The largest of the Greek Islands, Crete is a long, thin strip of land with a spine of rocky mountains. All around the island are gasp-inducing beaches, such as the turquoise lagoon of Balos on the Gramvoussa Peninsula and the soft pink and white sands of Elafonisi, where the sea is warm and you can wade out for around 300 metres in the shallows. Along the northern coast you’ll find a string of lovely towns and cities to visit: charming Chania, bustling Heraklion, peaceful Agios Nikolaos and romantic Rethymnon, while in the south the sleepy villages are ideal for exploring.