The big island of Crete is like a separate nation within Greece, with a bit of everything, from party-hearty beach towns like Mallia (practically on top of the remains of the Minoan palace) to the sophisticated, expensive little city of Agios Nikolaos, or the natural wonders of the Samaria Gorge, the "real Crete" city of Chania, or the counterculture enclave of
Matala near the Roman ruins of Gortyn and the Minoan palace of Phaistos. The
Heraklion Archaeological Museum is world-class, and the Minoan site of Knossos is a must-see.
The interior is filled with steep mountains, obscure villages, the windmill-jammed Lassithi Plain, and some challenging roads. The southern coast is wilder, with some great retreat spots including nude beaches. Don't trust the maps - roads are much wigglier, often high-altitude, when you meet them in person. Exception: the north coast road from Iraklio to points east is freeway-wide and quick.
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