Need a break from the daily grind, then let us help you plan a Crete holiday. Me and my fellow travel bloggers will be giving you the low down on all the must-see places and things to do on Crete, Greece’s largest island.
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Athens to Crete
If you are flying to Crete internationally like I was, then most of the flight routes will include a stop in Athens. The flight from Athens to Crete is pretty short at just under an hour for both of Crete’s international airports. But, if you’re like me, then you can use this stopover to your advantage. Plan to stay in Athens for at least a day if not more depending on what you want to do. Blog post on things to do in Athens coming soon.
Airports in Crete
There are 2 major international airports in Crete. Chania international airport located on the west side of the island and Heraklion airport located on the east side of the island. Depending on where you want to stay and what you want to do, this will help you decide which of these 2 airports in Crete is located ideally for your needs.
Things to Do on Crete
If you know me (or my family), you know there’s always a story to go along with everything. My trip to Crete was no different. I was just finished with my residency and in my first official job as a pharmacist. Just getting started, acclimating, and getting to know my co-workers when one of the receptionists asked if I wanted to go to Greece. She had planned a girl’s trip for 10 and all but her two best friends bailed. So, with an extra villa in Crete at the ready, there would be room for me too. It was a little scary because I had never left the country, and this was my first international trip. Thankfully, my mom being the traveler encouraged me to go for it. So, I got one of my best friends to come with me and off we went.
I learned a lot from that first trip like how to pack, what to pack, and especially what not to pack. Basically, I packed as many suitcases as were allowed on the flights and up to the maximum weight limit allowed and in luggage with NO wheels or reliable handles. So, after dragging the heaviest duffle bags known to man along the ground and escalators of the Athens metro station and along the sidewalk on our way to the hotel, I learned my lesson. Just because you can pack it, doesn’t mean you should. Now, I can pass on my nuggets of travel wisdom and life experiences to help make traveling easier for you. You can read all about how I prepare for international travel in my Montreal post.
My Crete holiday was spent in Hersonissos and our tour and exploration of nearby Heraklion, so you'll be reading about those amazing places. For all of the other can't miss things to do on Crete, I’ve enlisted the help of my fellow travel bloggers to fill you in on other great locations for a perfect Crete holiday.
Things to Do in Heraklion
Knossos Palace
Rooted in Greek mythology and considered one of Europe’s oldest cities is Knossos. The Knossos Palace was home to King Minos and built during the Bronze age of 2000 BC. For perspective, that’s over 4,000 years ago!! At this incredibly preserved archeological site, you will see the oldest European throne, the labyrinth designed to hold the mythical minotaur, incredible artwork still painted on the walls, the numerous rooms and quarters of the palace, and the advanced drainage system designed for the time. All this history is overlooking the rolling hills of Heraklion. It’s like traveling back in time. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime experience to see first-hand a major piece of Cretan, Greek, and ultimately European history.
Things to Do in Hersonissos
Lychnostatis Open-Air Cretan Museum
Open daily during peak season from 9am to 2pm. Closed on Saturdays.
Cost: Adults 6€, Students 3€, Kids (4-12) 2€
While there are many beautiful beaches to discover, my type of Crete holiday (or any type of holiday for that matter) is typically staying busy exploring. One of the best things to do in Hersonissos is to visit Lychnostatis which is an open-air Cretan Museum. On this self-guided audio tour, you can explore the multiple buildings, gardens, and sculptures to see and learn about the folk traditions, history, and culture of this part of the world.
Each location in this museum is more picture worthy than the next. Located within walking distance from the town of Hersonissos, it is easy to get to and reasonably priced. So don’t miss this beautiful stop on your Crete holiday.
Things to Do in Chania
Chania Old Town
- By Peta and Jonas of Exit45 Travels
The old town of Chania, located on the northwest coast of Crete, is one of the popular places to visit when on a Crete holiday. It is a great place to explore by foot and you will love the unique mix of historical buildings with traditional and modern architecture. This is best demonstrated at the old Venetian harbor with examples of Venetian, Cretan, and Ottoman architecture mingled together.
Chania old town has plenty of things to do on Crete for all types of visitors. You can eat your way around the town enjoying amazing Cretan food at the many cafes, restaurants and Greek tavernas, discover well preserved historical monuments from different time periods, or visit the numerous museums.
A stroll through the Jewish Quarter will take you past historical sites such as Etz Hayyim Synagogue, the only Jewish synagogue left on the island, the Folklore Museum of Chania, the Archaeological Museum of Chania, and the famous Leather Street, otherwise known as Stivanadika on Skridlof Street. Angelou Street in the Christian Quarter (Topanas District) is the most picturesque street of Chania old town, but also has the noteworthy sites of Firka Fortress and the Maritime Museum of Crete. The oldest district in Chania is the Kasteli District and showcases the archaeological site of the Minoan City of Kidonia.
Crete Beaches
Spinalonga
- By Nichola from Family Hotel Expert
Spinalonga is a truly fascinating place to visit. Set out to sea from Plaka (in the Gulf of Elounda) to this small island that was once home to Greece's leper community. From 1903 until 1957 the country's lepers were removed from society to live on Spinalonga. While this must have been a terrifying time they built a real community here on the island with shops, a school and hospital where previously they had often been shunned and forced to live in caves. When it closed in the 1950s it was one of the last leper colonies of its kind in Europe. Today it is a really interesting place to visit.
Take a boat from Plaka or Elounda and then wander around the island at will. It takes around an hour to do a full circuit and you will walk past interesting dilapidated buildings as you go. There's something eerily beautiful about Spinalonga and the views across to the main island are absolutely stunning. In fact some of the best resorts in Crete overlook Spinalonga, this really is one of the most spectacular parts of Crete to visit. Once you've walked around it there's a small café here to sit and take in the scenery before your boat back.
Elafonisi Beach
- By Elena Pappalardo from The Carry-On Chronicles
Elafonisi Beach in southwest Crete is a paradise for beach lovers. Unlike the typical pebble and black sand beaches Greece is known for, Elafonisi seduces visitors with its irresistibly soft and pinkish coral sand. The beautiful – albeit subtle – pink hue is a result of tiny shellfish intermingling with the powdery-white sand. Needless to say, this unique beach has an intoxicating quality, inviting travelers with its warm waters. In addition to the main beach area, Elafonisi is also beloved for its dreamy and shallow lagoons that are perfect for tiny tots and baby beachgoers.
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
This special beach is the perfect place to lay out and unwind for the day, offering visitors the added convenience of on-site refreshments from its entranceway tavern and two casual beach bars. Alternatively, there are grocers along the road leading up to the beach, if packing a picnic lunch is preferable.
Unsurprisingly, Elafonisi Beach has gained tremendous notoriety over the years, making it an island hotspot in summer. Ideally, travelers should plan to visit this gem during the shoulder season, when the tourist crowds have thinned. In addition to swimming, visitors can venture beyond the beach at low tide to explore neighboring Elafonisi, which is technically its own tiny island!
Balos Lagoon
- By Claire from ZigZag On Earth
If you are looking for one of the most paradise-looking beaches in Crete, then Balos Lagoon is a must-see place! Thanks to its isolated location and Natura 2000 status, the area remains protected and without any development. Quite refreshing! The combination of landscape elements is mesmerizing: shallow warm and turquoise lagoon waters, large white and pink sand areas, orange mountains and islands. Every color is so intense!
- The most popular (and easier) is the boat tour from Kissamos. It offers great views of the cliffs all along the sailing route. Plus, it includes a stop at the magnificent Gramvousa Island (often referred to as the “Pirate Island”). However, with the boat tour, you have limited time at the lagoon as it is sailing back at a specific time.
- If you want more time to enjoy the lagoon, you can access it by 4WD on a very bumpy track. Parking is at the top of the cliffs with stunning views, but you still have to walk down a steep slope.
- Finally, if you want to be more active, you can reach it by hiking from Falasarna Beach. The path is steep but offers brilliant views of the coastline. Once at Balos Lagoon, you can enjoy a swim or hike around: this is a wonderful place to relax and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Loutro
- By Clotilde from A Princess Traveling with Twins
The North coast offers such a great variety of things to do on Crete and fascinating places to see that sometimes travelers dedicate their time exclusively to this area and ignore the South coast. When planning on where to stay in Crete however, don't forget the south coast, wild and not very touristy, it will offer you a completely different scenario from the bustling and active North coast. One destination that should not be missing from your Crete holiday itinerary is Loutro.
Loutro is a small village that is active only 6 months a year during the tourist season, and it is accessible only on foot (3 hours walk) or by boat from Hora Sfakion. It is situated picturesquely on one of the coastal inlets. It is definitely a very small village: from the pier located at one side of the two extremes you can walk in ten minutes to the other end. The beaches are handkerchiefs of white pebbles where at most you will find two or three rows of umbrellas, interspersed with traditional bars and restaurants directly on the crystal clear water with a thousand shades of green and blue. From Loutro you can also decide to visit some other famous nearby beaches or the little Gadvos island.
Many people visit Loutro as a day trip and regret not having planned a longer stop. Stay for two or three days, indulge in the sweetness of doing nothing lulled by the sound of the water that gently laps on the shoreline (which you can also appreciate from your room if you want, since most of the hotels overlook the sea) and you will never want to leave.
Zeus' Cave Crete (Psychro Cave)
- By Nichola from Globalmouse Travels
One of the less visited things to do on Crete is to head inland and to the mythical world of Zeus' birthplace. To get there you have to drive up Mount Dikti which towers above the island. This is a wonderful, winding drive past lovely old villages packed full of character and worthy of a stop off in their own right. At the top you will come to the Lassithi Plateau which is a lush, green space with beautiful old windmills scattered through the landscape. Here you will find your way to Psychro - Diktaion Andron and Zeus' cave. It's a fair walk up to the cave entrance and then you make your way in to the cold, damp cave and the many steps down to the bottom.
Samaria Gorge Hike
- By Una from Wandernity
Samaria is the longest and most spectacular gorge in Crete. If you are a fairly fit person, you might want to challenge yourself by going on a hike through this majestic formation. As a reward, you will experience the full wilderness of Cretan nature - mountain views, rocky terrain, an old village, a valley with steep stone walls and a river in the middle, and maybe even see some goats.
The Samaria Gorge hike is around 16 kilometers (~10 miles) long and takes around 6 to 7 hours from the top to the Libyan Sea on the shores of Agia Roumeli village. From here, a ferry can take you to another village that is connected to the rest of the island by drivable roads.
Some of the tips for hiking Samaria Gorge are:
- Choose the right footwear, the terrain is rocky and a bit too challenging for flip-flops.
- Take a lot of water with you as there aren't any shops on the way. Make sure to pack your lunch too.
- Try to avoid going in mid-summer, as there might be crowds of people, as well as a heat that would make the hike even more challenging.
If you are interested in taking the Samaria Gorge hike, then check out some of the different tours below. If you are renting a car, the Samaria Gorge hike can be done individually as well.
Where to Stay in Crete
Villas in Crete
Village Heights Resort
If you are wondering where to stay in Crete during your Crete holiday, then look no further then Village Heights Resort. This is where we stayed when visiting Crete. Village Heights Resort is located in the hills of Hersonissos. Primely situated with a bird’s eye view of not only the hilltops of Crete, but also the amazing blue waters of the sea.
Village Heights Resort can be booked alone, but it is part of the time share family, so there is a daily calendar of events being held here. Make sure to keep Cretan night open on your Crete holiday calendar for lots of fun. You can also stay busy with many of the sports and activities available at the resort like volleyball, tennis, golf, mini golf, and even biking (to name a few). But if relaxation is on the Crete holiday agenda, then relax by the infinity pool taking in the European sun.
Each of these villas have all the conveniences of home like a full kitchen and living room. Plus, bonuses like a balcony to enjoy the amazing daytime and nighttime views. These villas are perfect for families and those like myself with food allergies who want to make sure they’re prepared for every meal. You can read in my Montreal post about how I book these types of places to accommodate my food allergies.
One of the most convenient things about this villa in Crete is transportation. There is a shuttle that takes you regularly to and from the seaside town of Hersonissos. So, there is no need for rental car while staying here. This is also helpful when you need to obtain transportation from the main city to travel around the island to some of the fun things to do on Crete that we’ve talked about.
Gluten Free and Dairy Free Tips
I had not yet been diagnosed with either allergy while I was on this trip, so I can’t speak to any gluten free or dairy free restaurant recommendations. But here are some helpful tips that I learned during my time in Greece and Crete specifically. They do siesta in the afternoon; this means that most restaurants and stores will be closed for at least a solid 2 hours. So, bring snacks! They also have later mealtimes, which means that restaurants may not even open for dinner till 5pm or later. Just another reminder for snacks! For more recommendations on how I handle my food allergies when going to a non-English speaking country, you can refer to my Montreal blog post.
A big thank you to all those bloggers who contributed to this post. Hope you all reading find this information helpful to better plan your Crete holiday itinerary!
Disclaimer: There are some links in this article that are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, we receive a small commission. This is never an extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
