Complete Travel Guide to Crete (2024)

With unspoilt beauty, a diverse mix of terrain and ancient treasures to behold; Crete is arguably the most distinctive of the Greek archipelago. This travel guide to Crete can help you plan the perfect trip to Greece.

One of the largest of the Greek islands, Crete’s wealth of vineyards and fertile lands means it is one of the few islands that could support itself without the help of tourism. Despite this, Crete offers everything you could want from a Greek island: beautiful beaches, wonderfully fragrant cuisine, remote lands and some of the friendliest locals you’ll meet.

The island of Crete is exceptional in many ways, mainly due to the diversity of its landscapes. Almost like a country of its own, Crete sits far south of the rest of Greece and whilst parts of the island are reminiscent of the nation as a whole, the island stands whole for its unmistakable culture and charming atmosphere. Setting it apart from the rest of Greece is Crete’s strong historical background as the island was the birthplace of the Minoans, the first advanced society in Europe, who ruled over 4,000 years ago.

In the north of Crete, you’ll find the city of Heraklion, the capital of the island, known for its picturesque Venetian port, outstanding historical landmarks and vast archaeological site, the Palace of Knossos. In the west, Rethymnon charms visitors with its distinct Venetian-influenced and more laid-back vibe. In the east, Agios Nikolaos remains one of the most popular beach destinations on the island.

Head inland in Crete and you’ll find the spectacular White Mountains, laced with magnificent hiking trails and drives. In the south is where Crete’s rugged landscape unfolds into high cliffs and gorges. Samaria Gorge, Europe’s longest gorge, offers some great hiking trails to enjoy on your trip to Crete.

Whilst the popular beaches, bigger towns and cities draw the most visitors, Crete’s charm spreads far and wide to villages where locals share their traditions, wonderful cuisine and generous spirit.

When is the Best Time to Visit Crete

Crete is blessed with the longest summers of all of the destinations in Greece. In Crete, you can be sunning yourself right up until October and you won’t be chilly paddling in the ocean off the beautiful beaches until early November. Crete is suitable to travel at any time of the year but the island’s typical tourism season is between April and mid-October.

Ultimately, there is no best time to visit Crete as it oozes beauty in all seasons. Boasting 300 days of sunshine a year, whatever time of the year you take a trip to Crete, you’ll be sure to have some sunny days.

However, to avoid the crowds and high summer heat, the best time to visit Crete is late spring or autumn. During this time, Crete’s weather is beautiful but you won’t be dealing with hordes of tourists. For visiting ancient sites and beaches, Easter to mid-June is the best time.

If you want to feel like this magical island is all yours, then it is best to visit Crete between October and March. The weather will be more varied, some days will be sunny and others will be blustery, but it will be uncrowded and peaceful.

Best Places to Visit and Unique Things to Do in Crete

As Greece’s largest island, there is a wealth of things to do in Crete, both within the cities of Heraklion and Chania as well as the island’s more secluded parts. Eating your way through the island’s delicious cuisine will take up the majority of your time, but in between meals, you can entertain yourself with these top things to do in Crete!

Explore the Best Beaches in Crete

As Greece’s largest island and the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean, Crete is not short of beaches. In fact, Crete is famed for its endless string of sand and skyscraper dunes. From the mega beach resorts to the hard-to-reach coves, Crete has a beach to suit everyone’s taste.

Balos Beach is one of Crete’s most famous; its abundance of pale pink and white shells which scatter the sand gives the illusion of a balmy rose-coloured beach fringed by shimmering turquoise waters. Perfect for families, Balos Beach is shallow for hundreds of metres so makes for great paddling.

Alternatively, Agios Nikolaos blends art, leisure and bustle with a touch of laid-back to create a charismatic, low-key town. The town is known for its abundance of eateries and its beaches such as Kitroplatia Beach.

Elafonisi Beach is Crete’s famous pink beach which has come to be adored by many. The island on which Elafonisi Beach is found is walking distance from the mainland and makes for an excellent day trip in Crete.

Trek through the Longest Gorge in Europe

Regarded by locals as a sacred place, hiking in the Samaria Gorge is an experience in itself. A vast 18 kilometres in length, the Samaria Gorge’s spectacular landscape and scenery dazzle every visitor. Throughout the hike, you’ll encounter a variety of wildflowers, winding trails and remnants of pretty villages and churches that are worth making a short stop. You may even meet the Cretan wild goat, the protection of which was the reason this national park was established.

Whilst this hike may be warm during summer, the views of the Libyan Sea at the end of the hike, as you sit in a local cafe with a Greek beer in hand, will make you sure of the fact that it is one of the best things to do in Crete.

Discover Europe’s Oldest City, Knossos and the Minoan Palace

One of the best things to do in Crete is to explore Knossos. One of the island’s must-see attractions, the Knossos Palace was the principal centre of the Minoan civilisation. Sitting just five kilometres south of Iraklio, Knossos is the second-most visited archaeological site in the country.

The Knossos Palace is linked to numerous thrilling legends such as the Labyrinth and the Minotaur and the story of Daidalos and Icarus. Knossos was continually inhabited from the Neolithic Period to the Roman times. It will have you thinking: “If only these walls could talk!”

Explore Crete’s Leper Island, Spinalonga

A Crete tour is to visit the small rocky island of Spinalonga which is also known as Leper Island. Offer the coast of Elounda, Spinalonga was a leper colony until 1957 before it was abandoned. Today, you can explore this island and its eerie ghost town whilst learning about its tragic past.

Dive into the History of Crete at One of its Many Museums

From the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the top museums in Europe, to the Archaeological Museum of Chania which is housed in a former Venetian Franciscan monastery, Crete plays host to a number of museums which illustrate the rich history of the island.

If you’re staying in the charming town of Chania, it is also worth visiting the Nautical Museum of Chania, home to an extensive collection of models of modern and ancient ships, war relics, memorabilia and paintings. If it’s less of the history and more of the biology you’re after, the National Museum of Crete in Heraklion highlights the unique environment of Crete and the Mediterranean.

Wander the Charming Streets of Rethymnon

Situated in the north of the Greek island of Crete, Rethymnon is a town that beautifully blends modern-day luxury with history. The old town’s Venetian harbour is filled with fishing boats bobbing in the water and fringed with taverns. Rethymnon’s old lighthouse will catch your eye as you get lost in its maze of alleyways, ornate doorways, mosques and pretty cafes.

Playing host to a collection of long, sandy, tropical beaches and known for its exquisite Cretan cuisine, Rethymnon is a great place to hang out on the island. Whilst it is the third-largest town on the island, Rethymnon feels less like a city than its westerly neighbour, Chania.

How to Get Around Crete: Drive Yourself, Taxi, Bus & More

Whilst compared to other Greek islands, it is relatively large, it’s very easy to get around Crete, especially so during the summer months. Whichever way you choose to travel around Crete, you’ll be constantly entertained by the stunning scenery and breathtaking landscapes that spread far across this island.

When arriving in Crete, you can fly into any one of its three airports: Heraklion, Chania or Sitia. Chania has an international airport and has an abundance of flights in and out of the airport each day. You can also arrive by ferry at one of Crete’s ports. Crete is well connected by ferries to other islands; on this 9-Day Athens, Santorini and Crete trip, you’ll travel from Santorini to Athens by ferry.

Car Rental in Crete

Driving yourself around Crete is one of the best ways to see the island; you can stop whenever you want and rule your own itinerary. Due to Crete’s diverse landscapes and mountainous terrain, many places around the island cannot be reached by public transport, so a self-drive trip in Crete gives you a lot more freedom.

If you do choose to drive yourself around Crete, make sure to watch out for the local animals and sharp curves the island is known for!

Getting Around Crete by Private Driver

Alternatively, if you don’t wish to drive yourself, you can design a trip with one of our Local Designers who will arrange a car and a chauffeur for the duration of your Crete trip. On this trip, you’ll have the luxury of a private driver who will escort you anywhere you like on the island!

Getting Around Crete by Taxi

There is an abundance of reliable taxis on the island of Crete. As always, it is best to make sure you agree on a price before hopping in the taxi. In Chania, Crete, you can expect to pay around 30 euros from the airport to the centre and in Heraklion, Crete, you can expect to pay no more than 16 euros from the airport to the centre with most inter-city taxi rides costing around 2-6 euros.

Getting Around Crete by Bus

Unlike other Greek islands, Crete has a very reliable local bus service run by a company called KTEL. The bus routes run through most of the cities in Crete including Heraklion and Chania and also lots of the smaller villages.

Local buses are a very affordable way to get around Crete and they also enable you to interact with locals going about their normal day.

Getting Around Crete by Boat or Ferry

There is an abundance of ferry companies offering routes to, from and around the island of Crete. Many offer routes from Athens to Crete as well as Crete to other islands such as Santorini.

On the island, you’ll also find lots of smaller companies which offer boat and ferry rides to and from different places around the island, such as the nearby small islands of Spinalonga or Dia.

Best Places to Stay in Crete

If you want to get lost in charming old towns and isolated Meditteranean villages, take a trip to Crete. If you want to explore majestic beaches and unique mountains, take a trip to Crete. From five-star boutique hotels to family-run inns and affordable, jaw-dropping resorts, choosing your Crete accommodation depends entirely on what you are looking for.

Which City to Stay in Crete: Heraklion or Chania?

If you’re looking for a lively city with plenty to see and do, then staying in Heraklion or Chania is the best option. First-timers to Crete should use Chania as a base as you’re likely to arrive into this airport and then you have the wonderful Venetian port to spend your evenings in.

When compared to Chania, Heraklion is more of a city complete with a buzzing nightlife, lots of restaurants and heaps of transport routes and options. On the flip side, Chania has more character than Heraklion and its old buildings, pretty beach and charming Venetian harbour make it very easy on the eye. Chania is where you’ll find the biggest concentration of accommodation on the island so is easily the best place to stay in Crete.

Best Place to Stay in Crete for Couples

If it’s beautiful, busy places you’re looking for, then head to Heraklion or Chania. But if you’re looking for a romantic escape to Crete, then several little towns and villages will suit you.

Sissi is one of the most romantic places in Crete, home to a natural inlet covered with palm trees and a small port. If you’re looking for secluded beaches, picturesque sights and a wealth of seafood restaurants, Sissi is the best place to stay in Crete.

Alternatively, there is the hippy town of Paleochora known for its slow pace and laid-back accommodation in Crete, as well as Maleme which is the perfect spot if you want to relax close to the beach and use it as a base to visit the nearby tourist destinations.

Best Place to Stay in Crete for Families with Young Children

When travelling to Crete as a family, it is best to avoid the bigger city of Heraklion and instead head to the charming city of Chania where there is much less traffic and a great beach. Alternatively, to get the most out of your family trip to Crete, you don’t have to stay in one of the island’s cities, you could stay in one of the island’s charming towns.

Standing apart from other towns in Crete, not in the distance but in the atmosphere, Agios Nikolaos blends art, leisure and bustle with a touch of laid-back to create a charismatic, low-key town that is the perfect place to stay in Crete for families.

If you’re looking for a beach holiday, then Gouves and its many beaches will not disappoint. Everything within the town will be within walking distance of your hotel so it is perfect for tiring the kids out before dinner.

Best Place to Stay in Crete for Nightlife

You may have heard about it already but Crete is known for its nightlife which excels itself in certain areas of the island. Malia is the hub of nightlife with bars and restaurants which sprawl out onto the beach and young holidaymakers which party on until the early hours. Whilst the party crowd in Malia is mainly British, in Hersonissos, the other party destination in Crete, you’ll find that the people here are a lot more international.

Best Place to Stay in Crete for Everything

If you’re looking to combine a little bit of everything, then there is one place besides the beach-less city of Heraklion, that will give you everything you could want from your Crete trip.

Situated in the north of the Greek island of Crete, Rethymnon is a town that beautifully blends modern-day luxury with history. The old town’s Venetian harbour is filled with fishing boats bobbing in the water and fringed with taverns.

Playing host to a collection of long, sandy, tropical beaches and known for its exquisite Cretan cuisine, Rethymnon is the best place to stay in Crete. Whilst it is the third-largest town on the island, Rethymnon feels less like a city than its westerly neighbour, Chania.

Must-Try Foods, Unique Delicacies and the Best Places to Eat in Crete

Crete is home to one of the oldest and most delicious cuisines in the world. The mere mention of its olive oil-drizzled bread, roasted mezze dishes and local cheese-stuffed pies are enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Whilst the cuisine is similar to that of the rest of Greece, the unique tradition of Cretan cooking puts a twist on this delightful gastronomy. From the classic dishes to the fresh traditional Greek salads, there won’t be much you don’t enjoy during your trip to Crete.

Olive Oil, the Ingredient That Keeps Greece Going

The island of Crete is home to over 1.5 million olive trees arranged in groves which scatter the countryside. Often referred to as ‘liquid gold’ in Crete, olive oil is incorporated into almost every dish whether it is cooked with it or drizzled over the top before serving it. As you drive around the island, wafts of olives from the groves will fill your nostrils.

Dakos, a Simple yet Delicious Salad

Found all over Greece disguised under various names, Dakos is a light yet filling salad that should be first on your list when you arrive in Crete. The simple mezze dish consists of olive oil soaked in barley rusks, topped with freshly grated tomato and a local creamy sheep or goat’s cheese known as mizithra.

Cheese Pies, Cheese Pastries, Cheese Pancakes and More!

From the southerly coastal region of Sfakia in Crete, the delicious Sfakia pies are actually more like pancakes. The dough includes raki (traditional liquor) and olive oil and it is served flat like a pancake.

Another pastry delight you must not miss when in Crete, is sarikopitakia. One of the most iconic foods in Crete, sarikopitakia are coil-shaped, sheep’s cheese-filled, filo pastries fried in olive oil (of course). They are served warm with honey on top!

Kalitsounia are traditional cheese pies made with filo pastry stuffed with spinach and other vegetables. If you want a sweet version, they’ll often include rosewater, cinnamon and sugar in the filling. Appreciated year-round, you must not miss these dishes on your trip to Crete.

Meat-Lovers, Crete Has Just the Food for You

Apaki is another must-try when in Crete. Left to marinate for three days in strong vinegar, the meat is smoked in aromatic herbs and spices delivering the smoked and salted pork meat known as apaki.

If you’re feeling adventurous, then fried snails or Chochlioi Boubouristi as they’re locally known should be top of your list. This typical Cretan dish is exactly what it says on the tin. Snails fried in olive oil and flour and doused in wine vinegar and rosemary to serve! Adventurous foodies will love this dish.

A Classic Greek Drink You Must Not Miss in Crete

Raki is a strong spirit made from grapes which is often served in local Cretan restaurants. Known as tsikoudia in some areas of Crete and is typically served in a shot glass on its own. Locals will drink this with mezze dishes so you should too!

The Cost of a Trip to Crete, Greece

The cost of your trip to Crete can be affected by a number of variations:

• Length of your trip
• The season or month you choose to travel in
• Accommodation class and type
• How many places you want to visit during your trip
• Number of activities or tours you take part in
• Expenditure on shopping and dining out

Ensuring your trip is within budget when trying to take all of these variables into account can be a little overwhelming. If you want to take the stress out of planning your own trip to Crete, our in-destination Local Designers are experts at designing unique trips that suit your budget, interests and travel style.

You can connect with one of our Local Designers in Greece who can design your trip for you based on your requirements. Taking care of everything from airport transfers to car rental pick-up, hotel and restaurant reservations, guided activities and tours, our Local Designers make planning a trip to Crete, or anywhere else in Greece, simple!

Design your own Greece trip with Designer Journeys and relax in the knowledge that every detail has been taken care of. Your trip will be full of unique local and cultural experiences on the island of Crete and many other places in Greece.

By specifying your budget, your Crete trip can be tailor-made to what is achievable for you.

As an example of a trip to Crete in Greece, this 9-Day Athens, Santorini and Crete trip costs around $2,761 per person and features:

• Five-star accommodation
• Ten guided activities
• Airport transfers and transport by private car
• Domestic flights
• Travel insurance
• Nine breakfasts and one dinner

By adjusting certain parts of a trip, you create a more budget-friendly trip. Where you choose to stay, how often you decide to move and how you choose to travel will all affect the price of your Greece trip.

Everyone has different interests, priorities and preferences when it comes to planning a trip to Crete in Greece or anywhere in the world for that matter. With Designer Journeys, you can browse our range of fully-customisable Greece tours and tailor any one of them to your preferences with an expert Local Designer. Or better yet, select what you want out of a trip using the ‘Design your Own Trip’ function and let a Local Designer create your perfect trip.

Festivals and Special Events You Can’t-Miss in Crete

Greeks excel at many things, but if there’s one thing that shines above the rest, that’s celebrations! Almost a nation on its own, Crete is big on festivals and special events and they occur throughout the year. Timing your Crete trip with one of these famous celebrations will be an experience you’ll never forget!

In addition to religious celebrations and holy days, Crete has festivals dedicated to wine, fertility, chestnuts, sultanas, culture, art and more!

Summer Festivals in Crete

At the end of April in Crete, the feast of Ayios Yiorgios, St George, the patron saint of shepherds takes place. Around this time, you can expect a lot of feasting and celebrations in the rural communities on the island.

The Summer Arts Festival in Heraklion continues throughout the summer months. One of Crete’s largest festivals, this festival brings together internationally-renowned acts for over 70 different ballet, opera and theatre performances.

In July, Crete celebrates one of its greatest produce: wine! The Rethymnon Wine Festival is two full weeks of wine tastings and dancing; it is simply marvellous. Come August, the Renaissance Festival comes to Crete and continues throughout September. Taking place in Rethymnon, the Renaissance Festival includes international drama and music performances.

Winter Festivals in Crete

In October, the Chestnut Festival takes place in western Crete in the village of Elos, which is aptly surrounded by chestnut trees. The festival celebrates the chestnut harvest and the locals come together in a small yet authentic celebration.

On the 28th of October, not just the island of Crete but the entire country celebrates ‘Ochi Day’. ‘Ochi’ means no in Greek and the public holiday celebrates the occasion when Greek General Metaxas gave this one-word response to Mussolini when he requested to bring Italian troops into Greece in 1940.

In December, it’s the town of Agios Nikolaos’ turn to host a wonderful festival. The Feast of Agios Nikolaos in Crete celebrates the patron saint of seafarers, Agios Nikolaos, through celebrations, plenty of food and music.

Your Perfect Tailor-Made Trip to Crete, Greece Awaits!

Take the stress out of planning your trip, whether it be for you and your spouse, your family or a group of friends. Designer Journeys’ Local Designers can tailor your trip to suit the needs of everyone in your party, with an assortment of locally-inspired and culturally-rich activities that few travellers have the chance to take part in.
Get inspired by our trips to Crete and other Greek islands on the Designer Journeys Designer Journeys destination gallery, or design your own trip from scratch by connecting with a Local Designer who can take care of it all.