Crete is the largest Greek island offering top things to do that will amaze you in your trip to this Greece paradise, so let me inspire you with the must see sights including the best beaches in Crete and travel tips

Why You Should Visit Crete in Greece has many reasons as its the largest Greek island offering many captivating experiences. Crete offers stunning beaches. The island features a charming capital city, delightful villages, and breathtaking landscapes. Crete has it all in its top things to do.

Whether you prefer beach relaxation, historical exploration or hiking adventures, Crete has something special in store for you. With its unique charm and rich cultural heritage, it promises an unforgettable travel experience. This makes Crete also a very popular destination and is a a great magnet for many travellers.

However the value for money offers in Crete makes it more affordable than other Greek islands such as Santorini or Mykonos. Add to it that Crete is much larger than most Greek islands that you will have plenty of stunning places to visit in 2 weeks without needing to leave the island. It won’t be boring!

With this post I will highlight the very best places to see in Crete, its not an extensive list, but truly the top things to do in Crete to inspire you to plan your trip, including many travel tips about Crete on how to explore it best.

Ready to start the travel journey to Crete? Here is a map of Crete location:

TOP THINGS TO DO IN CRETE

Without any specific preference order, these are for me the top things to do in Crete island:

1. CHANIA TOWN
2. GOLDEN BAY
3. ELAFONISI BEACH
4. LAKE KOURNAS
5. RHETYMNO
6. PREVELI BEACH
7. KOURTALIOTIKO GORGE
8. FALASARNA BEACH
9. BALOS BEACH
10. HERAKLION
11. KNOSSOS PALACE
12. CHERSONISSOS
13. SPINALONGA ISLAND
14. SAMARIA GORGE
15. AGIOS NIKOLAOS
16. VOULISMA BEACH

CHANIA TOWN

Chania, located on the northwest coast of Crete, is the island’s most historic and beautiful city. Its history dates to more than 2000 years when it was known as Kydonia, a Minoan city. Chania was then ruled by various civilizations, including the Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans, and Egyptians, each leaving their mark on the city’s architecture and culture. The city also played a crucial role in Crete’s fight for independencea and World War 2 but has since developed to a major tourist attraction

Chania Old Town, with its narrow winding streets and well-preserved Venetian and Turkish architecture and the historic Venetian Harbor with its iconic lighthouse, the impressive Firkas Fortress plus the Maritime museum are the major highlights of Chania,.The Archaeological Museum is also worth seeing. But for me strolling around the streets is the best town experience in whole Crete. Then having a meal by the harbour front is a must do experience.

For a more authentic experience the Nea Chora (New Town) of Chania is also a top thing to do in Chania. Its Palm covered promenade extends through a beautiful golden beach with a small fishing harbour . The restaurants here are also amazing and more affordable than the old town, with a beautiful setting to watch the sunset!

GOLDEN BAY

Golden Bay close to Chania is the hidden gem that isn’t hidden in Crete. Overlooked by more popular and hard to reach beaches, Golden Bay offers two stunning beaches only 15 minutes away from Chania, that are absolute stunners: Agio Apostoli beach and Iguana beach.

Agio Apostoli beautiful golden sand beach with blue sea waters has for me all that it takes to a great day at the beach with its sun lounges and non-crowded. Next by the half island orange coloured cliff makes it even more scenic and splits it from the more quiet and secluded bay of Iguana beach. Join that you have fantastic restaurants at Agio Apostoli and you are guaranteed an amazing beach day!

ELAFONISI BEACH

The most beautiful beach of Crete and even Greece is the spectacular Elafonisi beach. With its partially pink sand in some areas, crystal clear waters and a small lagoon that cuts the beach in half, its certainly fpr me a paradise beach too.

However the amazing beauty of Elafonsi beach can only be appreciated if you get there before the main tourist crowds start arriving from 11am onwards, then it becomes a whole different experience. So do make the effort to drive early enough and get there around 8.30- 9am. You will have almost guaranteed the beach for you and a few lucky ones.

You need to park the car on one of the mandatory car parkings before walking 800 meters, around 15 minutes easy walk to Elafonisi beach. Park near the closest park until you see the blocked road sign. Park costs 5€ per car. The b each hjas a bar restaurant and sunbeds and umbrellas. All quite expensive,. so try to bring your own food, beverages and beach towels. Elafonisi is a must see place but arrive early enough!

LAKE KOURNAS

he Kournas Lake is a spectacular lake that will impress you with its caribbean like colors. Its also the only big lake in Crete, so its a muss see place if you are looking to a break from the beach although it also has a white sand beach here.

Besides swimming around the marked areas, you can get a pedal boat for 15-20€ / hour to explore the lake and try to see some of the turtles that live in the lake.

There is free parking all around the lake left bank and plenty of good restaurants, my suggestion is that you go to the Myth of the lake restaurant, excellent food and good value for money. Besides that there is a nice souvenir shop just in front, ask for a discount.

RHETYMNO

Only second to Chania in beauty, Rhetymno is a stunning town to visit in Crete. Like Chania and most Cretan cities, it was originally established by the Minoans and has been influenced by various civilizations, whose signs that can still be seen across the town.

The Venetian fortress is its major highlight as well as the Venetian Port and the lovely promenade full of nice restaurants by the sea. Then discover some of the narrow streets of the Old Town to find out more of its charm.

PREVELI BEACH

The most unique beach to visit in Crete is definitely Preveli beach with its Palm tree forest, canyon river and pristine sea at the southern part of Crete island.

The road to get to Preveli beach is quite good with a couple of mountain passes, usually well maintained. Then there is a well organized parking lost just by the beach trailhead, that costs 2€ per car. From there the adventure starts, as its a rather steep hike down to Preveli beach. It should take you around 1 hour to get down and more to get back the hill but its so worth doing this hike.

There are some good viewpoints along the way, but the best is the first one on the left side of the trail. Once you get down, make sure you swim / walk on the river that is completely safe, no crocodiles or dangerous animals and of course plung into that paradise blue sea.

Very important is that you that you wear hiking shoes / sandals and take plenty of water, some food and beach towels as there are no services at Preveli beach itself. And its recommendable to go as early as possible or then in the late afternoon to avoid the midday heat that can be very intense.

KOURTALIOTIKO GORGE

The Kourtaliotiko Gorge in Crete is a natural wonder in Crete that is approximately 3 kilometers in length and reaching depths of up to 600 meters. The rugged terrain is marked by steep rock formations, lush vegetation, and the Kourtaliotis River cutting through the canyon.

Kourtaliotiko gorge was for me one of the major highlights as its the only canyon you can actually swim into! Its no longer a hidden gem but feels like it has not been massively explored as many visitors still seem to drive by to nearby Preveli beach for the strenuous hike there rather than this canyon. Other reasons might be that the water is quite cold as it comes from a nature spring.

You can park your car for free near the gate to St Nicholas shrine or then further down the road. Then its a relative moderate but steep hike down to the canyon itself. You will get to a crossroad where to the left its the trail to the Kourtaliotiko waterfall viewpoint and to the right its the path to the Kourtaliotiko canyon. The hike to the canyon takes about 25-30 minutes, whilst the viewpoint its only 10.

Once you get to the canyon entrance after a small staircase connected to a small river dam, you will see already a beautiful small waterfall. Then you need to plunge to that cold water around 15 degrees celsius and swim around 20 meters, not more than 2-3 minutes, to get to the most beautiful part of the canyon and see the waterfall itself. The view is just stunning! One of the most magical sights you can imagine, that will make you think you are in Costa Rica or else paradise! You can almost walk /swim to the main waterfall, but admire in awe the side waterfalls, so incredible!

Take good hiking shoes or sandals, water and a waterproof cover for your phone and camera and you will be good to explore this nature wonder. For those hungry after hiking, there is a small food van uphill that serves some good gyros or fries.

FALASARNA BEACH

Falasarna beach is the most incredible beach in the Chania region that has had the luck of not being so explored like its more popular neighbours Balos beach and Elafonisi beach.

Its a large bay marked by some cliffs on the edge, with crystal clear blue waters, fine golden sand and a great spot for some watersports. It has been more developed lately as some hotels and bars are being built but it still preserves its natural beauty. Just be mindful of winds and waves here, that is what makes it perhaps “wilder” than other beaches in Crete, but again it makes it more fun!

There is a free parking lot right by the beach and then its a short walk to the sea, definitely worth combining with Balos beach or Elafonisi beach, namely the latter as its a beautiful scenic drive through the rugged western coastline of Crete with amazing panoramic views along the way.

BALOS BEACH

Balos Beach in Crete is one of the best beaches in Crete, Greece and in Europe. With its beach and lagoon it offers the perfect postcard view from above and once you get to the beach itself you can only be amazed by the crystal clear blue waters and fine golden sand, making it a perfect spot for a beach day trip.

The drive there from Chania (1 1/2 hours) or Rhetymno (2 1/2 hours) is fairly good until you get to the last 7-8 km that you need to do on a rough gravel road driving quite slow. The good news is that you don’t need a 4×4 car and its a great scenic drive on this coastal road. You will then need to pay 2€ per person at a small entrance gate , that will be your entry and parking fee.

From the parking lot, you have to hike around 30-35 minutes down through many steps and sand dunes, that will be taking longer when you climb up again. Just take some breaks to admire the stunning views you will have from Balos beach & lagoon as well as Gramvousa beach on the other side of the large bay. The best viewpoint is just a couple minutes from the Parking lot on your right.

My main travel tips are that you get there before 11 am – 12pm , because that’s when the heat starts to become stronger and also when most travelers arrive to the beach. There are barely services here, so do bring your own food, beverages, sun towels or umbrellas. Also take hiking shoes or sandals, avoid flip flops for the hike. The water is very shallow on the lagoon so anyone can have a swim there whilst at the sea itself you need to be careful.

An alternative to the hike, is to take a boat from Kissamos town or even Chania, where you will also be taken to Gramvousa island, also but as you can imagine it will be crowded with several boats and you would miss the great views from above of Balos beach. And you also need to swim to the beach.

Overall, Balos Beach in Crete is a must see place and you will certainly enjoy it!

HERAKLION

Being the capital of Crete, Heraklion has a significant historical and cultural importance that you need to experience. I found it to be very compact and easy to visit even though its the largets Greek island city.

Here are the top things to do in Heraklion that I recommend for a 1/2 day trip:

1. Heraklion Archaeological Museum: Discover Minoan artifacts and the history of Crete over the centuries
2. Koules Fortress: Wander around the fortress and enjoy the great views
3. Historical City Center: Explore the charming streets, beautifully decorated and shop for souvenirs in the traditional shops
4. Venetian Harbor: Walk around the promenade, have a nice meal by the bay and enjoy the stunning sunset

KNOSSOS PALACE

Knossos Palace is the most famous ancient archaeological site in Crete, located near Heraklion. Dating back to the Neolithic period, around 7000 BC, the site was first settled by the Minoans, Europe’s first advanced civilization. The palace reached its peak during the Minoan period (2000–1400 BC), becoming the political, administrative, and cultural center of the Minoan civilization.

The palace was a complex structure with numerous rooms, corridors, and courtyards with beautiful architecture, lively painted walls and is believed to have been the legendary Minotaur Labyrinth.

The decline of Knossos Palace began around 1450 BC, likely due to natural disasters and the invasion of Mycenaean Greeks. The site was eventually abandoned and fell into disrepair. It was rediscovered and extensively excavated in the early 20th century by British archaeologist Arthur Evans.

Now after many years of recovery, Knossos is certainly a highlight for any visitor to Crete and very worth going there. I specially enjoyed the greatly preserved paintings such as the Dolphins, the bull leaping and the dancers, but also the nicely maintained courtyards and columns.

Knossos Palace is open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The entry fee for Knossos palace is €15 per person. Buy your ticket online via their official website , booking a time slot as early as possible to avoid the crowds. Count with at least 2 hours to visit the large archaeological site.

CHERSONISSOS

The large bay of Hersonissos in Crete like the locals call it is a great hub to visit Eastern Crete whilst enjoying a great beach in one of the many resorts. The Chersonissos harbour is a lovely area to walk around and enjoy great views.

Then you have the several resorts here giving you access to amazing private beaches or public ones with nice fine sand and beautiful transparent blue sea colors. My favorite ones were Star Beach and Meltemi beach, offering also sun chairs and umbrellas. There also several water sports here to keep you entertained as well as waterparks.

SPINALONGA ISLAND

Spinalonga Fortress is situated on the small island of Spinalonga in Eastern Crete, being for me the most spectacular fortress to visit in Crete with a very incredible yet tragic history behind it.

The Venetians built the fortress during the 16th century to protect their trade routes from pirates and the Ottomans. However after intense battles for Crete in 1715, the Ottoman Empire seized control of the Spinalonga fortress as one of the last stands from the Venetian empire. The fortress remained a significant stronghold in the eastern Mediterranean until the 19th century. During the early 20th century, in the aftermath of the Cretan independence, Spinalonga served as a leper colony. From 1903 to 1957, the island was used as a place of isolation for those with leper whose untold destiny was to stay there confined until the end like in exile. After this the fortress felt to decay until tourism started booming in the 90s to visit this unique monument.

Now its ranked as one of the best places to visit in Crete and in my opinion rightly so. Its really a great fortress seen from afar or walking around the walls and town. I was especially touched by the history of the hundreds of lepers that met their end here as well by the imposing military engineering from the Venetians.

My recommendation is to visit Spinalonga as early as possible, taking the first boat from Plaka village at 10 am, the fastest trip only 10 minutes away from Spinalonga island, for 12€ per person (only cash accepted), as it will be crowded after 11am with boats coming from more distant harbours, that will literally flood in the vast complex. The boats depart every 30 minutes from Plaka. You can also take the 10 am boat from Eloundas, arriving slightly later as the trip takes 25 minutes.

Opening times for Spinalonga fortress are 10 am to 8 pm, with entry cost being 8€ per person, payable by card but sometimes there are issues with the system so do take cash with you. The walk around the island takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.

SAMARIA GORGE

The Samaria Gorge is a spectacular natural wonder located in Crete. It’s the longest gorge in Europe, stretching over 16 kilometers in length. Hiking through the Samaria Gorge is one of the best experiences in Crete, surrounded by towering cliffs, pristine river streams and great nature-

To hike in the Samaria Gorge, you should start at the Omalos Plateau and trek downwards towards Agia Roumeli village on the southern coast of Crete. You can get to Omalos with the bus from Sougia , don’t drive by car as you need to pick up the car afterwards. The hike typically takes 5 to 7 hours to complete, its moderate difficulty and you need proper hiking gear, food and beverages for the way. Along the way, you should look for the “Iron Gates” narrowest point of the gorge, the abandoned village of Samaria and River Taras. At the end you can return to Sougia by boat.

Note that Samaria Gorge is typically open for hiking from May to October, and you should start the hike early in the morning to avoid the midday heat.

AGIOS NIKOLAOS

Agios Nikolaos is the most beautiful coastal town on the eastern side of the island of Crete. The town is set around a beautiful lagoon and hills, offering stunning views of the sea and mountains around it.

Lake Voulismeni is the main highlight with tavernas, shops, and cafes around it plus plenty of fishing boats and small motorboats. On the upper side of the limestone vliff there is a greazt terrasse with stunning views of the lake and the city of Agios Nikolaos. I really liked it in the morning as it was still quiet.

The watefront promenade by the sea after the lake is also really nice for a walk and to admire the sunset, nightlife here is also really nice to experience,

VOULIMSA BEACH

Its one of the most spectacular beaches in Crete and deserves to be on its top 5 beaches ranking. The relatively small bay just shines with its beautiful white sand and the bluest waters you will be seeing across whole Crete.

The fact that the beach is located closed to the main road connecting to Eastern Crete makes it easily accessible with its free parking lot just 100 meters from Voulimsa beach itself, It also only 25 minutes away from popular Agios Nikolaos, so you can combine both quite easily.

You have a nice beach club uphill or some nice greek tavernas on the road above, some watersports, sun chairs and umbrellas. There is also a smaller bay if you walk to the end of the bay called Istros beach that is more secluded. Overall a great beach spot that I was surprised that it wasn’t more popular!

TRAVEL TIPS FOR CRETE TRIP

WHEN TO GO TO CRETE: Like most Greek islands, the best time to go to Crete is during Summer. Ideally in June until mid July as it should be less hot and also cheaper but in August you might still get some good bargains. Temperatures will be in the low 20s degrees celsius and will reach 34.35 degrees during the day, Expect no rain during these months but it will be windy sometimes.

HOW TO GO TO CRETE: The best way to get to Crete is by plane. You can fly directly from most European cities with charter flights done by holidays companies or low cost companies such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, Condor, TUI, Transavia, Eurowings and several others. If you are already in Greece, the cheapest and fastest way to travel to Crete is by ferry. Ferry services run all Summer long , starting usually in May/June and ending in September.

HOW TO GET AROUND CRETE: Crete is a big island and its quite mountainous without any major highways, so trips will take time , example Heraklion to Chania would take about 2 1/2 hours for 150km distance and Chania to the Elafonissi beach takes 1 1/2 hours for just 80km. Therefore my recommendation is to rent a a car for some days to be flexible and especially arrive earlier to some of the most popular attractions in Crete. Cost will be 35-40€ per day in average There is also a great public bus network connecting from almost everywhere if you want to save money and time isn’t so important to you..

WHERE TO STAY IN CRETE: Crete is quite diverse when it comes to choosing your stay and it will be a very different experience. Your choice will also influence your day trips as distances are long and you will take longer time on the roads. I personally liked Chania on the Western part of Crete to stay , whilst Hersonissos or Malia in the Eastern part of Crete are the best options to stay for me.

• Chania: the most beautiful town in Crete and a great base to visit the top 3 beaches on the West coast as well as some canyons. My recommendation is that you stay in the area of Platanias or Agio Apostoli, with very nice golden sand beaches. My favorite hotel is Golden Bay Hotel, right by the beach with spacious apartments, a great restaurant and great location only 10 minutes drive from Chania city center. Its only 30 minutes away from the Chania airport.
• Hersonissos/ Malia: Far enough from the buzz of the capital Heraklion, yet conveniently located to get to the Heraklion airport in about 30 minutes or Heraklion downtown in 45 minutes. It has great beaches all around and some of the finest beach resorts in Crete. My recommendation is the Star Beach Hotel in Hersonissos with lovely beaches, pools and food.

WHERE TO EAT IN CRETE: It doesn’t matter if you are in Chania, Heraklion or elsewhere in Crete, there are excellent Greek Tavernas across the whole island of Crete. There are also many Italian restaurants as well as Gyros Kebab places that offer good value for money meals. My favorite places were:

🔹Chania: Palazzo Almare, Plateia, Amphora, Mikrolimanos, The Five
🔹Rhetymnon: Nostos, 7 Thalasses, Poliou House, Myth of the Lake (Kournas)
🔹Heraklion: Ligo Krasi Thalassa, Notios Archipelagos, Plani

Stay also tuned for posts for more Greece islands and have a look to the posts already published. Send me any questions per message or comment below.

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