Greece: Travel Guide to Crete | Itineraries and Highlights

You’ll appreciate the friendliness of the Greeks, their rich history with the presence of archaeological sites, their culture for wine and olive oil, and their cuisine made with simple, fresh ingredients.

Don’t be surprised if restaurant service is slow: it’s part of the local culture! Be patient, enjoy, and let yourself be tempted at the end of the meal by a glass of raki!

The landscapes of Crete are enchanted by the multitude of olive trees. Cicadas are omnipresent and wild goats are a regular sight on the roads.

The Essentials

What to See

Chania

Nicknamed « Little Venice », people come here for a drink, to enjoy the sunsets over the port, to lose themselves in the narrow streets and stores, and to sample the different cuisines of the restaurants. There’s no shortage of choices!

Rethymnon

The city of Rethymnon is very friendly. We loved walking around. Again, the same little tourist stores, but the town has a lot of charm.

You’ll enjoy wandering through the less commercial parts of town, discovering lovely little streets with traditional Turkish wooden balconies.

You can visit the Fortezza citadel which triumphs over the city and once protected its inhabitants from the Ottomans.

Close to Rethymnon, we suggest a visit to the Arkadi monastery sanctuary, where the resistance against the Ottoman occupation had settled. Ideally, you should be accompanied by a guide.

Heraklion

Capital of Crete, this city is not a must-see for us. However, several historic sites are well worth a visit:

• The fortress, built by the Venetians ;
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum;
• The palace of Knossos, archaeological site ;
• The historical museum of Crete.

Lake Kournas

Lake Kournas is a freshwater lake unique to Crete. There are several free parking lots around the lake.

Cretans love to relax, swim, pedal-boat, and picnic here. You can see turtles, geese and ducks.

Several restaurants and craft stores have taken advantage of the opportunity to set up shop in the area.

The Beaches

The island boasts several magnificent beaches. The best known are Elafonissi, the lagoon of Balos, and Falassarna. At the opposite extreme to the east, you’ll find wild beaches: access is generally well signposted and parking facilities are available. We have them detailed below in the family section.

However, not all beaches are easy to access (Balos lagoon and Seitan Limania beach), so be careful if you’re with children!

Agios Nikolaos

A very touristy town that lacks a little authenticity. It’s still a pleasant place to stroll, whether it’s along its pedestrian street or around its natural lake. But you’ll soon have done the trick.

When it comes to bars and restaurants, there’s no shortage of choice. Stop off at the statue of Zeus at the end of the pier!

Spinalonga Island

The Venetians originally built a fortress on the island of Spinalonga in 1579, opposite the town of Elounda, to protect Crete from Turkish forces.

From 1904, the island became known as Leper Island. Anyone carrying leprosy was deported to the fort, as the Cretans believed the disease to be highly contagious.

Spinalonga has a pleasant little waterfront with waterside restaurants serving daily catch.

British author Victoria Hislop wrote the book « The Island of the Forgotten », which traces the tragic life of a family affected by leprosy.

Want to find out more? This private day trip to Spinalonga and Elounda near the Roman town of Olous is a great option.

To Eat

Cretan Specialties

Don’t miss the various Cretan specialties such as:

• Mezzes;
• Greek salad;
• Olive oil and local olives;
• Fried snails;
• Stuffed or fried garden vegetables;
• Moussaka;
• meat stews, grills or slouvaki (pork, lamb, beef, rabbit);
• Fish (swordfish, sea bream, red mullet, sea bass), cuttlefish, squid, octopus and saganaki shrimp.

Restaurant suggestions

Spelios

At Spelios, we shake your hand when you arrive! The place is packed, no mistake, it’s the place to be.

After a day on the beach, there’s nothing better than a beautiful terrace to admire the sunset, accompanied by a glass of wine.

Enjoy a delicious moussaka (the best we’ve ever had in our lives, bar none!), or let yourself be tempted by grilled meats, octopus or shrimp saganaki!

Corinna Star

The Corinna Star restaurant has a terrace overlooking a beautiful pool and the sea, perfect for admiring the sunset as you dine.

Very good food. Several menus on offer. Beautiful flavours. An excellent Greek salad, delicious tuna. We loved it!

Mon.Es

Mon.Es is a restaurant tucked away in an alleyway in Chania, very friendly, in a magnificent setting. Delicious food, refined dishes, we really appreciated the service! We recommend it.

Visit the toilets and you’ll feel dizzy with the archaeological remains under your feet!

Meltemi

Meltemi is a bar-restaurant. We suggest you stop off here for a refreshment and, above all, to admire the breathtaking view!

Other Restaurants

• Salis – in Chania ;
• Peskesi – in Heraklion;
• Captain Longa – in Plaka.

To Try

Hiking

If you’re a keen hiker or climber, you’ll find all the information you need on the website of the Association of Mountaineering Clubs of Chania. Between canyoning, climbing and trekking, you’ll find plenty to please you.

We suggest a visit to the Samaria Gorge These well-developed gorges are popular with hikers (16 km), so start early in the morning.

Rendezvous at Omalos or Sougia. Ask about taking the morning ferry to Agia Roumeli.

Diving and Snorkeling

With its clear, deep waters, snorkeling is the perfect option. There are many caves to see. Contact one of the diving centers to observe moray eels, scorpion fish, octopus and other fish. There are plenty of them.

There are several spots to try:

• Around Elounda to see the sunken town of Olous, Blue Cave near Agia Pelagia;
• Dia Island to see a shipwreck;
• To Malia to see the wreckage of a German fighter plane;
• Or on Skinaria beach, near Plakias.

Other Activities

For the adventurous, explore picturesque landscapes on a quad safari, book a Jeep tour through eastern Crete or the southern canyons and reconnect with nature on horseback.

For wine lovers, a visit to a vineyard such as Klados, Douloufakis or Manousakis is a must.

For the foodies, we suggest you visit an olive oil factory. Why not visit Astrikas or Vassilakis: a culinary voyage combining olives, wine and raki is a sure choice!

Want to cook like a Cretan? Don’t hesitate to take a cooking class to become an expert.

Finally, a sailing excursion, whether for the day or to watch the sun set.

What to Do as a Family

The Beaches

Ideally, we suggest you get to the main beaches early in the morning or late in the afternoon, to avoid the large influx of tourists during the summer season. Beach-chairs and umbrellas are available on every beach.

Elafonisi Beach

After 1 h of winding, narrow roads, which can be done in a small car if you’re coming from the north, you’ll be on the protected beach of Elafonissi, part of the Natura 2000 network.

Ample parking is available along the entire length of the site, they’ll tell you where to park.

The sandy beach is very large and very busy. Some places have pebbles. In some areas the sand takes on pink hues due to shell debris.

With an average depth of one metre over long distances, it’s perfect for families with children. The water is very clear.

Kedrodasos Beach

Too many people on Elafonissi beach? Just a ten-minute drive away, this wild, well-hidden beach with its juniper trees is very beautiful. Perfect for snorkeling!

Falasarna Beach

Located to the north-west, this beach is more pleasant, longer, with more waves, less clear and deeper, but less windy than the previous one.

Balos Beach

You’ll have to drive 7 km along a dirt road at 20 km/h to get to Balos lagoon! With an ounce of hope, try to make it to the main parking lot to find a spot.

The rest is done on foot. A beautiful 2 km « hike » ascending and descending on steep paths, carved out by the footsteps of tourists.

Beautiful viewpoints unveil the lagoon! You’ll be amazed by this expanse of turquoise water protected by rocks.

A few large tourist boats drop off beachgoers in the distance.

The right-hand side is busier, of course, because of its clear water and fine sand, and the tourists dropped off nearby by boat. Prefer the left-hand side if you want more peace and quiet, even if it can be a little rockier.

On the way back, a surprise may be waiting for you on the roof of your car: there are plenty of friendly goats around!

The Natural History Museum of Heraklion

The Heraklion Museum of Natural History is not very big, but it is very nice. It appeals to younger visitors with its interactive features.

Aquaworld

The Aquaworld aquarium in the port of Hersonissos is a paradise for children. It is also a care center for injured and orphaned reptiles. You can interact with the animals at the center.

Limnoupolis Water Park

Need to keep your kids cool and busy? The Limnoupolis water park is 15 minutes from the center of Chania.

Crete – On-Site

Getting There

How many points Aeroplan will you need in economy class for a one-way flight from Montreal? According to Air Canada’s points predictor, you’ll need at least 40,000 points to reach Heraklion airport (HER).

For our part, we took Easyjet from Nice to Chania, a 2.5-hour flight.

Accommodation

Save With Points

There are two Marriott Bonvoy credit cards issued by American Express, which allow you to quickly accumulate a large number of Marriott Bonvoy points. Thanks to these cards, you can enjoy several free nights.

We stayed at Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection and Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection.

Here are our reviews of these establishments:

At independent hotels, travel credit card points can also be used to save on reservations.

They’ll add up quickly with your day-to-day spending and welcome bonuses when you open a new credit card. You could opt for the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^®, which offers excellent insurance coverage.

Getting Around

By Land

The easiest thing is to rent the car. Please present your French or international driving license (compulsory). For our part, we chose Sixt – booking via Holiday Autos – which is fast and convenient, being located just outside Chania airport on the left.

Gasoline is expensive, so prefer a compact car with low fuel consumption to a diesel.

The driving is on the right side. Cretans are not the most disciplined drivers:

• Don’t be surprised if they overtake, honk or cross the white lines;
• Don’t be surprised if you see other drivers in the hard shoulder. It’s their way of letting themselves be overtaken.

Speed cameras are present and the police are rare, but present enough to have seen them in action, so take care and respect the limits.

Other ways to travel for long distances, the bus. I recommend the ktel company (central and eastern region) or this ktel website (western region).

In the city, we recommend taxis, and make sure the taximeter is activated.

By Sea

Various ferry connections (with the option of taking the car on board) are available between villages such as Paleochora and Agia Roumeli. However, it’s important to check weather conditions and timetables on the day itself.

We recommend the gtp|Ferry Connections website, to see all the ferry connections and timetables on the Greek islands, and the Anendyk website.

Other Information

As a family, the stroller will only be useful in the city. Away from home, you’ll be more comfortable with a baby carrier or children on your shoulders, as the roads and paths are not suitable, especially if you’re a fan of archaeological sites!

You’ll find plenty of mini/super markets, petrol stations and pharmacies with late opening hours. Choices are sometimes limited in small boutiques, but don’t worry, the main items are there!

Budget

You’ll generally need to budget around €70/person/day for Crete, less if you use points (rates shown are for 2019).

• Food: affordable, between €15 and €30, but the bill can quickly rise in restaurants. We suggest you don’t always order dessert, since a sweet touch is usually offered with the digestif;
• Accommodation: everything will depend on the types of rentals Hotel, Airbnb, homestay or other type of rental. For our first three nights, we booked the Dempla Heights Villas accommodation ;
• Car : for our week-long trip, we used the Holiday Autos website, which offered excellent rates at Sixt. The rental cost €150 and we filled up only once (after 1,000 kms!), on our return to the airport, for about €60;
• Activities: entrance fees for sites and museums range from a few euros to around €12. If you’re planning activities such as boating, quad biking or diving, costs will of course be higher.

When to Go

Crete is a destination where the weather is good all year round, with mild temperatures in winter. To visit, we suggest the period from April to mid-October, and avoid July-August when attendance, prices and heat are at their peak.

What to Take With You

In addition to the classic sun kit (sunglasses, hat, cream, etc.), we recommend that you take :

• Mask and snorkel, if you’re a snorkeling fan;
• Good sneakers for walking to the steep beaches, and flip-flops so you don’t burn your feet in the sand;
• Beach shoes may also be useful, as some beaches are rocky.

The Essential Guides

Ulysses Travel Guides has an extensive collection of books on this destination:

• All guides to Crete;
• Electronic guide to hiking in Crete.

Visa and Canadian Representation

We recommend that you complete the registration form for Canadians abroad on the Government of Canada website to be notified of any events, civil disturbances or natural disasters during your travels abroad.

Canadian Embassy:

• 48 Ethnikis Antistaseos Street, Chalandri, 152 31, Athens, Greece. 30 (210) 727-3400.
• athns-cs@international.gc.ca
• Passport services are available
• Canadian Embassy in the Hellenic Republic

Canadian Consulate :

• 19, rue Kountouriotou nord, 546 25, Thessaloniki, Greece. 30 (2310) 256350.
• petmezas_canada@thessalaw.gr

Tourist Offices

If you’re looking for inspiration, take a look at the Crete Tourist Board website. The site provides a map with all points of interest, all the information is there.

Health and Safety

It is recommended to have up-to-date vaccines and a list of your drug profile in case of a problem, with a copy of your prescriptions for opioid-containing treatments.

There are plenty of pharmacies to choose from, so you’ll have no trouble finding one.

This geographical area presents no risk of insalubrity, standard hygiene rules apply and tap water is safe to drink.

Long clothing and high boots are recommended for hikers, as snakes can be dangerous on the island.

Suggested Itinerary

You should allow around two weeks to visit the island of Crete. One week for the west side, with its famous beaches, and another week for the wilder, more authentic east. We therefore suggest a minimum stay of one week to discover part of it!