Crete is the largest island in Greece, and one of the most unique. It’s an enormous island, and feels somewhat like a country of its own. Crete has a long history under several different civilisations, and the lingering influence of the Ottomans, Venetians, Byzantines and Romans, give Crete a distinct character and energy, unlike anywhere else in Greece.
I’ve written this Crete travel guide as an introduction to Crete, and an overview of some of the best towns to stay in, villages to visit, and things to see & do on the island. At the end, I’ve included some taverna recommendations, which are my favourites from the trip.
From Chania to Rethymno, to hillside villages and beautiful beaches, there is so much to discover in Crete!
How many days do you need in Crete?
Crete is enormous, so if you want to do a lot of sightseeing, I would recommend staying for at least three full days. If you’re happy to relax in one area, like Chania or Rethymno, a weekend getaway would still be lovely, especially as there are lots of direct flights to Crete.
We spent four days in Crete, which was a perfect amount of time for a first time visit.
Do you need a car in Crete?
The short answer is yes, if you can. Not everyone can hire a car, and there are bus services around the island, but it will slow you down. The extra travel time adds up, on a large island where there are already significant travel times between destinations.
Where to Stay in Crete
Chania and Rethymno are the best places to stay in Crete, in my opinion. For a more detailed view, check out my guide for where to stay in Crete.
Chania
Chania is one of the most popular places to stay in Crete, and for good reason. Chania is home to one of Crete’s two airports, and is a must-visit destination in Crete. It has a gorgeous Venetian harbour, and a labyrinthine Old Town with distinct Venetian, Jewish and Turkish quarters. Chania is a large, bustling city and the second-largest city in Crete.
Rethymno
Rethymno is a beautiful seaside town in Crete, located approximately halfway between Chania and Heraklion. We stayed in Rethymno when we spent 4 days in Crete, and I was so happy with our choice.
Rethymno has a beautiful Old Town, and has a lovely, relaxed seaside vibe. It is definitely a busy place, mostly with holidaymakers, but I absolutely loved staying here.
The Best Villages to Visit in Crete
Beyond the obvious destinations of Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion, Crete has some extremely charming villages which are perfect as part of a day trip on the island.
Because Crete is large, and these towns are quite remove, I wouldn’t recommend staying in these locations, but they are fun to visit! You will need a car to visit these villages easily.
Margarites
Margarites is a charming village in the hills of the Rethymno province, a 30 minute drive east of Rethymno town. Margarites is known for its beautiful pottery, which is widely available at small shops that are literally overflowing with beautiful hand painted ceramics and homewares.
There are also a few tavernas in Margarites, including one with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. Bring cash, because Internet reception is very patchy here, and you may need to be able to pay with cash at the shops or at the tavernas.
Spili
Spili is a tiny village in Rethymno province, 30 minutes drive south of Rethymno town. It is a village of only 800 residents, tucked away on a plateau in the hills of Crete.
Spili is best known for its famous Lions Fountain, which pumps fresh spring water from a series of stone lions heads. It’s a leafy, shaded village, which makes it a nice place to take respite from the heat of the day. There are plenty of cafes and tavernas near the fountain.
Spili is 30 minutes’ drive north of Plakias and Preveli Beach, so you could visit on your way to these two beaches.
The Best Beaches in Crete
Preveli
Preveli Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, and compared to the more famous beaches of Balos & Elafonissi, is much easier to get to.
Preveli Beach is on the southern coast of Rethymno province, which is the opposite coast to where you’ll find Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion. It is a 45 minute drive from Rethymno to Preveli.
Preveli Beach is unique, because the beach is fringed by the turquoise waters of the Libyan Sea on one side, and the green waters of the Kourtaliotis River on the other. It’s a beautiful and popular spot to swim.
From the car park, it is a steep path down to the beach, with some stairs. If you aren’t able to access the beach this way, you can also find boat tours which will drop you off on the beach.
Plakias
Plakias is not one of the most famous beaches in Crete, but it is one of my favourites! It is a 15 minute drive from Preveli Beach, and is a small town with a lovely beach. The water is a sparkling turquoise blue, and there are tavernas along the waterfront.
We had lunch on the beach at Alianthos, and it was one of the best meals I had in Crete!
Panormos
Panormos Beach is a perfect place to spend the day, and unlike many famous beaches in Crete, it is super easy to get to. It’s a 20 minute drive from Rethymno town.
It’s a small, sandy beach, filled mostly with beach chairs. We spent the day renting a beach chair and ordering drinks and snacks to our chairs, between swims in the ocean. We had lunch at Captain’s House, which is a taverna overlooking the beach and harbour. It was the perfect way to spend a day!
Paralia Kalives
Paralia Kalives (Kalyves) is a relaxed beach, roughly halfway between Chania and Rethymno. We stopped here, at the beach club, Gialos, after spending the day in Chania, on our way back to Rethymno.
It’s not the most remarkable beach in Crete, but it is a nice sandy beach with facilities, and its an easy place to stop and enjoy some sunshine and swimming.
Elafonissi
Elafonissi is one of the most famous beaches in Crete, but we decided not to visit on our trip. We decided to forego it, because it is a 2 hour 20 minute drive each way from Rethymno, where we were staying. It’s 1 hr 45 minute drive each each way from Chania, so even if you’re staying in the closest major town, it’s a big driving commitment for the day.
Elafonissi may be one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, but it’s not the most beautiful beach in the world – or even in Greece, so I was happy to forego it in favour of a more relaxing day on the beach at Panormos.
One of my friends recently visited Crete, and was staying in Chania. They did a day trip to Elafonissi, but by the time they got there, the wind was so terrible they couldn’t spend long at the beach at all.
If I were to return to Crete, and wanted to visit, I’d probably spend a few nights at some accommodation close to Elafonissi. It would be a chill few days, relaxing in a more remote part of the island rather than sightseeing, and it would make it easier to visit this beach.
Find accommodation near Elafonissi
Balos
Balos is one of the most famous beaches in Crete, and the most difficult to reach. You can self-drive, or take a full-day tour with a boatload of other tourists. We decided to skip it, because the self-drive sounded dangerous and frankly not worth it – it’s regarded as one of the most dangerous drives in the world. Many rental cars have a “No Balos” policy.
If I were to visit Balos, I’d choose a Balos tour to make it an easier & more enjoyable day.
Best Places to Eat & Drink in Crete
En Plo, Rethymno
This was my favourite meal in Rethymno. En Plo is one of a string of tavernas, perched along the cliff’s edge on the edge of Rethymno’s Old Town. The outdoor tables all have perfect ocean views.
We were surprised to discover that most tourists stop at one of the previous restaurants, before reaching En Plo, which is the last restaurant along the cliffs. The owner was a little surprised to be welcoming tourists, but gave us a table and was otherwise very warm. The food was fantastic, particularly the seafood!
Alianthos, Plakias
As I mentioned above, our meal on the beach at Alianthos in Plakias was one of my favourite meals of the trip. A beautiful fresh seafood salad, under the shade of the trees and directly overlooking the sparkling Libyan sea. Heaven!
Taverna Michalis, Chania
There are lots of tavernas and restaurants on the Old Venetian Harbour in Chania. We had lunch at Taverna Michalis, which has a perfect location and excellent food. They are so warm and hospitable here, it was an excellent lunch spot!
Captain’s House Panormos
On our last full day in Crete, we spent the day relaxing at Panormos Beach. We had lunch at Captain’s House, a taverna perched on the hillside which overlooks the beach and harbour. It was everything I love about Greek food, and was a very fond last-day meal in Crete!
How to Get to Crete
Fly to Crete
Crete has two airports, in Heraklion and Chania. You can find direct flights to Crete from a number of European cities, but if in doubt, look for flights from Athens. I usually fly in Greece with Aegean Airlines and have always had an excellent experience.
Ferries to Crete
Crete has ferry ports in Heraklion, Chania and Sitia, which is in Lassithi province. In summer, there are also ferry services from Athens to Rethymno.
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived in New York City and now live back in Australia, in Melbourne.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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