Crete is the largest island in Greece and home to postcard perfect beaches, colorful cities and historical sites. It is also one of the most unique island and unlike any other Greek island you will ever visit!
What makes it so unique? Oh well, this island has had a complex history of rule by various empires. Initially part of the Roman Empire, it was then ruled by Andalusian Arabs, Byzantines, Venice, and the Ottoman Empire. Finally, in 1898, Crete gained independence and eventually joined Greece. You will see the result of this confluence of cultures in some of the cities here.
There is a lot to see and do in Crete. You need to plan beforehand and craft the best itinerary. You can’t just get here and wing it😉
Usually, the first decision of any trip is picking the destination. Once you have narrowed down the destination, most of the other things flow. But with Crete, the decision-making process is endless. First you need to decide which port/ airport to land to (there are two on the island). Then decide where to stay – eastern or western part of the island. Once you have figured that out, then the next step is to choose between beachy resort areas (Agios Nikolaos, Voulisma, Loutro), charming harbor towns (Chania, Rethymno) or a historical city like Heraklion. Then comes the decision of whether to rent a car or sign up for day tours? Phew, the list is endless😰
In this guide, you will find all the practical information about how to make the most of your time on this island.
I visited Crete as part of my two-week island-hopping trip in May 2025. Click on the individual links for detailed guides on Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Athens.
Best Way to Reach
There are two ports in Crete. Chania is located on the western side of the island whereas Heraklion is on the eastern side. Heraklion to Chania takes 2 hours by car.
We took the ferry from Santorini and reached Heraklion port in 2 hours. Ferries to Chania may be limited/ may not be operational during shoulder season.
We used the website, Ferryscanner, to book our ferry tickets. On this website, you will find a list of different ferry operators. Select the one that fits your schedule and budget. Book your tickets in advance specially if you are traveling in summer months.
If you are coming from Athens, then the ferry can take almost 9-12 hours, with several stops along the way. So, taking a flight may be a better option.
Just as there are two ports on this island, there are two airports. You will find direct flights to both Chania and Heraklion from Athens and a few other European cities.
Depending on your itinerary, you can land in one port/ airport and fly out of the other.
How to Get Around the island
Unlike Cycladic islands where it isn’t essential to rent a car to explore the island, I highly recommend renting a car in Crete. It will make it a lot easier to discover this large island by yourself.
We rented our car through Europcar at Heraklion airport. We got off the ferry at Heraklion port and took the Uber to Europcar (the taxi ride cost us just €7). A four-day car rental cost €100. With all the day trips and long drives we took here, we ended up paying around €55 in gas.
The roads are in great condition and you will be driving along the coast most of the time. You get to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea. Since we visited in early May, we saw plenty of spring blooms on the drive. It was such a scenic sight.
If you do not want to drive, then sign up for day tours. However, keep in mind that if you are doing multiple day trips, the costs can add up and it may cost even more than a car rental. So do the math before you select either option 😊
Best Time to Visit
The main season runs from May to September. Water is at its warmest in June, July and August, making it ideal for swimming.
We visited Crete in the beginning of May, which was just the beginning of tourist season. The weather was in the range of 20-24 degree C and the beaches were the perfect temperature for swimming.
How Many Days to Spend
Crete is a very large island. Driving from western most part of the island to the eastern side can easily take 4 hours one way. So ideally, you should spend 7-10 days here.
But if you are short on time, try to spend a minimum of 4-5 days. With fewer days on hand, you need to pick and choose the places you want to see and skip a few.
We spent 4 days here and felt it was sufficient to see most of the main sights on this island.
Where to Stay
Given how vast the island is and the driving distances between places, ideally, you should split your stay between Heraklion/ Agios Nikolas and Chania/ Kissamos.
Heraklion is the largest city and capital of Crete. Chania is in the western region of Crete and if you ask me, it is the most charming town on this island. It is buzzing with shops, cafes and restaurants and has a beautiful waterfront too. Kissamos is slightly closer to the beaches and starting point for some boat tours, so if that’s where you are going to be spending most of your time, then set base in Kissamos for a few days.
We split our stay between Chania (3N) and Heraklion (1N).
For the first leg of the trip, we stayed at this lovely Airbnb close to Chania. It was within walking distance of the old town and had many cafes, bars, and restaurants nearby. Also, the hosts were the kindest and truly ensured we had the best time in Crete. If you are planning to stay in Chania, then just blindly book this Airbnb.
If you’d rather stay in a beach hotel, then Platanias town is a great choice. It is a 20-minute drive from Chania and has plenty of accommodation options right by the sea. The town of Rethymno also has some lovely beach resorts too. If your idea of a Crete vacation is to simply relax, then check out Grecotel Luxme White or Creta Palace hotels.
On our last night in Crete, we moved to this Airbnb in Heraklion since we were flying out of Heraklion airport. This Airbnb was around 10-12 minute walking distance from the old town and functional for a night’s stay.
Things to Do / Places to Visit
Chania
Chania (pronounced as haa-nee-uh) is one of the most charming cities in Crete. This town offers a unique blend of influences from various cultures that have occupied Chania throughout history. Chania was last ruled by Venetians before becoming a part of Greece in 1913. In fact, as you are walking around, you even see ruins of the Venetian Fort.
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The Old Town area is filled with winding alleys full of shops and restaurants. And trust me, you will want to stop at each of these alleys and snap away! They are just so charming.
Some more places to see here are the Church of Agios Nikolaos and the Old Chania Market. One other structure that stands out is Kucuk Hasan Mosque, an old Ottoman religious landmark. It serves as a prime example of Islamic architecture in a city influenced by many cultures. It is today used as an exhibition hall.
The Venetian harbor is a great place to catch the sunset. Grab a seat at any of the restaurants facing west and enjoy dinner with a view. Check out Pallas or Palazzo Alamare on the harbor. Or simply walk around and sit on the benches. This part of the town is buzzing with locals and tourists any time of the day but specially comes alive in evenings.
You can even walk all the way to the lighthouse to enjoy a different perspective of the old town and the harbor. Or simply admire the lighthouse from far.
Traveling with kids? Then check out a glass-bottom boat trip. You will find plenty of tour operators around the harbor.
There are a couple of beaches close to Chania. If you’re craving some adventure and views, drive to Seitan Limania located around 30 minutes from Chania. Drive down a steep and winding road and you will be greeted with an amazing view of Seitan Limania’s rocky cove, along with some mountain goats looking for a snack. You can hike down to the rocky beach and swim or just admire the views from the top.
Marathi Beach is yet another popular beach within driving distance of Chania. This beach is popular among families and offers amenities like sunbeds, umbrellas, taverns, and restaurants.
Lastly, you cannot leave Crete until you have tried the local treat, bougatsa. Bougatsa is a Greek custard pie in phyllo pastry that can be either sweet or savory. It is often served sprinkled with sugar/ cinnamon/ honey.
This delicacy was born at Iordanis, a pastry shop in Chania, in 1924. Here you can enjoy your bougatsa sweet (with custard) or savoury (with myzithra, a local goat and sheep cheese).
The other place to try bougasta is at Bougatsa Chania. You can only order one variety of bougatsa here, the traditional version made with mizithra cheese. You can add sugar and cinnamon to add a sweet taste.
Both places are neck in neck in terms of who sells the #1 bougasta in the city 😊 Since I have a sweet tooth, I tried it at Bougatsa Iordanis and loved it! Both are located just 5-minute walk from each other so you can try both and decide which one is better 😉
During our time in Chania, we also stopped by Red Jane Bakery to pick up baked goodies for our long beach days. This bakery has an amazing variety and is reasonably priced.
Like me, if you have a sweet tooth then head over to Koukouvaya. It is a bit of a drive from the old town but offers amazing views of the city. We ordered a pesto mozzarella sandwich and cheesecake here along with OJ and coffee. Given the views it offers, it would also be a great spot to come in the evening for sunset.
Carte Postale, another cafe located close by, also offers spectacular views of Chania.
Balos Beach
No trip to Crete is complete without a visit to Balos Beach. It is often listed among the best beaches in the world.
Around a year ago, I saw a photo of Balos Beach on Instagram and that’s when I knew that if I ever visited Greece, I had to visit this beach. And trust me, it looked even better in person!
But Balos beach is a little bit of an adventure to get to. I guess that is what makes this beach even more special 😊
If you have a car, your first option is to drive there yourself. Before the trip, I had read everywhere that the roads are in terrible condition, and it is not recommended to drive there. But we took a chance and drove there! The ride isn’t terrible, but it is not for the faint hearted. The last 7-8 km of the road to get to Balos is essentially a dirt road. 
Also, rental car companies warn against driving rentals on this road, as damage isn’t covered. But we saw plenty of cars driving here and I am sure, 80% of them were rentals.
Drive slowly and avoid rocks and ditches. We barely drove above 20 km/ hour but made it to the parking lot without a flat trye 😊 And by the time we left, there were about 100 cars in the parking lot! So, I guess we are not the only fools 😉
And while you may do a victory dance on reaching the parking lot, wait, the adventure hasn’t ended yet 😆 You need to hike around 25-30 minutes to get to the beach. Ensure you wear comfortable shoes (and not flip flops) and carry bottles of water.
Around 10 minutes into the hike, you get to this viewpoint – which is the perfect postcard shot from Balos. Don’t you agree?
We saw plenty of mountain goats enroute the parking lot and as we were walking down the beach. Some were casually chilling at the viewpoint and enjoyed getting papped by tourists 😂
Once you reach the beach, you can rent a sunbed for €20. But hey, I didn’t come all the way to simply laze around. We quickly changed and dipped ourselves in the beach. The water was shallow in most places and just the perfect temperature.
As you venture further in, you will even notice pink sand. Isn’t it just beautiful?
We spent close to 3 hours here and loved every minute of it.
Feeling hungry? Don’t worry, there is a small shack selling beverages, light snacks on the beach. You don’t get a wide variety of food here so better to carry your own snacks. We didn’t see any restrooms at the beach but there is a bathroom right next to the parking lot. You need to pay €1 to use it, so keep cash handy.
If driving a car here still makes you nervous, then sign up for a boat tour on Getyourguide or Viator. Tours depart from both Kissamos (40-minute drive from Chania) and Chania and last about 7-11 hours. The ferry also stops at Gramvousa, a small island enroute to Balos. The boat drops you directly at Balos beach, so no hiking is required. However, you may still need to hike 15-20 minutes if you want to see that postcard view of Balos beach and lagoon from above (which I highly recommend).
If you are driving back to Chania, stop by Gramvousa restaurant for a meal. It is located 30 minutes from Balos / 10 minutes from Kissamos. After a day of hiking and swimming, enjoy a well-deserved meal at a picturesque spot.
Gramvousa restaurant is a popular dining spot known for its traditional Cretan cuisine and beautiful setting. The restaurant features a rustic, traditional environment with stone walls and wooden furniture, offering a welcoming atmosphere. Every Cretan meal begins and ends with raki, so enjoy your complimentary bottle of Raki😉
We ordered fava beans, sourdough bread, fried sweeet pumpkins and Cretan gemista – tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, potatoes stuffed with rice and spices, and a flight of Cretan wines. We ended our meal with complimentary fresh fruit bowls, which you can pick up from the food counter at the end of the meal.
We had one of our best meals in Crete here.
Elafonissi Beach
Elafonissi Beach has been named the best beach in the world for 2025 by TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards. Didn’t I tell you Crete has the most beautiful beaches 😍
Elafonissi beach is renowned for its pink sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Here you can spend your day exploring, swimming and enjoying one of the prettiest pink sand beaches in the world. The water is shallow in most places, and the water barely comes up to your chest even in the deepest areas, making it one of the most kid-friendly beaches on the island. Plus, given that it is a lot easier to get to compared to Balos Beach, it can get crowded very quickly. But since it is a large beach, you can still manage to find space away from the crowd. If you prefer lounging/ sunbathing, you can rent sunbeds for €20.
As you are walking around the beach, you will see fragments of pink sand all over the shoreline. Although it isn’t a very bold shade of pink, it is hard to miss! The color pink is a bit light at the shore but as you venture further in, you will be able to see more patches of pink sand. The intensity of the pink color can vary depending on the time of day, lighting conditions and even the tide.
There are signs posted at the start of the beach warning visitors not to damage the natural environment by taking any of the pink sand. It is said that the beach’s pink sand has faded over the years due to visitors taking sand as souvenirs over the years ☹️ So, PLEASE DO NOT DO IT!
We explored the various coves of Elafonissi and spent couple hours swimming and lounging on pink sands. When we visited in early May, the water temperature was perfect for swimming.
There are a few shacks selling everything from cold drinks to alcoholic beverages, ice creams at the beach. We also saw a few tavernas selling proper food close to the parking lot. We saw a cute tavern enroute this beach (more on that later) so skipped grabbing any food here.
Now lets get to the logistics – how to reach Elafonissi Beach? From Chania, Elafonissi Beach is a 1.5 hour drive and from Kissamos, it is a 1 hour drive. There are multiple parking lots near the beach and from there, it is a 10-15 minute walk. We paid €5 for parking but just as we were walking to the beach, we saw a free parking lot right next to it 😑 So do not park at the first parking lot you see!
The drive from Chania to Elafonissi beach involves winding roads and is very scenic and unique compared to what you see on the rest of the island!
You will even spot stalls selling olive oil, honey, jams making it the perfect pitstop to stretch your legs and shop 😊 This part of Crete is very mountainous, with great hikes and gorges to explore, if you’re feeling adventurous.
As we were driving, we spotted a cute tavern, Tavern Spiliaraki Topolia, so decided to stop by on our drive back to Chania. The colorful hammocks made it super inviting and the Cretan food was very delicious! We ordered a Greek salad, bourek, tzatziki, bread and freddo cappuccino (since it was mid-day 😊) And as always, endless refills of raki😉
And with all these oranges on display, how can you not order an OJ 😂
If you do not want to drive, you can always sign up for a day tour from Chania.
Falasarna beach
This beach is a lot more accessible than both Elafonissi and Balos beaches and an easy addition to your Crete itinerary.
Falasarna Beach doesn’t tend to get the same attention as Balos and Elafonissi, but it rightfully deserves a spot in every Crete itinerary. Just like Balos and Elafonissi, you can spot hints of pink sand here. And the best part is that the water here is perfect for swimming, unlike in Balos and Elafonissi where it is shallow.
You can also rent sunbeds and umbrellas here if you want to relax on the beach. There are several restaurants/beach bars in the area.
Falasarna is located in the west, making it one of the best places to watch the sunset in Crete.
This beach is located 50 minutes from Balos Beach / 1 hour from Chania. So, you can even combine your visit to Balos and Falasarna on the same day.
Rethymno
This is a picturesque coastal town that is home to stunning beaches and historic sites.
One of the main highlights here is the Old Town, a charming area filled with narrow streets, Venetian architecture, plenty of restaurants, shops and endless bougainvillea. You can easily spend the whole afternoon here, wandering around and discovering all it has to offer.
Don’t forget to stop by the Venetian Fortezza Castle and the Venetian Harbor, both of which offer lovely views. Also, check out the Rimondi Venetian Fountain, a small water fountain from Venetian times that supplies drinkable water to this day.
During our visit, we stopped by Koo Koo Brunch café for a little cake and coffee break. Picked up a raspberry lemon poppyseed cake and to date, I still dream of it 😊
Lake Kournas
Lake Kournas is the only freshwater lake in Crete and is surrounded by lush green hills and small villages. The turquoise blue water of the lake is a visual treat and makes for a peaceful getaway.
One of the most popular things to do here is to rent a pedal boat and explore the lake from a different perspective. If you pedal to the other side of the lake, you can even spot turtles. Isn’t that so cool? We were a bit tired so skipped this but I have seen photos of turtles so definitely give it a shot if you have the time.
You will find plenty of restaurants and cafes around the lake to grab a bite to eat or have a drink. Since the water here is shallow, this lake is frequented by families with young kids.
Heraklion
Heraklion is the biggest city in Crete. Though the harbor area is pretty, the town itself lacks the charm and character of Chania/ Rethymno.
But since Heraklion will either be your starting or end point in Crete, it is worth spending a few hours to explore the main sights.
One of the most popular spots is Rocca a Mare Fortress, which dates back to the 16th century and offers great views of the sea and city. Even if you don’t plan to go inside, it is worth walking around and admiring the architecture.
Some other places worth checking out in Heraklion are the Morosini Fountain, the Venetian Loggia, the Church of Agios Titus, and the Church of Agios Minas.
It was the last town I visited on my trip so couldn’t leave without having one last bite of bougasta. I grabbed a table at the Phyllosophie’s which is located right opposite Morosini Fountain. Since I had already tried the sweet one, I went for savory bougasta sprinkled with cinnamon and honey and enjoyed people-watching in the square.
Palace of Knossos is probably the island’s best-known attraction. In fact, after the Acropolis in Athens, Knossos is the most important ancient ruin site in Greece! As the former center of Minoan society, Knossos Palace has been around since around 1900 BC, though people are thought to have settled in the area where the palace was built since 7000 BC. The site itself was reconstructed and restored around 1900. Throughout the site, reconstructed walls, stairs, windows, and columns give visitors a sense of what the palace may have looked like so many centuries ago.
You can buy your ticket online in advance or on site. I would also recommend joining a guided walking tour to learn more about the history and significance of this archaeological site.
Knossos Palace is less than a 10-minute drive or a 25-minute bus ride from Heraklion.
Other Places to Visit
Since we were in Crete for just 4 days, we couldn’t see everything on this island. But if you have additional days in hand, then these places are worth adding to your itinerary.
Samaria Gorge
If you are an adventurous soul, then check out Samaria Gorge. It is a 16-kilometer-long national park, known for its dramatic scenery and challenging hiking trail. This gorge is the longest in Europe and features diverse flora and fauna, including unique plant species and wild goats.
However, note that this requires a full day since it involves almost 6-7 hour hike.
Preveli Beach
This secluded beach is situated along Crete’s southern coastline and is less than 45 minutes from Rethymno.
It’s also a unique sight to see from above as this is where the Kourtaliotis River flows into the sea, forming a mini-lake and palm tree forest. A few steps from the parking lot will take you to stunning views of the beach and river.
Argiroupoli
It is located 30 minutes’ drive from both Lake Kournas and Rethymno. This village is famous for its many small waterfalls scattered throughout the area.
Matala Beach
This famous beach is known for its unique rock formations and caves.
Agios Nikolaos
This seaside hotspot is among the most sought-after vacation destinations in Crete and has a lovely, laid-back feel to it.
Voulisma Beach
A quick 15-minute drive from Agios Nikolas will bring you to this beautiful half-moon-shaped beach with crystal-clear waters and soft golden sand.
Vineyards and Olive Oil Tasting
There are plenty of farms here which offer olive oil tasting for a fee. Check out Biolea Astrikas Estate and Vassilakis Estate. Prior reservations are necessary before your visit.
*All prices as of May 2025