Things to do in Crete Greece

The largest Greek island, Crete, is located in the southernmost area of the Aegean Sea. It can take from 5 to 6 hours to drive from one tip of Crete to the other, and as you can imagine, such a big island offers plenty of opportunities for any kind of vacation.

Whether you’re into beaches and sunbathing, water sports, hiking, cultural experiences, or gastronomic trips, Crete has it all.

There are mountains, gorges, plateaus, forgotten villages, cosmopolitan cities, and romantic old towns. There are sandy beaches, pebbled shores, and jaw-dropping cliffs plummeting into the sea.

No matter what you’re looking for, you are bound to find it in Crete.

So now let’s explore the best things to do in Crete.

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General information about Crete

The Greek island of Crete does not belong to any group of islands; it forms a group of its own with a few small islets off its coast.

Crete is divided into four different regions.

Heraklion

Heraklion occupies a central position and is the most populous regional unit.

Heraklion is also home to the capital of the island, also named Heraklion, which is the fourth most important city in Greece.

Chania

Chania, the second region in importance, is located on the western portion of Crete. It is well-known for its majestic beaches, some of them among the most famous in Europe.

However, Chania is also known for the imposing Samaria Gorge, a 13-km-long gorge and one of the longest gorges in the continent.

In Chania, there is also one of the most beautiful old towns in Greece, with Venetian and Turkish influences.

 

Rethymnon

Rethymnon is the third region in Crete; it is situated between the regions of Chania and Heraklion and hosts the highest peak in Crete, Mount Psiloritis, gorgeous beaches, and important monasteries.

Its small old town, also known as Rethymnon, is a picturesque seaside settlement with lively alleys and colorful Turkish and Venetian houses.

Lasithi

Finally, the fourth region in Crete is located on the easternmost extreme of the island. The region of Lasithi hosts a unique palm beach forest and beach, solitary roads, and a wonderful climate.

It is the part of the island with the sunniest days. The capital of Lasithi is Agios Nikolaos, a fantastic small town on the northern coast facing the Sea of Crete.

How to Get to Crete

It is fairly easy to reach Crete from virtually any place in Greece.

The island has two international airports and different ports and is connected to Athens using several daily ferries and flights from Heraklion and Chania.

The ferry takes about 8 hours (it is often an overnight trip), while the plane is about 50 minutes.

Crete is also connected to many European and Middle Eastern countries during the summer season, with flights arriving directly to Chania and Heraklion.

Those coming from the US should first stop in Athens (or any other European hub) and board a plane to Crete.

 

Where to Stay in Crete

All four regions offer great accommodation opportunities and are a good starting point to explore Crete.

Crete is an island that is better seen driving your car since public transport is mostly limited to the northern coast while the best beaches are on the southern coast, across the mountains.

If you’re looking to explore imposing archaeological sites, such as the Palace of Knossos or the Palaces of Phaistos and Malia, then Heraklion is the best place to stay.

Those interested in exploring the beaches of the West Coast, such as the pink sand beach of Elafonisi or the paradisiac Balos Beach and Lagoon, will prefer a stay in Chania, from where it is easier to visit the best beaches in Crete but also to explore the White Mountains and trek in dozens of fantastic gorges for people of all fitness levels.

 

Rethymnon is a better fit for younger travelers; this is the main university town on the island, so the region appeals to a younger crowd.

Finally, if you are looking for a peaceful stay with gorgeous solitary beaches and amazing natural landscapes, then Lasithi might be the best option for you.

Best hotels in Crete

The offer of accommodation in Crete is ridiculously wide. There are hotels and resorts for all tastes and budgets, as well as different vacation homes and villas for rent.

As usual, the sooner you book, the easier it is to find affordable rates and availability.

Sofia Hotel: Located in the center of Heraklion, this is a 3-star hotel within walking distance from the center of town, offering a seasonal swimming pool, a pool snack bar, and a restaurant.

It has comfortable guest rooms with balconies, and there are dozens of bars, shops, and restaurants less than 200 meters from the hotel. Book a room at Sofia Hotel now

Sala de Faro: This is a gorgeous boutique hotel in the heart of the old town of Chania, close to the city beach and the Archaeological Museum of Chania. The property boasts rooms with a relaxing seating area. Book your room now at Sala de Faro hotel in Chania.

Palazzino di Corina: A historic boutique hotel that is located in Rethymnon old town and only minutes from the city beach.

The property is on a quiet street; it offers a terrific outdoor pool and 29 carefully restored guest rooms with spa bathtubs. Everything is within walking distance from the Venetian port and castle. Book now: Palazzino di Corina hotel

Elounda Palm Hotel & Suites: A fantastic resort in the most exclusive town of the Lasithi region, Elounda, this amazing hotel is situated a 10-minute walk from the beach.

It features a family-run restaurant and a lounge bar, as well as a large outdoor pool and magnificent Mediterranean gardens. There are rooms with shared and private pools, everything no more than 7 km from the town of Agios Nikolaos. Make a reservation at Elounda Palm Hotel & Suites now!

Best Places to Visit in Crete

Minoan Palace of Knossos

The most remarkable place to visit on the island is the outstanding Minoan Palace of Knossos, located a little more than 10 km from the center of Heraklion.

Knossos is one of the biggest archaeological sites in Europe, dating back to the Bronze Age. Knossos is thought to be the central place where the Minoan civilization thrived on the island, maintaining commercial routes with the whole of the Mediterranean, including Santorini, Egypt, and Syria.

On the archaeological site, you will be able to admire the fantastic buildings in the archaeological complex.

To better understand the immense archaeological site, it is always a good idea to book a guided tour; it won’t only allow you to skip the long lines, but it will also provide the right context for you to learn more about the past of the island and its enigmatic inhabitants.

To complement the visit, I suggest that you head to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion right after the visit to check the important findings from Knossos and other sites around Crete.

 

Pink Sand Beach of Elafonisi

If beaches are what you are looking for, Crete won’t disappoint, starting with the incredibly beautiful Elafonisi Beach, a famous spot on the island that has often been included among the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Its most important characteristic is the sand featuring pale tones of pink in contrast with the sparkling turquoise, calm, and shallow sea.

The beach of Elafonisi, like all the best beaches in Crete, is located on the southern coast of the island, around 70 km from Chania town.

 

Balos Beach and Lagoon

Another gorgeous beach you will find in the Chania region, this time about 55 km from the town, is Balos Lagoon.

The most exotic beach on the island, Balos stands on the tip of a wild peninsula, and it can only be reached by car, driving along a narrow dirt road, or by boat, with a peaceful daily cruise that will also take you to explore the small uninhabited island of Imeri Gramvousi.

The cruises to Balos leave every morning from the port of Kissamos (about 50 km from Chania town), and it is always a good idea to book the trip in advance.

Balos Beach is a lagoon with very shallow, emerald green waters.

The area has some basic organization, but it is always better to pack a lunch and enough to drink to spend a comfortable day relaxing by the sun and swimming in its mesmerizing waters.

 

Chania Old Town

One of the most beautiful cities on the island and often classified as the prettiest city in Greece, Chania Old Town is a place you cannot miss when traveling to Crete.

The old settlement features a unique Venetian district, a Turkish quarter, an Egyptian lighthouse, a Jewish district, and a romantic old port with romantic cafes and top vistas of the Sea of Crete.

Here, you will be able to discover the urban landscape of the town, which mirrors the long years of foreign domination that Crete underwent for centuries.

Mosques, minarets, an ancient synagogue, stone-paved alleys, and colorful Venetian palaces make Chania one of the most mysterious and attractive places to visit in Crete.

Rethymnon Old Town

An unmissable gem on the island is the old town of Rethymnon, another former Venetian settlement with more clear Turkish reminiscences in some of the townhouses that date back from the years when the Ottoman Empire ruled over the island. 

In Rethymnon, you will be able to explore one of the best-preserved fortresses in Crete, several antique mosques, minarets, and beautiful boutique hotels once homes of important Venetian merchants and rulers.

Since Rethymnon hosts one of the most popular universities on the island, the city caters to a young public with dozens of discos, beach bars, pubs, and other venues that make nightlife in Rethymnon always fun.

Easy to navigate, friendly, and vibrant, the old city of Rethymnon is an excellent destination for solo travelers.

It is also a good departure point to visit both the east and the west since its strategic position allows for shorter driving times to many interesting landmarks on the island.

Elounda and Spinalonga

Tucked away on the northeastern coast, Elounda was once a tranquil fishing village that, as time went by, developed into one of the most exclusive resorts on the island.

However, this small town managed to retain its calm and relaxing character.

This pretty seaside town is home to a gorgeous sandy beach facing the calm waters of Mirabello Gulf, where it is possible to discover one more remarkable site on the island, the islet of Spinalonga.

Despite its tragic past as the last remaining Leper Colony in Greece, Spinalonga is a beautiful islet that was abandoned back in 1957 when a cure was found for the terrible disease and the last patients left the island.

The abandoned settlement, now an archaeological site, can be visited by boarding a boat at the port of Elounda or in the nearby town of Plaka.

Vai Beach

Another fantastic spot to visit is the unique palm tree forest and beach of Vai, on the easternmost coast of Crete, in the region of Lasithi.

Vai is the biggest palm tree forest in Europe, and it is one of the most popular, although isolated, beaches on the island.

To get to Vai, it is necessary to travel from Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos to the coastal town and Sitia, and then drive or board a bus that will leave you a few meters from the beach.

Samaria Gorge

Hiking, trekking, and mountain climbing are just a few of the hundreds of outdoor sports and activities that you can do on the island.

Crete has a fantastic mountainous landscape made of imposing peaks, breathtaking canyons, chestnut forests, olive groves, vineyards, plateaus, and valleys.

Hiking the Samaria Gorge is one of the most attractive and popular activities in Crete.

Thousands of tourists travel from Chania to the Omalos Plateau to start the 13-kilometer-long (8 miles) walk through the gorge that takes you from the northern to the southern coast of Crete through the high White Mountains.

The hike, which normally lasts about 6 hours, ends about 3 kilometers after the end of the gorge, in the coastal town of Agia Roumeli, where visitors board a ferry that takes them to the city of Chora Sfakion.

From there, it is possible to take a bus or taxi to return to the city of Chania.

Loutro

After trekking across the gorge of Samaria, you can either take a boat in Agia Roumeli to reach Chora Sfakion, or you can descend from the boat a few stops before and discover the paradisiac fishing town of Loutro.

Perched on top of an amphitheatrical bay with incredibly clear waters and a pebbled beach, Loutro has the same enchanting charm as many Cycladic villages on the Greek islands.

Whitewashed houses, blue doors and shutters, and a peaceful atmosphere enhanced by the fact that this settlement can only be reached by boat or hiking since there are neither roads nor cars in Loutro.

Cretan Diet and Local Wines

One of the most characteristic traits of the island is its cuisine. With roots in the healthy Mediterranean diet, food in Crete is extremely simple but incredibly tasty.

For centuries, Cretans have eaten only what their land produced: fresh fruit and seasonal vegetables, abundant grains and pulses, olives and olive oil, as well as little meat and fish.

Wise use of herbs and spices adds a touch of flavor to cheese pies and vegetable pies, while rich thyme honey is the best secret to sweeten yogurt and cakes.

All of these elements combine to give life to the spectacular Cretan diet. 

Moreover, the island is home to a unique vineyard, boasting over twelve unique grape varieties such as Vidiano, Vilana, and the red Kotsifali, which produce original wines you can taste in the over 50 different wineries scattered all over Crete.

An extra word needs to be said also about tsikoudia, a strong, local spirit produced on Crete that you cannot miss tasting after lunch or dinner in any local tavern.

Enjoy your journey to beautiful Crete!

Learn more about traveling to Greece

Which are the Best Beaches in Greece?

When is the Best Time to Visit Greece?

Foods to Eat in Greece

Mykonos vs Santorini – Key Differences

Itinerary For 3 Days In Santorini

Mini Guide to Athens (including where to stay)

10 Best Islands to Visit in Greece

Things to do Mykonos Island

Best Day Trips from Athens

Travel Guide to Corfu Greece

Travel Guide to Rhodes Greece

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