While many first-time vacationers to the Greek Islands will solely select to go to the heavy hitters of Mykonos and Santorini, the less-visited island of Crete is a perfect spot for a extra stress-free and affordable go to to Greece. Your Crete itinerary might be crammed with visits to sandy seashores, crystal blue waters, and picture-perfect cities flanked by white mountains and rolling hills of olive groves. Greece’s largest island is bound to not disappoint.
Crete is positioned to the south of the Greek mainland and the Cyclades Islands (which incorporates the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos, and so on). Located in the course of the Eastern Mediterranean between the Sea of Crete to the north and the Libyan Sea of the Mediterranean to the south, the island has not solely served as a strategic location for varied empires to arrange commerce and navy outposts, nevertheless it has additionally served because the lifeblood of historic civilizations such because the Minoans.
Why Visit Crete?
Thanks to all of this historical past, Crete is residence to a few of Greece’s greatest historic and archaeological websites, in addition to breathtaking landscapes.
Given the island’s dimension and inhabitants, Crete has been capable of keep a conventional Greek (although additionally uniquely Cretan) ambiance when put next with a few of Greece’s smaller islands that at the moment are overrun with vacationers. Cretan delicacies is known. I can actually say that the 2 weeks I spent in Crete had been in all probability one of the best I’ve eaten on any trip in my life.
Since Crete is so massive and fertile, a lot of the meals out there in Crete is domestically grown— and really low-cost, not solely by European requirements however even by Greek requirements. Cretan hospitality is notably as legendary because the delicacies and is residence to a few of Greece’s most interesting vineyards.
Crete actually has all of it. With its virtually paradisiacal ambiance, it’s actually no surprise that the island is taken into account by some to be the fabled birthplace of Zeus and lots of different Ancient Greek Gods.
It is a perfect vacation spot for households with youngsters, for the reason that seashores are lovely, and the waters are typically fairly calm and shallow. It is nice for younger individuals trying to social gathering in additional down-to-earth settings than glitzy Mykonos. Crete can be splendid for solo journey or for {couples} searching for a romantic getaway.
How a lot time Should you Spend in Crete?
Spending every week in Crete would give first-time guests an opportunity to essentially expertise what the island has to supply. For every week in Crete, arrive in Heraklion by way of airplane or ferry. Spend two days in Heraklion and its surrounding points of interest just like the Ancient Minoan Palace of Knossos earlier than shifting on to the Venetian Port metropolis of Rethymno.
You can then spend one to 2 days in Rethymno and its environment earlier than touring west to Chania and the seashores and nature of the west of Crete, the place it’s best to spend three to 4 days at a minimal. One day in both Chania or Rethymno needs to be reserved for cultural actions like a winery tour, a cooking class, or a mixture of a couple of.
If you intend to remain for greater than every week, you possibly can spend extra time within the places to essentially get a really feel for the vacation spot or keep for a day in further locations on the island, like Sitia and Agios Nikolaos. With greater than every week you may as well price range further time to calm down on the seaside.
Getting to Crete
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For the really helpful week-long Crete itinerary it’s best to take into account arriving in Heraklion and departing from Chania, both by way of flight or ferry, relying on the place you might be touring from. If you wish to tour the western a part of Crete solely, although, it’s best to arrive and depart from Chania. If you’re going to tour central and/or japanese Crete solely, it’s best to arrive and depart from Heraklion.
As Greece’s most populous island and a preferred trip spot for Greek and European vacationers, Crete is well-connected by air and by boat to factors in Greece and the remainder of Europe, significantly so within the hotter months— roughly from April by way of October. Crete has three airports with scheduled passenger service.
The two major airports are Heraklion International Airport and Chania International Airport. There is a small, third airport in Sitia that completely handles home flights inside Greece. There aren’t any nonstop flights from North America to both Heraklion or Chania, subsequently touring from North America requires a stopover in Athens or one other European hub airport, like London Heathrow, Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Geneva, Copenhagen, Vienna, Helsinki, or Paris.
If you might be arriving from one other vacation spot in Europe or the Middle East it will likely be simpler to discover a nonstop flight to Heraklion or to Chania, particularly on low-cost and price range airways in the course of the hotter months like EasyJet, Ryanair, TUI Airways, Transavia, and Wizzair.
Crete can be simply accessible by way of ferry. The major ferry port of Crete is positioned at Heraklion however there are lots of different ports on the island, together with Rethymno, Kissamos, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Souda (Chania). Heraklion has frequent ferry service to Piraeus (Athens) and to different factors all through Greece, together with Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Ios, Syros, Karpathos, Anafi, and Santorini.
If you determine to mix Crete with different islands in Greece, take into account arriving in Heraklion by way of ferry from one other island with a simple ferry connection. All of the opposite ports have much less frequent ferry providers to a restricted variety of Greek locations, together with Piraeus (Athens). Ferries could be immediately booked on the web site of the ferry firm with which you select to journey, or you possibly can ebook on a website like Ferryscanner.
Getting Around Within Crete
There are some ferry providers inside Crete, such because the route that operates between Sitia and Heraklion, however the best and most handy technique to get round Crete is by automotive or bus.
Families or teams touring to Crete would possibly wish to take into account reserving a automotive, although be sure to ebook a number of months upfront! Cars (particularly automated vehicles) are typically rented out shortly and costs skyrocket if you don’t ebook early sufficient. I have a tendency to make use of AutoEurope when renting a automotive in Europe to buy one of the best costs.
American vacationers might want to acquire an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) from an organization like AAA earlier than arriving in Crete as a way to lease a automotive. Solo vacationers and people touring on a price range could make use of Crete’s environment friendly and handy public bus providers on KTEL.
Traveling by automotive or by bus will give guests to Crete an opportunity to expertise among the island’s most lovely scenic drives. KTEL serves main routes just like the Chania to Heraklion by way of Rethymno route, nevertheless it additionally serves some smaller, touristic routes like these between Chania and among the lovely seashores within the west, like Falasarna and Elafonissi.
What is the Best Time to Go to Crete?
While lots of Greece’s islands have rocky seashores, Crete is well-known for its uniquely sandy seashores. Travelers trying to indulge within the Cretan seaside expertise ought to journey within the hotter months of the spring and the summer time—late May by way of early October, roughly.
November by way of April might be chillier than the summer time months and possibly not heat sufficient to sunbathe, however Crete by no means will get actually chilly since it’s so far south in Europe. Although there might be fewer lodging out there for lease in addition to fewer flights and ferries out there in the course of the winter months, winter can nonetheless be an honest time to go to Crete if you’re trying to expertise a few of its archaeological and historic websites, the native tradition, the delicacies, and nature.
Where to Stay on Crete
Depending on the place you select to spend time in Crete, it is possible for you to to pick from all kinds of lodging. Beachy areas like Agios Nikolaos may have numerous resort choices geared in the direction of international vacationers.
Heraklion has an honest number of lodges and residential leases like villas by way of websites like Airbnb. I stayed on the Capsis Astoria and was more than happy with the good rooftop terrace, full with a decently sized pool, a bar, and good views of Heraklion, Crete’s white mountains, and the Aegean Sea. The rooms had been plain however clear and fashionable, and the blended continental and conventional Greek breakfast on the resort was spectacular regardless of any pandemic-related hygiene protocols that the resort needed to comply with throughout my keep.
Chania and Rethymno have numerous boutique lodges in addition to a wide variety of residence leases. In Rethymno, take into account reserving a keep on the Rimondi Boutique Hotel. Located proper subsequent to the Rimondi Fountain and the Neratze Mosque, this boutique resort is a well-regarded possibility for a calming keep in Rethymno. Relax within the resort’s superbly furnished rooms and on the luxurious pool and spa.
I stayed in one of the best Vrbo/Airbnb I’ve ever rented whereas I used to be in Chania. Arietta Stamatakis’ Airbnb/Vrbo is ideal for renting throughout a keep in Chania for pals, {couples}, or households. Upon arriving in Crete, she and her husband greeted us with contemporary oranges and a melon from their backyard, freshly squeezed lemonade, cooked bergamot, selfmade kalitsounia (Cretan cheese pies) and spanakopita, selfmade tea biscuits and muffins, in addition to some tsikoudia that she and her husband had distilled by themselves. Renting her property was really one of the best glimpse into Cretans’ superb sense of hospitality throughout my go to to Crete.
Smaller cities and cities in Crete which might be frequented by fewer vacationers like Kissamos may have fewer choices than Chania or Rethymno, for instance, however there’ll nonetheless be good resort and rental choices. Book early to get one of the best offers, although it’s possible you’ll often encounter some last-minute reserving offers.
One Week Crete Itinerary
If you could have one week in Crete, comply with this 7 day Crete itinerary to see the island’s highlights.
Days 1-2: Heraklion
Start your go to to Crete in Heraklion. Although Heraklion is probably not essentially the most lovely metropolis on the island, it’s well-connected to the remainder of Crete, Greece, and Europe, and it’s residence to among the island’s key archaeological and historic websites.
Begin your time in Heraklion by visiting the Archaeological Museum. The Archaeological Museum is one in all Greece’s greatest and most necessary historic websites. The museum comprises an beautiful array of artifacts accompanied by superb, translated descriptions of the items on show and maps.
The museum is especially well-known for its items from the Minoan civilization, although there are lots of different artifacts on show that give guests a superb introduction to Crete’s prolonged historical past. Get to the museum early, because the strains can get exceptionally lengthy within the afternoon, particularly throughout peak season. Another perk of going to the museum early is you could buy a mixed ticket for the museum and the Palace of Knossos from the Archaeological Museum’s ticket workplace.
Block out a great chunk of time to spend on the museum throughout your time in Heraklion. Even if you’re not a museum lover you’ll want to spend a minimum of an hour shopping. I feel I spent about two hours on the museum, although I simply may have stayed longer.
Depending on how lengthy you spend within the museum, it’s possible you’ll already be hungry for lunch by the point you end wanting. Walk from the museum to the Venetian Harbor to take pleasure in a lunch of freshly caught seafood with a view of boats floating on the Aegean Sea and a pleasant sea breeze at one of many many harborside eating places.
I ate at Vrakas once I visited Heraklion, though I went for dinner. Either approach, I extremely suggest it. They serve among the greatest seafood on the town, like their fried, freshly caught smelt.
If you wish to save this for dinner as I did, although, attempt Peskesi, away from the waterfront. Serving up scrumptious plates of domestically sourced, farm-fresh Cretan classics like fried, stuffed zucchini blossoms or goat cooked in yogurt, Peskesi affords probably the greatest culinary experiences in Heraklion. The restaurant additionally affords good outside seating. Make positive to benefit from the tsikoudia (Cretan grappa) and house-made desserts earlier than leaving.
After lunch, take a while to wander the slender streets of Heraklion’s Old Town. Though not as fairly as Chania or Rethymno, Heraklion does nonetheless have a pleasant ambiance. There is loads of procuring to be carried out, a inexperienced park within the middle, and a few lovely outdated buildings and church buildings from the Venetian and Ottoman eras in Crete. These embrace the Janissary Fountain (close to to the Archaeological Museum), the Venetian Loggia, the Venetian Dockyards, the Church of Agios Titos, and the Basilica of Saint Mark, which now homes an artwork gallery.
If you solely have a day in Heraklion, make your technique to the Knossos Archaeological Site both by taxi from the taxi stand simply in entrance of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum or by bus, the bus route for which can be accessible in Eleftherias Square simply exterior of the museum. It shouldn’t take greater than half-hour to succeed in the palace by bus, and a taxi journey could be even shorter if you’re really pressed for time at this level in your day.
If you have already got your ticket for Knossos Palace from the Archaeological Museum, you possibly can simply stroll proper as much as the doorway— in any other case, you’ll need to buy a ticket on the ticket kiosk close by. Knossos Palace is a shocking website of the traditional Minoan civilization. Its sheer age is sufficient to amaze, as is its scale.
Sections of the palace have been painstakingly and lovingly restored to point out what it could have seemed like hundreds of years in the past. Some of the sections of the palace had been cordoned off once I visited final summer time so I solely ended up spending about an hour on the palace, however I’m positive you possibly can spend even longer there, relying on what’s open whenever you go and your stage of curiosity.
If you’ll want to arrive in and depart Heraklion in a day, it’s possible you’ll want to go away to catch your ferry, flight, or bus after visiting Knossos. If not, although, return to Heraklion for dinner and take into account attempting whichever of Peskesi and Vrakas you didn’t go to for lunch. I had a really nice, leisurely dinner at Vrakas the place I bought to benefit from the sea breeze and the views of the outdated Venetian harbor. A restaurant or bar on the harbor like Vrakas can be a superb place to take pleasure in a drink to have a good time the top of an ideal day in Heraklion.
If you could have a second day in Heraklion, I like to recommend merely spreading out among the sightseeing from the one-day itinerary I’ve steered into your second day. Spend some extra museum on the museum on the primary day, wander the streets a bit extra, and save an extended go to to Knossos for the morning of the second day. Return to Heraklion for lunch after which stroll alongside the harbor and go to the Venetian fort earlier than departing Heraklion within the night.
You may additionally make this second day right into a day journey to Rethymno from Heraklion or make your second day a calming day by the ocean by touring from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos, or to Plaka or Elounda, after which to Spinalonga Island— as soon as a leper colony, however now a leisure vacation spot— by way of a brief boat journey. You can lease vehicles from the Heraklion Airport or take public buses from the bus station down the hill from Eleftherias Square, subsequent to the ferry port.
Days 3-4: Rethymno
Rethymno’s winding, slender streets, its historic websites, and its pure magnificence make the city particular. Begin your go to to Rethymno by strolling from wherever you could have parked or the central bus station into the Old Town to wander by way of the charming slender streets. Rethymno’s Old Town is small— smaller than Heraklion’s or Chania’s— however there are nonetheless loads of good outlets, eating places, bars, and historic websites to include into your go to.
Explore Rethymno’s Venetian historical past by visiting the sixteenth-century Porta Guora gate and the Venetian loggia. The Venetian Rimondi Fountain of Rethymno can be price passing by. It is positioned very near Rethymno’s Archaeological Museum, in addition to the Ottoman Era Neratze Mosque, which often hosts live shows.
Also close by is the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete. A brief approach from these websites are a number of different places of word, together with the dilapidated but lovely different Ottoman-era mosque, the Kara Musa Pasha Mosque, and its adjoining Muslim cemetery.
For lunch and drinks throughout your first day in Rethymno, attempt Raki Ba Raki. The restaurant is superbly set between two of the nicest streets in Rethymno’s Old Town with ample outside seating, which is particularly price profiting from within the summertime. In addition to their scrumptious mezedhes (mezze) and entrees— like their excellent braised oxtail with orzo—, additionally they supply a fantastic number of native wines. I like to recommend breaking apart a day in Rethymno with a cease right here.
As lovely because the websites that line Rethymno’s picturesque streets are, the city’s actual gem is its Venetian harbor and lighthouse. Though smaller than Heraklion’s, Rethymno’s harbor is considerably nicer. It is an ideal place for individuals watching, having fun with the solar, grabbing a drink, and particularly strolling, as there’s a good palm tree-lined boardwalk that extends east from the harbor in the direction of a stretch of metropolis seaside.
Try to make it to the Fortezza, Rethymno’s Fortress, within the late afternoon or early night and also you could possibly catch the sundown. Rethymno’s fortress is a captivating amalgamation of town’s Venetian, Ottoman, and Greek previous. A must-visit on the highest of the fortress complicated is the deserted Sultan Ibrahim Khan Mosque, positioned in a phenomenal, domed constructing that housed a Venetian church devoted to Saint Nicholas previous to the Ottoman conquest of Rethymno within the Sixteenth Century. On the western flank of the fortress (exterior of the fortress museum complicated itself) is the tiny Chapel of Agios Spiridon, superbly carved into the facet of a cliff and adorned with gorgeous Greek Orthodox iconography.
You can use your fourth day in Rethymno to expertise the crystal blue waters of the Rethymno area’s lovely Preveli Beach, positioned a few forty-five-minute drive throughout the island from Rethymno on the southern coast. KTEL affords a bus service from Rethymno’s Central Station on to this seaside that takes about thirty-five minutes.
The close by Preveli Monastery, which seems to be out over the water, can be price visiting. Alternatively, use today to have interaction in a cultural exercise, like a wine-tasting. When I stayed in Crete, I visited the Dourakis Winery close to Rethymno. A preferred vineyard amongst vacationers and locals alike, the Dourakis Winery is positioned in a picturesque a part of the Cretan countryside between Chania and Rethymno. It is accessible by automotive or by way of public transportation.
Days 5-7: Chania
Chania, positioned within the western a part of Crete, boasts a stunning Old Town, common seashores with shallow waters, and a very good meals scene. It can be the proper gateway to Crete’s greatest sandy seashores and one of many island’s most well-known pure websites, the Samaria Gorge.
Chania’s Old Town is extremely charming and is properly price not less than a day of your time. Begin your first day in Chania with sightseeing in Chania’s Old Town by doing a strolling tour that begins on the Old Market of Chania. This lined market relationship from the 1800s is now largely crammed with outlets promoting souvenirs for vacationers however there are nonetheless some genuine outlets left that promote conventional Cretan market wares like marinated olives and contemporary produce.
Leave the market by way of the north finish and circle left after which proper across the block and onto Chatzimichali Ntaliani to cross by the Ottoman-era Ahmet Ağa minaret. Flanked by outlets and cafes lined with lovely bougainvillea, the views of this minaret are emblematic of Chania. The espresso store Monogram on this road is a superb place for a morning or afternoon cappuccino or latte.
Continue on to Splantzia Square to soak up the views of the Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Nikolaos with its Ottoman-era minaret nonetheless standing from when the church was a mosque. After the sq. and the church, stroll in the direction of the water to soak up the views of the Venetian Harbor and the lighthouse.
This space of Chania has a phenomenal boardwalk that provides pretty views and a full of life restaurant and bar tradition in the course of the day and evening. The Chania Kasteli affords a superb vantage level for views of the Venetian Harbor, significantly at nightfall. Just under the Kasteli are the ruins of town’s Byzantine partitions, some excavations of the traditional Minoan website of Kydonia, and the small, pink-domed Ottoman Küçük Hasan Paşa Mosque of the Janissaries.
Keep strolling alongside the harbor earlier than turning left on Kondilaki, after which comply with the indicators for the Etz Hayyim Synagogue, as soon as the religious middle of one of many world’s oldest Jewish communities earlier than its virtually complete destruction in the course of the Nazi Occupation of Greece.
This needs to be a lot to fill a morning in Chania’s Old Town. For lunch, I extremely suggest consuming at Kouzina E.P.E. An cheap lunch-only possibility, the restaurant affords a la carte choices along with specials ready each day to be eaten within the restaurant or to be taken away. The grilled halloumi and oyster mushroom salad I ate there may be to today probably the greatest dishes I’ve ever ordered whereas touring overseas. The complimentary crème caramel and tsikoudia incessantly served for dessert are additionally scrumptious.
After lunch, proceed exploring the middle of Chania’s slender streets. While Chania’s Old Town has its fair proportion of kitschy memento outlets, there are additionally some pretty, understated boutique jewellery and handicraft shops. One of my favourite locations to buy in Chania was at Terra Verde, which sells genuine Cretan foodstuffs together with olive oil, honey, and fleur de sel.
Also visiting are the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Cathedral of Chania and Chania’s Roman Catholic Assumption Cathedral, in addition to Chania’s museums. Although none are massive, Chania’s Old Town comprises a gallery with a formidable Byzantine artifact assortment, the Maritime Museum of Crete, the Greek National Football Museum, and a public artwork gallery. Behind the Maritime Museum and the Byzantine assortment is one other one in all Chania’s forts. Though it’s not almost as spectacular as Rethymno’s, it’s price strolling by since it’s on the very least positioned close to a few of Chania’s greatest jewellery and handicraft procuring.
Home to a few of Crete’s greatest eating places, consuming out in Chania is without doubt one of the greatest components of visiting town. For a novel eating expertise, attempt the Turkish-inspired To Pigadi Tou Tourkou (The Well of the Turk) or Tamam. For extra conventional Cretan or Greek eating, attempt Oinopoieio or Christostomos (closed for renovations on the time of writing). Seafood lovers ought to attempt To Maridaki. Restaurants in Chania throughout peak journey season get crowded, so be sure to make reservations not less than a day, if not a number of days, upfront at among the extra common eating places.
This strolling tour is an efficient technique to construction a go to to Chania’s Old Town for those who solely might be spending a day within the space. On your second day in Chania, attempt exploring among the native seashores, like Nea Chora Beach, Hrisi Akti Beach, Yannis Beach— my private favourite—and Agii Apostoli Beach.
If you’re feeling significantly adventurous, you may as well use today in Chania to take a day journey to one in all Western Crete’s attractive, sandy seashores. Falasarna Beach, Balos Beach, Balos Lagoon, Gramvousa, Elafonissi Beach, Gramvousa, and Paleochora are among the hottest choices. They are all accessible from Chania by way of automotive or by public bus, although Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa require an extra hike and/or scenic boat journey. Hiking within the Samaria Gorge is one other common exercise close to Chania.
Use your closing day in Chania to attempt a special seaside, simply stroll round and people-watch in Chania’s Old Town, or attempt some extra of the area’s pleasant delicacies. You can incorporate one other cultural exercise on this final day by signing up for a cooking class. I used to be fortunate to have discovered a overview on the Airbnb I rented in Chania that stated that the proprietor of my Airbnb, Arietta Stamatakis, supplied cooking courses.
I extremely suggest taking one in all her cooking courses if you’re staying in or round Chania. Arietta is a superb cook dinner and collectively together with her husband, previously a pastry chef, they’ll take you to their village farmhouse in Daratsos to collect greens and herbs to cook dinner a multi-course Greek meal based mostly on a menu that you’ll devise with Arietta. Our menu consisted of kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters), gemista (peppers, eggplant, and tomato filled with herbed rice—generally referred to as dolma asthroughout Turkey and far of the Arab World), sfakianopita (Cretan dessert cheese pies with honey), and plenty of wine. You ought to be capable to request a cooking class together with her even if you’re not renting her property by contacting her by way of her property itemizing.
Of course, this week-long itinerary just isn’t so inflexible—reasonably, it is going to give first-time vacationers to Crete a great really feel for the principle components of the island. If you don’t have every week to spare you possibly can spend an extended weekend in one in all these three locations, relying on the place you might be coming from.
Alternatively, you possibly can spend a single day in Heraklion or Rethymno as a day journey from Santorini or Athens, however I actually wouldn’t suggest this as I feel a day in Crete merely doesn’t do the island justice. And, you probably have further time, you possibly can all the time keep longer than every week and discover extra of the island or spend longer in every of the three major cities. For me, it could be onerous to say no to further time on an island that appears like heaven on earth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, MAX LEVINE
This visitor publish was written by Maxwell Levine. Max has been touring ever since he can bear in mind along with his household. In latest years, he has been the one who plans holidays for his household and for himself, from researching airfare and railway tickets to crafting itineraries. Max has traveled lots each within the US and internationally. He has additionally developed a penchant for writing. Max hopes to proceed pursuing alternatives to journey and write each in school and past that.
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