Crete Travel Guide 

We loved staying in Crete, particularly Chania old town, it was full of charm, with old winding streets and Venetian style buildings painted in all different colours. It is a harbour town, with so many amazing bars and restaurants. I can't speak to all of Crete as it is a very large island, so difficult to cover everything off in one trip. In the past I have stayed in Spili which was stunningly beautiful, but relatively quiet. I would really recommend staying in Chania old town specifically, but keep in mind the beaches are reflective of the busy town, so not pristine clear waters. Again, each island is completely different and Chania looks completely different to any Greek places I have been. There is a Venetian and Ottoman influence in the style of buildings which makes it so unique. There are some beaches nearby the old town however they aren't the best on the island. Some beaches approx 1 hour away are Elafonisi with pink sand, the lagoon of Balos, and Falassarna are beaches of interest. 

How long to stay

I would recommend staying in Crete for at least 7 days, especially if you want to see a good mix of beaches, towns and historical sites. It is such a large island, and as I have mentioned throughout this guide, getting from A to B is not always quick or straightforward, particularly if you are relying on public transport.

Even with a car, visiting places of interest often involves a 1 to 3 hour drive each way. Some of the most beautiful beaches and villages are tucked away in completely different corners of the island. Driving from one side of Crete to the other can take around 5 to 6 hours, which really puts into perspective just how big it is compared to other Greek islands.

If you only have 3 or 4 nights, I would suggest picking one area, like Chania or Heraklion, and exploring that region properly rather than trying to cram in the entire island. But if you can give Crete a full week or more, you will have a much more relaxed trip and actually enjoy the journey between places rather than constantly being in transit.

Getting to Crete

Crete has 2 main airports; Chania & Heraklion, both have lots of departures from airports across the UK and Europe. I would personally decide which part of Crete you would like to stay in, and go to the closest airport, as getting around the island is difficult and expensive (I will go into more detail below). I found that when checking prices for flights from Newcastle airport, there wasn't much difference in price between each airport.

Heraklion has the largest ferry port, and is the main port to travel by Ferry to other islands. Hekaklion is easily accessible by ferry from islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos and Paros. As Crete is one of the most southern islands, travelling by ferry from Athens can take between 7 -10 hours depending on which ferry you choose, so I wouldn't recommend getting to Crete by ferry unless you're keen on the idea of a 10 hour ferry journey.

Getting around

We used public buses to get around Crete. We found that getting a taxi just wasn't an option because it's just such a large island, so the journeys are pretty long, therefore very expensive. For example we needed to get from where we were staying in Chania to the ferry port in Heraklion, but it was going to cost 1890 euros for that journey alone (based on 4 people) so it might have been worth it if there were 4 people in the taxi, so costs could be split, but not necessarily worth it just for 2 of us.

Getting from Chania Airport to Chania old town by Bus

Check online before you land what time the buses will arrive, it all depends on the time of year, we arrived at 11:30pm and got the last bus to Chania old town which left at 11:59pm.

When you leave the arrivals area after security, turn right and go all the way down to the departures area, outside this area, there is the bus terminal and you will see a KTEL kiosk which you can buy your ticket. Test out your Greek and try to learn “2 people to Hania please”. More than likely the person at the kiosk will speak English but it’s good to know.

It cost €2.50pp for the journey and took around 40 minutes to arrive into Chania old town.

Getting from Chania to Heraklion by Bus

At the time this is posted, there are buses leaving Chania direct to Heraklion leaving every hour at 30 minutes past the hour. The bus company is called KTEL so google the times. The KYEL website recommends booking in advance during peak times as once the 50 seats are booked they are no longer available.

The main bus station in Chania is easy to navigate, has a cafe and a ticket kiosk, and the bus departure times are clearly displayed and it’s pretty easy to figure out which bus to get on as they are numbered. There are also luggage locks so if you wanted to wander around Chania, you could pay to leave your bags there in the lockers.

The buses have air conditioning but bring some water for this journey! Eat before you get on the bus as they don’t allow open food or open coffee (we had to throw away an untouched coffee cup)

It took around 3 hours to get from Chania to Heraklion, and cost €16pp for the journey. When checking taxi timetables it would cost €180 for a 4 person taxi, which split 4 ways wouldn’t be too bad, but as it was just the 2 of us, this would have been far too expensive, and getting the bus was the best option for us.

The buses we got on to Heraklion, also stopped at Rethymno so the same above would apply to getting to Rethymno.

this is the linK I used to plan our routes

https://www.e-ktel.com/en/

Ferry

There are 3 ferry ports in Crete, one in Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion. We used Heraklion to get to Naxos, as I found this the port that has the most departures for other islands in the Cyclades. I wish there was a ferry we could have caught from Chania to avoid a 3 hour bus journey to Heraklion, but during May when we travelled, there was no options and even after lots of online searching, this seemed like the best option.

Getting to Heraklion ferry terminal

I was a little worried about finding the correct departure port from Heraklion ferry terminal (i am a natural born worrier). When I searched on google maps where to find the ferry port in Heraklion as it looked huge, there was a cruise terminal, ferry terminals, shipping container terminals.

To help, look for the giant chimney which is located at the main bus terminal at Heraklion, then from the giant chimney head down the road towards the sea. You should find the entrance to the ferry terminal, and there is a map here which points to where the main passenger station is at the terminal. At the main entrance to the ferry terminal, there are large car parks if you need to leave you car and there are kiosks where you can buy ferry tickets and the ferry timetables. You ferry will likely leave from near where these kiosks are.

When we arrived at the ferry terminal to get on, there were plenty of Seajets staff telling people where to go for each ferry, and it was chaotic, but organised chaos. It was nice having the Seajets staff there to help, as i wasn't expecting any staff members to be there to be honest. Heraklion is likely going to be the first departure on the route, as it is one of the last islands on the route in the Cyclades.

Click here for more in depth information about Ferry hopping

Taxi

We didn't use the taxi services, but if you aren't put off by the costs, see below prices based on a journey from Chania Old Town to get an idea. The taxi telephone number is 18300 28210 98700 (taxi hermes).

Accommodation

Qualia Slow Life Suites, Chania Old Town

i absolutely loved staying in this accommodation, the way it was decorated was exactly how I would want to design my own home, its an old building and they have restores it in a modern way, but kept its old features such as open wooden beams, venetian style stutters than open up to a bustling gorgeous street and open concrete brick work.

The bed was unbelievably comfortable, and staying there was such a luxurious treat after 3 weeks of island hopping with heavy backpacks. We paid 350 euros or £300 in total for 4 nights here. It wasn't exactly a hotel, but there were friendly receptionists during certain hours of the day, our rooms were cleaned daily. You could choose higher priced penthouse rooms or a garden suite with an outdoor hottub, but we stayed in a junior suite, and it suited us perfectly. There was no pool or option for breakfast, but with so many amazing breakfast places to try out right within walking distances, this didn't bother us at all. There was an espresso machine in our rooms so we had espresso and headed out. it was the perfect way to end our greek island hopping trip, and i would definitely book a room here again!

Links to accommodation here 

Aoria Estate Old Port, Chania Old Town

We stayed here for the first leg of our trip, and for the price, it was absolutely amazing value. We stayed here for 4 nights and paid 322 euros or £274 in total. It is on the same street as Qualia Suites so it is a stunningly beautiful location. I would say this is a great option if you are on a budget, but it didn't have the same luxury as the Qualia Suites., but it was still decorated nicely and had a comfortable bed with all the amenities you would need, such as aircon, fridge, hairdryer and espresso machine. The only thing I didn't like about my stay was I was woken up a couple of times one night by a stray dog barking outside, which to be fair, is completely out of the accommodations control.

Links to accommodation here 

Artee Suites, Heraklion

I would recommend staying here if you are planning on getting the ferry from Heraklion, as it was a very close walk to the ferry port which is why i choose it. It is close to the main area of Heraklion, but if you want to be right in the centre of Heraklion, this accommodation might not be for you. The surroundings of the accommodation weren't the prettiest, but thats because it was close to the ferry port, so it is in a residential area. That bring said, this accommodation is so beautifully decorated and it was so cosy, I would have happily stayed here for a few more nights.

We stayed in the deluxe Junior Suite for one night which cost 45 euros or £38.50 which is great value for such a beautiful room. The room has a comfy queen bed, a sofa bed, a flat screen tv with netflix, perfect wifi, a mini bar, aircon, balcony with tables of chairs, coffee machine, shower, hair dryer, an a little kitchenette and iron.

Links to accommodation here 

Prices

I would say Crete sits somewhere in the middle when it comes to Greek island prices. It is definitely not the cheapest island, but it is nowhere near Mykonos or Santorini levels either. It really depends on how you travel and where you stay.

For accommodation, we paid 322 to 350 euros for four nights in beautiful boutique suites in Chania Old Town, which worked out at roughly 80 to 90 euros per night. In Heraklion we paid just 45 euros for a one night stay in a modern junior suite near the port, which I thought was amazing value. You could absolutely spend much more in places like Elounda if you go for luxury resorts, but there are options for most budgets.

Food and drink felt very reasonable. Main dishes in local restaurants were around 7.50 to 11 euros, and even in prime harbour locations we were paying 11 euros for souvlaki and under 10 euros for traditional dishes like boureki. Drinks in bars were also fairly priced, especially compared to other popular islands. If you budget around 25 to 35 euros per person per day for food and a couple of drinks, you would eat very well.

Transport is where you need to plan properly. Public buses are cheap, for example 2.50 euros from Chania Airport into town and 16 euros for the three hour journey between Chania and Heraklion. Taxis, however, are expensive because the island is so big. A taxi between Chania and Heraklion was quoted at 180 euros, so unless you are splitting it between four people, it adds up quickly.

For a one week trip, I would personally budget around 500 to 700 euros spending money per person, excluding flights and accommodation. That would comfortably cover food, drinks, local buses, a couple of organised tours to beaches like Elafonisi Beach or Balos Lagoon, and maybe a ferry or day trip. You could absolutely do it for less if you are careful, and you could easily spend more if you opt for luxury hotels and private transfers.

Restaurants & Bars

To Stachi restaurant, Chania old town

This is a vegan/ vegetarian restaurant, and I know that might sound off putting to some meat eaters like myself, but the food was so good, you really didn't mind or notice. It is a family run restaurant serving home made traditional Greek food, vegetables served on the menu are grown on the families farm just outside of Crete which is absolutely incredible. The chef Stelios is such a lovely man, and he is so passionate about the food he has created, and will talk you through the menu, offering suggestions and his favourite options to try. Everyone who served us was genuinely warm and friendly. Try the homemade bread which Stelios wakes up early in the morning to make fresh each day.

We visited twice because we loved it so much, we tried fava (my absolute favourite greek dish) as well as homemade bread, stuffed peppers, Boureki (a traditional Chania dish with phyllo pastry, zucchini or pumpkin with layers of potato) and baked eggplants. Everything was truly delicious.

Main dishes were between 7.50 - 9.90 euros, appetisers were between 1.10 -5.50 so it was a very reasonably priced meal.

Faka Restaurant, Chania Old Town

We tried this restaurant after we could smell something amazing cooking on the bbq grill, and it did not disappoint (sometimes this is the best way to find a great restaurant!). This spot is overlooking the old venetian harbour, and it's really nice to sit here whilst the sun is setting, and watching the world go by. It served traditional greek dishes, we got chicken Souvlaki for 11 euros and boureki which was 7.50. Both dishes were so delicious and we are glad we visited, and would return. Some reviews are mixed online tough, but we really enjoyed it.

Ntourountous Bakery, Chania Old Town

This is a Cretian cafe, which I thought was a big chain across Grecce, due to the size of the store in Chania, but upon doing some research there are 2 locations in Crete only. We ate at this bakery so many times we lost count. Ther was a huge selection of patisserie, baklava, sandwiches and ice cream. There was so much to chose from, it was a little overwhelming. It can get pretty busy here, with locals seeminly heading there for their morning coffee. The wifi was perfect here if you needed to have a reliable connection.

Tamam Restuant, Chania old town

This place has queues down the street, and is certainly one to book in advance. Its overlooking the Venetian harbour in the heart of Chania old town.

Mamouth Bar, Chania

Myself and Dan loved it here, and if you like rock music, you just might love it too. We drank here every evening, it was great for watching the world go by, and listneing to great music. The drinks were reasonably priced.

Melodica cocktail-bar, Chania Old Town

This was bar close to Mamouth bar, which has such a lovelty atmosphere. I felt truly content sitting at his bar, watching the world go by, sitting under the trees with tinkly fairy lights. The owner is such a lovely, warm and welcoming man, and his little dog , Luisa, is painted on the murals on the wall. I would get a sangria (not very greek, im sorry but i love them) and Dan would get a beer, but they sell beautifully made cocktails too. The prices were super reasonable.

Areas to Stay

Chania
If I had to pick a favourite overall base, it would probably be Chania. The Old Town is honestly so pretty. Think pastel Venetian buildings, little alleyways, rooftop restaurants and a harbour that looks even better at sunset. It feels romantic but still lively.

You’ve got beaches nearby like Nea Chora and Golden Beach, and you’re also perfectly placed for day trips to Balos Lagoon and Elafonissi, which are some of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

Chania is ideal for couples, first time visitors and anyone who wants that classic Greek aesthetic without being stuck in a party resort. It’s also great if you like having lots of restaurants and bars to choose from, but still want it to feel charming rather than chaotic.

Rethymno
If you like marine life and beaches, Rethymno is for you. It is famous for sea turtles, and you can book sea turtle walks for 30 euros which goes towards the tutle charity. I would love to do this. You can also volunteer for Archelon which is the charity that protects marine life, specifically the sea turtles.

Rethymno sits roughly in the middle of the north coast and feels like a smaller, slightly more relaxed version of Chania. It has a lovely Old Town, a pretty Venetian harbour and a long sandy beach that stretches for miles.

It’s a really nice balance between culture and beach time. There are plenty of tavernas and bars, but it’s not overly wild.

I’d say Rethymno is great for couples and families who want a bit of everything. It also works well if you’re planning to explore both western and eastern Crete because it’s quite central.

Heraklion
Heraklion is the capital, and it feels more like a proper working city than a holiday resort. It’s busy, a little gritty in places, but really interesting. This is where you’ll find the famous Knossos Palace and some great museums. Personally, I found Hekaklion a lot less welcoming than Chania, people were not as friendly to tourists, and Chania has a much nicer atmosphere.

The beaches directly in the city aren’t the best Crete has to offer, but if you stay slightly outside in areas like Ammoudara, you’ll have better beach access.

Heraklion is ideal for history lovers, people catching ferries to other islands, or anyone who prefers a more authentic city base rather than a resort vibe.

Spili

We rented a villa here back in 2016 with a group of friends and honestly, it is still one of my favourite trips I’ve ever done. The villa was tucked up in the mountains near Spili and we rented a car so we could properly explore. Every evening we would walk down into the centre of the village, which felt so peaceful and completely untouched by mass tourism.

This was not a party trip. It was slow mornings, lazy afternoons and proper switch off energy. We made homemade pitta on the stove, mixed our own tzatziki, and had BBQs out on the patio as the sun went down behind the mountains. It was simple but perfect.

Spili itself is small, traditional and incredibly authentic. It has that proper Cretan village feel, with local tavernas, a little main square and mountain views all around you. It feels magical in a very understated way.

This spot would be ideal for families or groups who are happy to rent a car and use it as a base for exploring. Because it sits fairly centrally on the island, you are within easy reach of places like Rethymno and the stunning Preveli Beach. It is the kind of place you choose if you want authenticity, nature and proper quality time, rather than beach clubs and nightlife.

Elounda
Elounda is where you go if you want calm, scenic and slightly boujee. It’s known for luxury resorts, beautiful views across Mirabello Bay and a slower pace of life.

The beaches here are generally small and sheltered, with clear, calm water. It feels very polished and peaceful.

Elounda is perfect for couples, honeymooners or anyone wanting a quieter, more upscale stay.

Agios Nikolaos
Close to Elounda, Agios Nikolaos has a really pretty lake in the centre of town and a slightly more lived in feel. There are beaches within walking distance and loads of waterfront restaurants. It’s a good mix of relaxed but still lively in the evenings.

I’d recommend it for couples and small groups who want a scenic base without going full luxury resort.

Malia
Now, if you are going to Crete for nightlife, Malia is the party capital. The strip is packed with bars and clubs, especially in peak summer, and it attracts a younger crowd. At the fine age of 34, this is my idea of holiday hell, but when i was 18 this would have been holiday heaven. Each to their own!

The beach is actually really nice, long and sandy, but the main draw here is the nightlife. Malia is best suited to party lovers and big friendship groups who want late nights and very little sleep.

Hersonissos
Hersonissos sits somewhere between Malia and a family resort. It has nightlife, beach clubs and bars, but also plenty of all inclusive hotels and family friendly options.

The beaches are a mix of small coves and organised sandy stretches. This is a good option if you want a bit of fun in the evenings but not full on party chaos. It works well for groups with mixed ages or couples who want options.

Places of Interest

Elafonisi Beach

This beach is at the top of most itineraries in Crete, the beach has pink sand and stunningly bright clear blue water, Whilst staying in Chania, we saw lots of tour kiosks advertising day trips to Elafonisi Beach, but like most places in Crete, is is quite faw away. It is located in the southwest coast of Crete and is around a 1 hour and 40 minutes drive. If you are renting a car, this would be ideal, as you could arrive early and leave when the crowds arrive. There are options at tourist kiosks to get boat trips there, but at a much higher cost than a bus tour. Personally, I would opt for a tour company, as the public bus options from Chania to Elafonisi seem none existent.

Kalypso Beach

This beach is a stunningly beautiful locaed on the South west coast of Crete. However, it might not be to everyones tastes, particularly if you are looking for a long sandy beach. It is a narrow rocky cove with clear blue waters. There is a small paid for sunbed area and it can get extremely busy during peak season July-August. Unlike Elafonsi, there arent many planned excursion tours to Kalpso, so it is definitely a one to visit if you have a car, as again this beach isn't accessible by public bus and its a long and difficult walk to get to.

Seitan Limania Beach

This is a stunning rock cove beach on the Northeast side of the Akrotiri Peninsula in Northern Crete. Its a steep hike to access this beach, so not advisable if you have mobility issues, and it isnt close to any public transport options. It would be ideal to visit if you are hiring a car.

Balos Beach

Alongside Elfaonsi, Balos lagoon is a very popular day trip with lots of people visiting Crete, and whilst we were in Chania, there were lots of tour companies offering excursions to Balos beach, so there are plenty of options to pick from to visit this beautifil beach. Balos is around 1 hour 17 minutes drive from Chania Old town, and its in the North western tip of the island. It is a truly picture perfect beach, so it is understandable how it is a must visit beach. Like most places to visit in Crete, its easier if you are driving there, as you will be able to come and go as you please, and arrive early to beat the tour excursion crowds.

Chania Old Town

I know I have wanged on about my love of Chania Old town, so I do apologise, but I cant write a “places of interest” part for Crete without mentioning it. If you are not staying in Chania Old Town, you absolutely need to visit at least once. It is one of the prettiest spots in Crete, with Venetian buildings, narrow alleyways, little boutique shops and a harbour that looks incredible at sunset.

Even if you are based elsewhere on the island, it is worth planning a day or evening here just to wander. Have a slow dinner by the water, get lost in the side streets, and soak up the atmosphere. It is lively without being overwhelming and has that perfect mix of history and holiday energy.

Preveli Beach

We visited this beach when we stayed in Spili in around 2016 and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Its difficult to get to from Chania, as it is quite far, but if you are staying in Rethymno or Spili its perfect. We accessed this beach by car, and there was a walk downhill to get to the beach itself. It is a stunning sandy beach which is lined with palm trees. If you are feeling adventurous, you can hike along the freshwater river which is filled with forest trees. There wasn't a lot of amenities here, such as sunbeds or tavernas, its a little more “stranded on a desert island” which I sometimes love (at least there wasn't when we visited in 2016.

Day trip to Santorini

If you wanted to try visiting another Greek island whilst visiting Crete, there are excursions that offer day trips to Santorini from Heraklion port, but be warned, this will be an extremely long day as the ferry from Crete to Santorini can take 2 to 2 ½ hours alone. Most of the trips collect from your hotel and then take you on to Fira and Oia in Santorini.

Loutro Village

This is a tiny, picture perfect harbour lined with whitewashed houses sitting against the brightest, clearest blue water. It genuinely looks like it has been lifted straight off a postcard. No roads, no traffic, just boats bobbing in the bay and a handful of tavernas along the waterfront.

Loutro is only accessible by boat or on foot, which is part of its charm, but it does mean getting there takes a bit of planning. There are organised tours from Chania for around 40 euros which include a bus transfer to Chora Sfakia followed by a boat trip over to Loutro. Personally, I would probably opt for this. It just feels simpler and a lot less stressful than trying to coordinate buses and ferry timetables yourself, but obviously some people might prefer to DIY and pay a lot less.

There is no direct public bus from Chania to Loutro. If you are doing it independently, you would need to get the bus from Chania to Chora Sfakia and then take the ferry from there across to Loutro. It is absolutely doable, but it does require keeping an eye on connections and timings.

If you are renting a car, driving down to Chora Sfakia is probably the easiest option. From there you park up and take the short ferry across. The drive is around two hours from Chania and very scenic, but it is mountain roads, so take your time.

Loutro is perfect for couples, hikers and anyone who wants that peaceful, off grid Greek island feeling without actually leaving Crete.

Knossos Palace

Knossos Palace is considered one of the oldest cities in Europe and is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece. It dates back to the Minoan civilisation and is famously linked to the legend of the Minotaur and the labyrinth.

It is best visited if you are staying on the eastern side of Crete, in places like Heraklion or Malia, as it is just outside Heraklion and very easy to reach from there. If you are based in Chania, it would make for a very long day trip.

Go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the intense heat and cruise crowds. There is very little shade, and it gets hot quickly. I would also recommend either reading up beforehand or hiring a guide, as it brings the ruins to life so much more when you understand what you are looking at.