Hesitating between Crete or Menorca

Hi! We’d like to go away for 10 days around May 15th, either to Menorca or Crete—we don’t know either place. We love hiking, unspoiled nature, good food, swimming, and, if possible, avoiding crowds. We enjoy getting off the beaten track. Menorca seems ideal because it’s not far by plane from Lyon, but if Crete is really wilder and more beautiful in terms of landscapes, we can add an extra hour of flight time. Can you help us out? Thanks!

Hi Socrates, Philosophically, you’ll feel right at home in Crete 😉 Both islands are beautiful. One option for Menorca is to take the ferry from Toulon—Corsica Ferries

Hey! Both are beautiful, for sure. Just know they’re different in size—Crete is *much* bigger than Menorca—so if you’re not planning to rent a car, I’d recommend Menorca. I actually visited Menorca when I was in Majorca, and both islands are really lovely. Crete is amazing too, of course, but since it’s so much larger, I think you really need your own wheels to get around.

Maybe check out these blogs for ideas—we used them and were happy with them: here and here

Thanks for the reply—renting a car isn’t really an issue for me. What matters most is the wild side of these two islands. Which one is wilder? We love hiking in the most untouched spaces possible, with as little construction as possible. From what I understand, Menorca is wilder than Mallorca, but compared to Crete, I’m not sure. Thanks for your help!

In this case, I’d suggest visiting Crete.

Hi there, if I may, Crete is wilder, but not necessarily more beautiful! Personally, I prefer Menorca, but that’s just my totally subjective opinion!

Hi there, if I may, Crete is wilder, but not necessarily more beautiful! Personally, I prefer Menorca, but that’s just my totally subjective opinion!

Thanks for your reply—could you tell me a bit more? I’m really interested in why you prefer Menorca. Thanks!

Hi there! For me, no hesitation: Crete, why? Because it's much larger (11 times bigger) and more varied, with tons of hiking possibilities—the Samaria Gorge, Mount Ida at 2500m. Not to mention the archaeological sites...

Hi everyone! What we're really looking for isn't so much historical sites, but rather preserved nature with minimal urbanization for the beauty of the landscapes. Thanks for your thoughts!

Still can't make up your mind? Between Crete and Menorca. For Crete, you’ll need a car rental or a scooter—it’s a big island. Heraklion is a good base for a hotel or accommodation. My favorite spot was Chania. However, the tourist tax is pretty steep: 5 € per person per day. But overall, the trip is reasonably priced. I’ve been to Menorca, though it was a while ago. I’d say it was really charming, with typical spots and protected coves. Hard to say which island is better to visit. Either way, have a great trip!

" However, the tourist tax is quite high, 5 € / per person / per day. ":

Are you sure this tax is "per person"?

Hi there, The tourist tax was replaced in early 2023 by a new tax called the "climate crisis resilience tax." It’s charged per room per night, not per person per night. The amount is set each year based on the type of accommodation, its classification, and the period. It’s also specified that the host must provide the guest with a special receipt. More info: https://kdecouverte.blogspot.com/2024/01/grece-crete-telos-anthektikotitas-stin.html