How many days is ideal for Crete?

Crete is Greece's largest island—just driving from one end to the other makes for a five-hour journey, and there's much to do and see in between. If you want to experience all Crete has to offer, plan to spend a full week exploring its monasteries, olive groves, towns, and coast.



People Also Ask

The best time to visit Crete is from mid-May to June or from September to October.

MORE DETAILS

The best time to visit Crete is from mid-May to June or from September to October. May brings with it warmer waters and beautiful wildflowers that can be spotted throughout the island's natural attractions.

MORE DETAILS

Crete has better beaches but they're spread out and it takes a fair bit of effort to see the best beaches. Santorini is small and it's easy to get around to all the popular beaches. Crete has more small traditional (non-touristy) villages. Santorini is more romantic and better suited to a honeymoon.

MORE DETAILS

The most affordable Greek Islands to visit include Crete, Andros, Tinos, Corfu and Naxos. These cheap Greek Islands don't get nearly as many visitors as others, making everything from transportation to food and accommodations more affordable. And often, they're not even very far from the more popular islands.

MORE DETAILS

You can spend as much or as little as you want in Crete. At the budget end of the spectrum, you're aided by the island's size and popularity, which means options are many. With some planning and shopping around, you can get good deals on transport and accommodation.

MORE DETAILS

Places to Avoid in Crete
  • Malia. ...
  • Hersonissos. ...
  • For travelers whose primary aim is to connect with the genuine spirit of Crete, away from the noisy clubs and throngs of tourists, it's essential to tread the less beaten path. ...
  • Elafonisi Beach. ...
  • Knossos. ...
  • Samaria Gorge. ...
  • Chania. ...
  • Rethymnon.


MORE DETAILS

Crete has the greatest concentration of ultra-luxurious hotels in Greece, most of them on and around the Elounda peninsula, about an hour east of the capital, Heraklion, and its airport.

MORE DETAILS

Chania Town is probably the most beautiful town in Crete. The Old Town of Chania, with the evident Medieval style, is a wonderful place to walk around, lined up with elegant Venetian mansions.

MORE DETAILS

Attractive Chania on the northwest coast is the best option for first-time visitors to the Crete. Easily the prettiest city on the island, Chania features a gorgeous harbor strung with sea-facing tavernas with a warren of pedestrian-only backstreets paved with pretty sandstone setts in the Old Town.

MORE DETAILS

Crete is an ideal place to enjoy swimming at any time of the year. All needed, beyond a good mood and leisure time, is a relatively nice day without much wind and extreme cold. You don't need to go too far away, because the informal meeting points of winter swimmers are located very close to the towns of the island.

MORE DETAILS