Crete in July

[igivein]

We’re thinking about going to Crete for the first week in July.
Never been before, but DS(11) has started doing classics at school and asked if we could go.
We’re not beach bunnies, prefer a bit of history and culture. Want to be somewhere where we can go to local restaurants and not be surrounded by Brits in football shirts looking like scalded lobsters, demanding pie and chips (I’m really not as up myself as that sounds 😁).
Where should we be looking?

Anybody?

Chania is lovely. We stayed in nearly Platanias which is a charming town with lots of nice restaurants.

Yes we stayed in Chania. Great sight seeing. Am not beach person either.

The western end of the island is less touristy (although there are resorts around Rethymnio and Chania). Inland a bit, if you're driving (which you will want to do if you want to visit ancient sites) is fairly quiet but there are some nice villages.

The south coast is very quiet (or was when I was last there). That might be a bit too desolate.

Lovely but it’ll be roaaasting

Thanks for this everyone, so the area around Chania definitely worth a look.
We thought it might not be quite as hot beginning of July, we were in Malta last year when they had a heatwave (40 odd degrees), even the locals were keeling over - don’t really want to play that game again!

Crete is as south as it gets in Greece and will be quite warm in July... In the shade 11-3, no sunbathing even though peak UV has passed but with sense will be very pleasant . big island so don't under estimated drive times.

Can't miss knossos among others. Place to avoid is agios Nikolaos ( no beach) and the kiddy drunk resort which I think is malia. Also the north coast resorts as I recall weren't full of character.

Thanks Specialsubject, yes Knossos was one of the main things we wanted to see.
Good to know where to avoid too.

We are going to Crete in early July, staying in a small beach resort on the western side. But we are definitely beach bunnies! Planning to hire a car though and see some of the historical sites.

Try Chania, Rethymno and the Knosos palace for the ancient stuff (near Hearklion). Basically the north of the island. Agree July will be roasting. We went mid May and it was already 28-30 degrees, more than warm enough