This is the Hania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Crete guidebook.

A land of giant mountains, grandiose legends and memorials to great battles past, Crete’s west is presided over by the romantic port city of Hania, filled with boutique hotels, interesting shops and some of Greece’s best restaurants.

• stroll along Hania’s splendid Venetian harbour
• maps
• relax on the fine pink-cream sands of Elafonisi
• transport
• enjoy live Cretan music and the laid-back vibes of Paleohora
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Hania & Around, Southwest Coast & Sfakia, Lefka Ori & Samaria Gorge, Northwest Coast.

This is the Iraklio Province chapter from Lonely Planet’s Crete guidebook.

Iraklio is home to Crete’s top-rated tourist site, the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Priceless treasures unearthed here, and at the many other Minoan sites around Crete, have catapulted the archaeological museum in the capital city of Iraklio onto the world stage.

• stand in awe of Minoan artistry at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of Greece’s most incredible museums
• maps
• discover resurrected varietals on a wine-tasting excursion in Iraklio Wine Country
• transport
• make a date with King Minos at the cradle of Minoan civilisation, the Palace of Knos-sos
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Iraklio & Around, Knossos, Agia Pelagia, Fodele, Central Iraklio, Arhanes & Around, Iraklio Wine Country, Myrtia, Zaros, Southern Iraklio, Gortyna, Phaestos, Agia Triada, Matala & Around, Lendas, Northeastern Coast, Gournes & Around, Her-sonisos, Malia.

This is the Lasithi Province chapter from Lonely Planet’s Crete guidebook.

Crete’s easternmost region is home to the island’s top resorts: Agios Nikolaos smoulders with cosmopolitan cool, while just around the bay, Elounda tiptoes between luxe and relaxed. This is also the wildest region, with the richest biodiversity and the least trampled ranges.

• explore Byzantine frescoes, a rugged canyon and an ancient city-state in the charming vil-lage of Kritsa
• maps
• trek through Kato Zakros, a dry riverbed flanked by cliffs where the Minoans buried their dead
• transport
• settle in for a chill session among the palms on one of Crete’s most famous beaches, Vaï
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Northern Coast, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Spinalonga Peninsula, Plaka, Kritsa & Around, Lasithi Plateau, Tzermiado, Agios Georgios, Psyhro, North-eastern Coast, Istro & Around, Gournia, Mohlos, Sitia, Moni Toplou, Eastern Coast, Vaï, Itanos, Palekastro, Zakros & Kato Zakros, Southern Coast, Ierapetra & Around, Myrtos.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Crete, Crete’s Top 15, Need to Know, First Time Crete, What’s New, Accommodation, If You Like..., Month by Month, Itineraries, Outdoor Activities, Eat & Drink Like a Local, Family Travel, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Crete guidebook.

Your journey to Crete starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on family travel.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about outdoor activities
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Crete, Crete’s Top 15, Need to Know, First Time Crete, What’s New, Accommodation, If You Like: Bewitching Beaches, Enchanting Villages, Ancient Sites, Food & Drink, Museums, Month by Month, Itineraries, Outdoor Activities, Eat & Drink Like a Local, Family Travel, and Regions at a Glance.

This is the Rethymno Province chapter from Lonely Planet’s Crete guide-book.

Wild beauty Rethymno is peppered with historic sites and natural wonders. Ribbons of mountain road wind through the timeless interior, passing fields of wildflowers and traditional hamlets cradled by olive groves.

• explore the charismatic maze of the Venetian-Ottoman quarter before diving into Rethym-no’s gourmet eateries
• maps
• take a long lunch in Argyroupoli before wandering through Lappa’s old town and exploring Roman ruins
• transport
• learn why Moni Arkadiou is so important to the Cretan soul
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Rethymno & Around, Argyroupoli, The Hinterland & Mt Psiloritis, Mili Gorge, Chromonastiri, Moni Arkadiou, Margarites, Perama, Anogia, Mt Psiloritis, Coast to Coast, Armeni, Spili, Southern Coast, Plakias & Around, Myrthios, Preveli, Agia Galini & Around, Northeastern Coast, Panormo, Bali.

This chapter contains the History, The Cretan Way of Life, Minoan Art & Culture, The Arts, Nature & Wildlife, Directory A–Z, Transport, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s Crete guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, art and culture to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and lesbian travel-lers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversa-tions with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on the extraordinary art and culture of the Minoans
• info on rebel songs and Nobel Prize laureates – Crete’s art, literature, music and dance
• full coverage of how Minoans, Romans, Venetians and Ottomans have shaped this cradle of European civilisation
• details on the fierce, proud, charming and independent Cretan people and their way of life

Coverage includes: History, The Cretan Way of Life, Minoan Art & Cul-ture, The Arts, Nature & Wildlife, Directory A–Z, Transport, and Language.