Crete Road Trip

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Are you ready for an unforgettable trip to Crete? This stunning Greek Island will definitely steal your heart – it did ours and many others who travel to Crete multiple times for its natural beauty, culture, and gastro scenes.

Let’s make your dream Crete road trip come true!

Is Crete Worth Visiting?

Is Crete a good place to visit? You wonder. Our answer is: absolutely! Crete is a perfect vacation spot for both beach lovers and for those who are excited about culture or food. You will find them all in one place!

Crete vs Santorini

Do you want to visit one of the Greek Islands and wonder if Crete or Santorini should be the first one? We recommend starting your trip with Crete. After that, you can even hop on to Santorini, Ios, Paros, and Mykonos. Crete has multiple international airports, which makes it quite easy to plan your itinerary. It is also a bigger island, so you can do a lot of different things, while the smaller islands can be covered quickly, with a focus on the beaches and relaxation.

On the other hand, if you only want to spend your vacation on the beaches, you can opt for other islands too.

Beach holiday in Crete

Alternatively, you can choose one of the lovely towns on the south of the island, and spend all your days on the little secluded beaches. I have spent 3 days around Chora Sfakion and stayed at this newly built fantastic hotel, The Authentic Village!

How many days in Crete are Needed?

We would recommend you to have 7 to 10 days to explore the highlights of Crete and have a relaxing holiday without too much rush.

Driving in Crete

How long does it take to Drive Across Crete?

It is not a huge island. Crete is only 260 km (160 miles long). You could drive this way in 5-6 hours, but we highly recommend not to rush so much. The island is full of amazing beaches and historical sites where you can easily spend days.

Is it safe to drive in Crete?

We have to add that it is perfectly safe to drive around Crete.

Crete Road Trip Map

Crete Road Trip Itinerary

Whether you have a short or long trip to Crete, we got you covered!

The best cities to Visit in Crete

Crete doesn’t have many big cities, but we recommend not to miss the following cities when traveling to Crete. They have awesome restaurants and a lot of interesting museums and historical buildings and sites.

• Chania (or also spelled Hania)
• Heraklion (that’s where Knossos Palace is!)
• Rethymno

What to see in Crete in Five days? If you lack time…

What are the do-not-miss attractions in Crete that you should see if you only have five days? A Crete road trip from Chania or Heraklion is your best option.

• 1. day: Chania town – it is a great starting point for the next two places:
• 2. day: Samaria Gorge
• 3. day: Balos beach and the west of Chania
• 4. day: visit Rethymno and then drive to Heraklion
• 5. day, Heraklion Knossos Palace (in Heraklion)

You can find out more about these places below.

Suggested Crete Road Trip itinerary – long version?

The first days you can call a Western Crete road trip, and the second part of the trip goes more to the middle and east, and south of the island.

• 1. day: Chania town – it is a great starting point for the next two places:
• 2. day: Samaria Gorge
• 3. day: Balos beach and the west of Chania
• 4. day: Elafonissi beach
• 5. day: Rethymno – Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior and of the Saints Constantine and Helen
• 6. day Heraklion
• 7. Knossos Palace (in Heraklion)
• 8. nap: Ágios Nikólaos
• 9. day: Matala & Minoan Palace of Phaistos
• 10. day driving back to Chania

Extensions:

• 2. days: Chora Sfakion and its surrounding (boat trips)
• 1-day hike to Dikti Range (mountains over 2000 meters)
• trip to Zakros (and Eastern Crete), Minoan Palace of Zakros, Pelekita Cave

Crete road trip stops – the best places to see in Crete

1. day: Chania town

Pick up your car from one of the airport car rentals and drive to Chania. Alternatively, take a bus or taxi to the town and rent a car only on your third day.

Chania is the site of the Minoan settlement the Greeks called Kydonia, and nowadays one of the most important settlements on the island. The borders of the Old Town are the partly destroyed old Venetian wall that you can walk along. The central part of the old town is named Kasteli and has been inhabited since Neolithic times and located on a small hill right next to the seafront and has always been the ideal place for a settlement due to its secure position, its location next to the harbor and its proximity to the fertile valley in the south.

Eleftherios Venizelos Square is the main square of the Old Town is also known as Syntrivani (from Turkish şadırvan ‘fountain’). It is the heart of the tourist activities in the area. Next to this (on the west side) lies the Topanas district, which was the Christian quarter during the Ottoman period. Its name comes from the Venetian ammunition warehouse (Turkish tophane), which was located there.

The Jewish quarter (Evraiki) was located at northwest of the Old Town, behind the harbor, and within the borders of Topanas. The Topanas area has many narrow alleys and old buildings, some of which have been restored as hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars. This makes it a popular place, especially during the warm “summer” period (April–October). Finally, a very distinctive area of the Old Town is the harbor itself and generally the seafront. Akti Tompazi, Akti Kountouriotou, and Akti Enoseos all feature several historical buildings and nightlife.

The city features several beaches to dip into the water. if you plan on surfing (suitable for beginners), head to the Gold Coast Beach in Chrissi Akti. It is a few kilometers to the west of the center.

Place to stay in Chania:

• in the old town: Anemones Rooms
• near the surfing beach: Melia Studios (we stayed here)
• near beaches: Agapi studios (we stayed here too)
• on budget: Kumba hostel

2. day Samaria Gorge

The second day is for the famous Samaria Gorge tour. We recommend you to pay for one of the tours, so you don’t need to worry about bus and boat timetables, and you will be picked up from your hotel. You can find tours here.

The Samaria Gorge National Park is located in southwest Crete. The entrance to the gorge is at Xyloskalo, 1 230 meters above sea level, and runs down to the seaside village of Agia Roumeli on the southern coast of Crete at the Libyan Sea. The gorge’s width ranges from 150 metres at its widest point to 3 metres at its narrowest point, which is also the most famous part of the gorge, called as “the Gates” where the surrounding walls are 100 meters high. The Tarraios river, named after the ancient city of Tarra, runs the entire length of the gorge.

The average time spent walking through the Samaria Gorge is 4-6 hours or even more on a rough, rocky footpath along the riverbed. It is mostly downhill and quite steep at the beginning. The trail is about 14 km long in the gorge and an extra 3 km must be added to it outside of the national park.

Sleep in Chania (same as last night).

• in the old town: Anemones Rooms
• near the surfing beach: Melia Studios (we stayed here)
• near beaches: Agapi studios (we stayed here too)
• on budget: Kumba hostel

3. Balos

Drive to Balos and visit the northwest of Crete. The famous lagoon of Balos is located approximately 56km northwest of Chania and 17km northwest of Kissamos, formed between the Cape Gramvousa and the small Cape Tigani and below the range of Platiskinos. Balos is surely the mostly photographed beach in Crete with its turquoise water. It is an ideal place for families as well as the lagoon water is calm, shallow yet beautiful surrounding.

You can also take boat trips to the Balos and Gramvouse from Chania or Kissamos. Look for options here.

Sleep:

• in Kissamos: Captain’s Beach Apartments
• in Phalasarna: Kavousi Resort

4. day Elafonisi beach

Another fantastic beach in Crete. The crystal clear water and fine pink sand make it special. The road to the beach is narrow but worth experiencing. Count about 30-40 minutes walk from the parking to the beach viewpoint on the island.

Sleep near Elafonisi at Iliovasilema Apartments

5. day: Rethymno

Rethymno was originally built during the Minoan civilization. The city was prominent enough to mint its own coins and maintain urban growth. One of these coins is today depicted as the crest of the town: two dolphins in a circle. It is worth visiting the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno and the Museum of Sea Life at Rethymno.

Near the town, you can drive up to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior and of the Saints Constantine and Helen.

Sleep:

• in the Old Town at Archontiko Old Town Suites
• near the beach: Ilian Beach & Apartments

6. day Heraklion (or Heraklio)

It is easy to spend a day or two (minimum) in Heraklion. The famous Knossos palace is close by, however we recommend you to visit it on your next day, museums, art exhibitions, and lots of places to eat, Heraklion is a good place to stay and then explore more of the surrounding area.

You can easily spend half a day exploring the Old Town and visiting the 16th-century Venetian Fort of Koules. The promenade offers a scenic walk, and you can also walk along the old city walls and admire the city from above. The other half od the day it is great to visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum or the Natural History Museum of Crete. If you stay longer in town, we recommend the Museum of Greek Inventions too.

Sleep in Heraklio Town (lots of cute apartments, I stayed in this , look at the design!)

7. day Knossos Palace (in Heraklion)

Knossos Palace is Crete’s biggest and best-preserved Minoan site. It is five kilometers southeast of Heraklion, and without doubt, the biggest tourist attraction of Crete island. Knossos is believed to have been the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos. Remarkably sophisticated, it included ceremonial spaces, living areas, storage rooms, elaborate decoration, and a complex drainage system. Important to note, that many frescos and statues are replicas and the originals are held in Heraklion Archaeological Museum which you visit the other day.

Inexpensive city buses from the Old Town leave every 15-20 minutes for Knossos during the summer season. But if you plan on driving further, there is a large car park as well. If you want to spend more time in the city, pick some of the museums that you haven’t yet seen the previous day or just head to some of the little coffees or restaurants.

Sleep in Heraklio Town (lots of cute apartments, I stayed in this , look at the design!)

8. day: Ágios Nikólaos (Agios Nikolaos)

It’s time to drive more to the east. Agios Nikolaos is probably best known as a tourist town that serves as a hub to tsmall villages and farms that make up that part of Lassithi. Tourist attractions include the small lagoon Lake Voulismeni, small beaches in the town, the tiny island of Agioi Pantes, the archaeological museum, the local flora exhibition “Iris” and numerous fairs. Just a short ferry ride away from Agios Nikolaos is the island of Spinalonga, an old Venetian fortress turned leper colony in the beginning of the 20th century.

Many famous movie sets from the 60s are set in this little settlement: He Who Must Die, The Moon-Spinners, and the TV series The Lotus Eaters.

Sleep in Manos Apartments

9. day: Matala & Minoan Palace of Phaistos

A bit of southern Crete. Matala is a small village 75 km south-west of Heraklion. The artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala bay were created in the Neolithic Age. It has been suggested that the caves were once used as tombs, but it is more likely that they were used as living spaces, given their volume (corpses do not need that much room to walk around). One of the caves is called “Brutospeliana” because according to the legend it was frequented by the Roman general Brutus.

Matala was then a fishing village. In the 1960s, the caves were occupied by hippies who were later driven out by the church and the military. Matala is now a heavily overbuilt tourist destination relying on coach tours and summer visitors. Notheless, it is worth the visit. There are many gift shops and bars. Matala’s hippie history relives during the 3 days Matala Beach Festival, every June. The Minoan Palace of Phaistos also worth a visit.

Sleep in Galaxias Studios in Kalamaki

10. day driving back to Chania and leaving the island.

Your road trip came to an end. It is time to drive back to Chania – maybe have a quick beach stop on the way or at one of the city beaches if you have time before your fligh.

Extra Days

Chora Sfakion

Visit more of the south of the island. You can get around by boat between little secluded beaches: Glyka Nera (Sweet Water Beach) or Marmara Beach. Also, there is dedicated nudist beach, Filaki Beach, just right next to the town, as almost everywhere in Crete.

A little drive away you will find a fortress in Frangokastello, more cliffs and more beaches. You can easily spend multiple days in this area too.
Sleep at The Authentic Village (stayed there)

Zakros

Do you want to escape the touristy sides of Crete? The most eastern place of the Island, Kato Zakros combines the ruins of important Minoan palace with beautiful beaches and exceptional walking ways. Zakros and its seaport Kato Zakros are found in the most south-eastern part of Crete and are three hours away from Heraklion or about 40 minutes from Sitia. You can visit the Minoan Palace of Zakros and have a trip to the Pelekita Cave.

Stay in Ailamakis Apartements

Crete is a good island to visit! What is your dream spot to go?

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