some rainfall
Monthly rainfall (mm)
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