Crete’s sheer size can make deciding where to go a little daunting. This guide can help you decide which side of the island—from its rugged west to its less explored eastern reaches—is right for you.

Sitting between Asia, Africa and Europe, Crete is located around 200 miles south of mainland Greece. With an area of about 3,300 square miles, Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean.

Crete is a myth-stical island (see what I did there?) in Greece where gods were born, empires came and went, and lunch can last longer than a Minoan dynasty. It’s an island that refuses to be reduced ...