Crete holidays

Cretan dishes are based on traditional Greek cuisine with a unique twist. It's the local produce that determines the flavour: unique cheeses, mountain herbs and greens, fish, bulbs, Cretan oil and raki (a grape brandy).

Almost every Cretan village has a typical cheese to dazzle your taste buds. Normally made from goat's or sheep's milk, or both, the legendary Graviera is a milder cheese when new, but bursts with nutty flavour as it ages. For something lighter, myzithra has a much milder taste.

Crete is home to cultural specialities such as Dakos, a type of meze or salad reminiscent of bruschetta, served with barley rusk, softened with olive oil or water, and topped with fresh tomato and myzithra cheese. Here, dakos goes by many names, such as koukouvagia (owl) or kouloukopsomo (puppy bread). Don't let the names fool your taste buds!

Greek cuisine wouldn't be complete without a succulent lamb dish, and in Crete, Stamnagathi lamb won't disappoint. This dish consists of lamb sautéed in oregano and hot olive oil in the middle of the green stamnagathi plant, topped with a lemon and egg sauce called avgolemono.

Raki is a traditional Greek brandy served on almost every occasion. The national drink of the Cretans, it is consumed as a symbol of friendship and social communication. Raki is created in autumn, after the grape harvest, and compressed from the residue of freshly pressed grapes. It has an average alcohol content of 30-40% by volume. Of course, the Cretans have enjoyed wine for centuries. Traditionally, the wine was homemade, tinged with a golden-brown colour. Over the last decade, the wine industry has developed considerably in Crete, with sophisticated varieties coming from several vineyards in the region. All drinks are available, from ouzu to Greek coffee and freshly squeezed fruit juices.

Music and dance play an important role on Greece's largest island. Their lively rhythms and melodies are made up of the essential elements of traditional Greek music, including the Lyra, a three-stringed bowed instrument, and the Laouto, a long-necked flute. But most important of all is the ability to improvise complex music that adapts to the crowd.

One of the traditional Cretan dances is renowned for bringing everyone together at parties and special events: the Syrtos. This is a simple but effective circle dance in which people hold hands and move to a rhythmic pattern. Other traditional dances include the Pentozalis, a solo male dance, and the Siganos, a slow, graceful dance.

It's no surprise that football dominates the Greek nation, and fans became even more numerous after winning the European Championship in 2004. The Cretan national team Omilos Filathlon Irakliou Crete FC, or OFI Crete, can be seen at the Heraklion stadium. Many Cretans also support British teams and some bars broadcast sports matches during the day so that the exciting games taking place in their country are not missed, even on Crete. Basketball shares almost the same love of the sport since the national basketball team won the European Championship in 1987. The other most admired sports are oil wrestling, kickboxing, athletics, rugby and motor sports.

Crete is a shopper's paradise, with the most comprehensive range of products on offer. For chic gifts, clothing and accessories, as well as an elegant brunch in an authentic atmosphere, head to Crete's main town centre. The intersection of Dikeosinis Street and Liberty Square, in particular, is a great place to find an eclectic variety of shops such as Jack & Jones, Zara and Marks & Spencers. If you fancy a little bazaar haggling, head to 1866 Street for jewellery, souvenirs and accessories.