Crete vs Turkish Riviera: Choose a destination for a perfect beach holiday

Crete is the largest Greek island, located at the south-east of the Mediterranean Sea, with Egypt to the south and Mainland Greece to the North. The Turkish Riviera is on the westernmost coast of Turkey, facing the Mediterranean Sea and the Greek islands to the west, and Cyprus, Lebanon and Syria to the South.

Crete and the Turkish Riviera are neighbours, but Crete, as part of Greece, belongs to the European Union, whereas Turkey does not.

Crete has an excellent climate, with temperatures from April to October ranging from the 20s to late 30s Celsius. It’s blessed with a fairly constant sea breeze, making temperatures in the hottest months of July and August feel much more comfortable than other places with similar temperatures. The Turkish Riviera also has a very warm climate, but it gets quite a lot hotter in June, July, and August. Averages in these months are in the late 30s, and temperatures have been known to reach as high as 47 degrees Celsius.

Both Crete and the Turkish Riviera get quite cooler from about October to March, and the highest chances of rainy weather are in the winter months. The Turkish Riviera sees a lot more rain than Crete in it's rainy season between November and March with an overall annual precipitation of 1060 mm on 60 rainy days. On Crete the annual precipitation is about 480 mm on 50 rainy days.

Crete is well known for its excellent beaches. On Crete, you’ll find small, secluded beaches; large, organised beaches, and outstanding natural beauty. Whether you’re looking for water sports and beach bars, or wild, unspoilt coastline, Crete has something for everyone

Visit Balos beach in north-western Crete for its turquoise waters, soft white sand, and to enjoy the view of an island with a splendid Venetian Castle. Elafonissi is another stunning beach on the south-western side of Crete. It’s famed worldwide for its outstanding beauty, with soft, white and pink sand, and with cedar trees reaching the coastline. Falassarna is a large beach to the west of Crete, which is ideal for families with kids, with its organised facilities, soft sand, and the archaeological site of ancient Falassarna standing above it. Preveli, on the south coast, is an exotic lagoon. There’s a palm-tree oasis with crystalline greenish waters, and a river which meets the sea here. Vai beach is on the north-eastern side of Crete, and it's surrounded by the largest palm tree forest in Europe, with around 5,000 trees.

The Turkish Riviera boasts fewer beaches than Crete, but it has some excellent ones. The beaches are usually a combination of sand and pebble. Most beaches on the Turkish Rivera are organised and have hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shops lining them. A lot of the beaches offer activities, such as water sports.

To the west of Antalya is a seven-kilometre-long stretch of light-coloured pebble beach, Konyaalti Beach, which is popular with young and old, holidaymakers and locals alike. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and bars along the promenade and a backdrop of the Beydaglari Mountains. To the east of the old town of Antalya lies the beautiful Lara Beach with crystal-clear waters, sun loungers, food and drinks, and an exhibition of impressive sand sculptures. Other highlights include Moonlight Beach, with its impressive mountain backdrop, and Belek beach, a popular location lined with hotels and offering plenty of water sports, beach volleyball, and food and drink options.

On Crete there are no special customs that should be observed, unless you plan to visit a christian monastery, where long trousers and skirts are expected. Cretan culture is open and very family-oriented, especially in the villages. Cretan men and women both enjoy drinking alcohol and having a sing and a dance. However, the police are strict about rowdy or indecent behaviour, and drugs are not tolerated.

Where shopping and eating out is concerned, Crete is typically European. Final prices are displayed on items, and bartering is not the norm, even for locals. Shopping is the same as in other European countries: you won’t be approached by people soliciting business when looking around towns and villages, and there won’t be pressure from Cretans to buy when browsing.

Greeks are famed worldwide for their warm and genuine hospitality. Since the ancient times, hospitality has been woven into the Greek culture. Greeks are naturally warm, welcoming, and friendly. They’re direct and open, and always happy to welcome guests and make them at home.

Turkey is a Muslim country, and if you would like to visit mosques or holy sites, it would be wise to pack a long-sleeved shirt and long skirt or trousers. Additionally, a majority of locals, particularly women, do not typically drink alcohol. Tourists are free to drink alcohol, however, and it’s sold freely in resorts.

Turkish people are also very welcoming and hospitable to tourists and will often approach you to try to persuade you to choose their establishment. They’re very friendly, delighted to have your custom, and often playful and ready to share a joke with their customers.

Turkey has a culture of hustle which may be experienced by some visitors as unpleasant. Guides, restaurant owners, shop owners, photographers and various people selling products or services may approach you and pressure you to buy items or services. Sometimes these approaches can start in a friendly way and then become unpleasant. It’s good advice to ignore even seemingly friendly approaches from the outset and be firm straight away in refusing items. If you do wish to buy something, be prepared to barter for it if you want a fair price. Bartering typically starts with the owner offering you the item at an inflated price. You then suggest a price lower than what you are prepared to pay, and both of you agree on something in the middle.

Both islands have a range of accommodation options, including hotels, apartments, and villas, to suit every budget and preference. However, the specific types and locations of these options differ, as well as the tourist infrastructure and density.

Crete is a much larger island and appears less densely developed than Mallorca in terms of tourism. In Crete, you will rarely find large multistorey hotels on the beaches like you do in Mallorca. Crete offers simpler, less built-up accommodation in a more traditional style as a rule, and you can find simple rooms in quiet complexes very inexpensively. The larger, high-end hotels are often very tasteful and sensitive to the environment around them, and they follow the same culture of hospitality that has always existed in Crete but on a more lavish scale.

Mallorca has over 2,000 hotels, with beds for 300,000 guests! The accommodation varies, and you can find sophisticated 5-star hotels, cheap hostels and guesthouses, apartments, and basic rooms in ordinary houses and stunning villas. Nevertheless, because of the popularity of this destination, particularly during peak season, flying to Mallorca is recommended only if you have already reserved rooms somewhere, as you may struggle to find a room otherwise.

Mallorca has experienced overtourism in certain areas, particularly in the popular tourist destinations of Palma de Mallorca and the southwest coast. In recent years, there have been efforts to address overtourism on the island, including measures to limit the number of tourist beds and promote sustainable tourism practices.

Both Crete and Mallorca have a range of local and international dining options, but the specific cuisine and specialties vary.

Dining in Crete

Crete is known for its traditional Greek dishes and local ingredients, such as olives, feta cheese, and lamb. The island has a range of restaurants that serve traditional Greek cuisine, as well as more modern and international options. Crete is also known for its local wines and spirits, such as raki and ouzo.

Eating out is usually fairly inexpensive in Crete, and the portions are always generous. There are options for all budgets, with fish restaurants usually being the more expensive – but it is well worth spending that little extra because of the quality of the fish. In a tavern, generously portioned meals for two typically cost between 20 and 40 Euro, and in higher-end restaurants between 30 and 70 Euro.

You can eat a very hearty meal very economically (5 – 10 Euro per person) at a place for souvlaki– which is a kind of Greek kebab, which usually consists of chicken or pork on a skewer accompanied by home cooked chips, bread, and fresh salad – and another popular choice is ‘gyros’ which is typically chicken or pork on a spit that is then ‘shaved’ off and served in a Greek-style thick pita with salad, tzatziki or mustard-mayo, and chips.

If you have vegetarians and vegans among you, Crete is an excellent destination – you’ll have none of the usual trouble of one member of the family being disappointed with their dining options. All Greek tavernas offer plenty of tried-and-tested vegan and vegetarian options. The Greek diet is generally “flexitarian” with vegetarian/vegan dishes eaten several times weekly by many Greeks. You never have to worry about hidden animal fats, either – as traditionally everything is cooked in olive oil.

Don’t miss out on savoury pastries from the bakery with your morning or afternoon iced coffee: tiropita – cheese pie with feta, spanakotiropita – spinach pie with feta, kaseropita – yellow cheese pie, zambonotiropita – ham and cheese pie, and loukanokopita – sausage roll – all well worth a try. Coffee typically costs 1.50 - 3.50 Euro, and pastries are within the same price range.

There will be range of options for international cuisine in Crete, particularly in the popular resorts and high-end hotels. However, the key in Crete is to sample as much of the local cuisine as possible.

Dining in Mallorca

In Mallorca, you will find local delicacies alongside plenty of options for international cuisine. For breakfast, you can sample the local pastries, which include the famous ensimada, a puff pastry bun, very light in texture – like a croissant, owing its lightness to the use of lard (pork fat) in the dough - coated in powdered sugar. Another popular option is cocas, a tasty sponge cake. Coca is actually Mallorca’s traditional dough – made with flour, water, olive oil, yeast, and salt – and it is used to make many dishes. Coca de trempó is another great snack option, combining trempó, Mallorca’s traditional salad of diced onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes and coca into a kind of baked pizza bread without cheese. Mallorca is also famous for its sausages and selection of local cheeses, and of course, no trip to Mallorca would be complete without sampling the local paella and tapas.

If you’re looking for a quick meal, tapas, offering small appetizer-style plates of traditional Spanish cuisine, is a great option that can keep you going until dinner – which is famously very late in Mallorca. However, there are also many popular chain fast food restaurants on the island if you are looking for something cheap, quick, and familiar. The cost of eating out in Mallorca is typical of south-western Europe: a three-course meal will typically cost around 30 – 50 Euro and small tapas dishes typically cost between 3 and 5 euro per piece. Coffee typically costs 1.50 – 4.50 Euro, and a fast-food set would cost around 7 – 8 Euro.

Both Crete and Mallorca offer very good transportation options for tourists, but if you want to fully explore the islands' stunning natural beauty and ancient ruins, renting a car will give you the most freedom. However, depending on your preferences and plans for your trip, either island's public transportation may be suitable for your needs.

Sightseeing around Crete

Heraklion is at a central point between the east and west of the island and a good base from which to visit both sides. It’s a busy working city – bursting with life, day, and night – and not the best choice if you’re seeking peace and quiet. A must-see attraction nearby is Knossos. You’ll feel like Indiana Jones when you step into this ancient Minoan world. The palace of Knossos was built around 4000 years ago! This is the home of King Minos, the labyrinth, and the Minotaur. When you see it with your own eyes, you’ll be stunned that something so ancient and mythical is still so beautifully intact, with painted scenes of a lost civilization on the still-erect walls of the palace. Incredibly, Knossos is only 5 km from the city of Heraklion, and you can take a bus there in just 20 minutes. If you’re staying farther afield, chances are that your hotel will run a tour to Knossos.

A good base on the wilder eastern side of Crete is the relatively quiet seaside town of Aghios Nikolaos. A popular day trip is a visit to the island of Spinalonga, which was the basis for the popular historical novel “The Island”, by Victoria Hislop. Another favourite is the cave of Diktaion Andron, also known as “Zeus’ Cave” – full of stalactites and epic scenery, with a steep uphill walk for hikers and intrepid explorers. If you do not have a rented vehicle, you can access these sites by joining a tour organised at your accommodation or by companies operating in the resort where you are staying.

On the more developed west of the island, there are more options for those who are looking for a stroll around a picturesque old town with plenty of dining options easily on hand. The delightful old towns of Rethymno and Chania are unforgettable, with their colourful Venetian and Ottoman architectural influences, stunning harbours, and narrow back streets full of traditional Greek charm.

Sightseeing around Mallorca

Mallorca is well equipped to deal with the influx of tourists it sees each summer and so it has an excellent system of buses that can get to you to destinations across the island efficiently. In addition, a lot of Mallorca’s cultural sites are in the city of Palma, where you can spend a day or more looking around without the need of a vehicle.

A favourite attraction is the imposing Cathedral of Santa Maria Palma, a large, impressive, and highly ornate gothic cathedral, seated on the Roman citadel of the old city of Palma, overlooking the Parc de la Mar and the Mediterranean Sea. Another is Bellver Castle, a gothic style castle on the hill about 3 km west of Palma. It offers impressive history and views of the island for those who visit. In Palma there is even a hop-on-hop-off bus tour which will take you around all of the city’s main attractions.

For those who wish to explore natural wonders, Mallorca also has caves to explore with stalactites and stalagmites. The caves of Drach and the Arta Caves in particular are very impressive examples. They can get very busy during peak season, though, as they are a popular attraction, so go early to avoid queuing and not to be rushed through your tour. If you want to escape the crowds, Mallorca has a great hiking trail in the Serra de Tramuntan, a craggy mountain range stretching across the north-west coast of the island and offering magnificent views from the peaks of the island and sea below.

For many holidaymakers, a big part of the vacation experience is the nightlife. Both Crete and Mallorca have a vibrant nightlife scene, but there are some differences to consider.

Nightlife in Crete

On Crete, the type of nightlife on offer depends on the resort you are staying at. Nightlife ranges from very quiet in the smaller villages to very lively in some large tourist hotspots and the big cities. There is one resort, Malia, which is a youth tourist destination, where you will find young people from the U.K., Europe and all over the world having the typical package- style holiday, and the resort is geared toward them, with bars and clubs offering inexpensive alcohol and hotels offering plenty of entertainment.

Outside of Malia, the rest of Crete is rather different, with the large cities and popular resorts offering lively but more civilised options – bars (usually coffee shops by day) with a gentle buzz, tasteful music ranging from deep house to rock, pop, and traditional Greek rebetiko. Crete does not have a binge-drinking culture, and is very family friendly, so you will see whole families out 'till late, children playing in the village square, families strolling down the beachfront, teenagers getting icecream, crepes, and waffles; adults eating and drinking in large lively groups.

Nightlife in Mallorca

Mallorca also has a youth hotspot called Magaluf, which is best avoided unless you are looking for a binge-drinking holiday with youths from the U.K. and across the world. Even outside of Magaluf, Mallorca is generally a lively and busy island with an abundance of bars and nightclubs.

Palma itself has a very lively nightlife. The Old Town, La Llonja, and Santa Catalina host some of the liveliest places. In the summertime, there is plenty of life at the Paseo Marítimo, down by the marina, with loud music playing along the mile-long stretch of bars and crowds overflowing onto the streets.

Mallorca is visited by a lot of luxury yachts and very wealthy people. Some of the smarter marinas, such as Port Adriano, Puerto Portals, Cala d'Or, Port de Soller and Port d'Andratx, are very busy during the peak season, and these are where you’ll find the high-end restaurants and bars, with a stunning backdrop for al-fresco dining. After dinner, you'll find a few latenight bars for visitors of all ages.

How to get to Crete

Crete has two international airports – Heraklion Airport (HER) and Chania Airport (CHQ). Heraklion airport is on the north coast of the island near Heraklion, the largest city and administrative capital of the island. Chania airport is situated in the north-west, a few kilometres east of picturesque town of Chania. Having two options makes accessing locations across this large island easier. You can get a direct flight to Crete from major UK and European airports between April and November. It takes around 4 hours to get to Crete from the UK.

Travelling to Crete can be more challenging in the winter months, but it can be easily reached via Athens, either by connecting flight or ferry. Travelling by ferry is a fun and refreshing way to explore Greece all year round.

How to get to Mallorca

Mallorca has one international airport, Palma de Mallorca, but flights from the UK and Europe are plentiful and reasonably priced. Overall, Mallorca is a much more tourist-dense destination than Crete, meaning flights are very frequent in summer and easy to come by all year round. The busy airport is situated near the capital. It takes 2.5–3 hours to get to Mallorca from the UK, depending on which airport you’re coming from.

Mallorca can also be reached by ferry from Barcelona and other Spanish ports, as well as from Italy and North Africa.

Language

The official language of Crete is Greek, and the official language of Mallorca is Catalan. Most Cretans, especially in the tourist resorts, speak English quite fluently and they often speak German or French as well. In Mallorca most people also speak Spanish, and people working in tourist-facing roles speak English as well.

Currency

The currency used in Crete and Mallorca is the Euro (EUR). The Euro is the official currency of the European Union (EU) and is used by a number of countries in Europe, including Greece and Spain. It's worth noting that the Euro is a strong and stable currency, so you can expect to get good exchange rates when converting from other currencies. However, it's always a good idea to check the current exchange rate before traveling to ensure you have a good understanding of the relative value of your money.

Both islands are both typically European in the sense that prices will be displayed on items, and barter is not typically used even by locals.

Electricity

Both Crete and Mallorca use the same type of electrical plugs and sockets, which are known as Type C (Europlug) and Type E (Schuko). These plugs and sockets are used throughout Europe and are compatible with appliances that have two round pins. It's worth noting that the electrical voltage in both Crete and Mallorca is 220-240V, which is the standard voltage used in most of Europe. Some appliances may not be compatible with this voltage, so it's a good idea to check the voltage requirements of your appliances before traveling.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for Crete and Mallorca depend on the country you are traveling from and your nationality. Both Crete as part of Greece and Mallorca as part of Spain are located within the Schengen Area, which is a group of European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. This means that if you are traveling from another Schengen country, you will not need a passport to enter Crete or Mallorca. However, if you are traveling from a non-Schengen country, you will need a valid passport to enter Greece or Spain. It's worth noting that both Crete and Mallorca are popular tourist destinations and have a high influx of visitors from various countries, so it's a good idea to check the latest entry requirements before traveling to ensure you have the necessary documentation.

Local time

Crete, as part of Greece, is located in the Eastern European Time Zone (EET) and observes Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) during the summer months. The time in Crete is 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This means that when it is 12:00 noon UTC, the local time in Crete is 14:00. During the summer months, Crete observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) and moves its clocks ahead by 1 hour.

Mallorca, as part of Spain, is located in the Central European Time Zone (CET) and observes Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer months. The time in Mallorca is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This means that when it is 12:00 noon UTC, the local time in Mallorca is 13:00. During the summer months, Mallorca observes DST and moves its clocks ahead by 1 hour.