Top Crete Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

Go off-the-beaten-path in Crete with a half-day private tour. Enjoy hotel pickup and set out with a private driver on an itinerary customized to your interests. Choose between top historic landmarks, waterfalls, mountains, coves, and more. Meet local people and discover the heritage and culture of Crete during this private tour.

Maximize time in Crete with a half-day private tour of Chania and its surroundings. Get picked up at your hotel or chosen location in Chania and set out on a sightseeing tour focused on local history and heritage. See top landmarks including the Old Venetian Harbor, Lighthouse of Chania, Firkas Fortress, and Hassan Pascha Mosque. Get to know Chania's Old Town and the many cultures that influenced its character.

Explore Chania's Old Town on this PRIVATE walking tour with a local guide. See the city’s impressive 14th-century harbor and 16th-century lighthouse. Learn about Crete’s Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences as you stroll through narrow streets filled with vendors and markets. You’ll also visit historical landmarks and sample local coffee and food along the way.

Discover ancient Minoan history, Cretan farming culture, and magnificent island views on this full-day off-roading adventure from Heraklion. Travel in a rugged Land Rover along historic mountain trails, stopping along the way to visit the mythological Diction Cave, shepherds’ villages, the scenic Lassithi Plateau, and an eco park where traditional ways of life are still practiced. Replenish your energy with an included lunch and taste of ‘raki’ liqueur at a local tavern.

Explore the ancient and historic places of Crete on this tour, and discover some of the most iconic Greek locations in the whole country. See the cave where Zeus was born, and stand underneath the 2,400-year-old Writer's Plane Tree. Visit Mochos and wander its winding alleyways, and dive into the colorful city of Agios Nikolaos. Swim in the sea off the coast of Plaka, or take a boat to Spinaloga.

Spend a day at Acqua Plus, the most popular water park on Crete. The park is divided into two sides, one for all ages and one for adults only. Facilities are clean, well-run, and safe, with multiple lifeguards on duty at all times. In addition to the many games, slides, and water rides inside the park, there is a beautiful garden in the center with Cretan flowers and trees, exotic flowers, weeping willows, palm trees, bougainvilleas,  French marigolds and more greenery, making for a nice escape form the heat and sun.

Instead of tying yourself to a large group tour with a rigid itinerary, take your time exploring the ancient Minoan capital of Knossos with this private audio tour. Visit the remarkable Palace of Knossos and many other highlights of this archeological site, including South Propylaeum and the West Magazines. Leave the guidebooks behind and learn about the culture and lifestyles of people living in Minoan Crete from your audio guide.

Visit the family home of a local Cretan for an evening of cooking, eating, and cultural exchange. Begin your visit in the vegetable gardens, where you harvest ingredients to use in your recipes. Learn traditional dishes from your hosts, hear the stories behind each, and taste local cheeses. Enjoy views of the Aegean Sea and the mountains, then sit down to a meal you helped prepare, paired with local wine.

The Samaria Gorge is one of Europe’s longest canyons and a must-see attraction when visiting Crete. This full-day tour takes you on a hike through the gorge to admire its soaring cliffs and narrow passageways. At the end of the gorge, you are rewarded with a refreshing dip in the cool waters of Agia Roumeli Beach. Then, take the ferry to the port before returning to Chania by bus.

Maximize time in Crete with a full-day combination guided tour. Get picked up at your hotel and set out on a coach sightseeing tour focused on archaeology and culture. See popular landmarks including the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, Dikteon Cave, and the Palace of Knossos. Admire panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau, visit an olive oil factory, and go inside a ceramic workshop to see a potter at work.

Western Crete's rugged landscapes yield extraordinary produce, yet they're tough for ordinary vehicles to access. With a small group for a more personalized service, get off the beaten track on this intimate 4WD safari experience. Taste extra virgin olive oil and five different wines at the Anoskeli Winery Olive Mill; touch an ancient olive tree; and enjoy a Cretan lunch with a round of drinks and dessert.

Go to hidden-away corners of Crete few travelers get to see with this guided all-terrain vehicle tour. Follow your guide off-road to quiet tracks far from the traffic and crowded resorts. Explore the near-abandoned ghost village of Achlada, where only a few locals still live, and Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco.

Learn the flavors of authentic Cretan cuisine during a private cooking class in a traditional village outside Heraklion. Prepare local specialties including dolmadakia and lamb with artichokes before sitting down to enjoy a homemade multi-course meal paired with local wine. The peaceful countryside setting adds an authentic backdrop to this hands-on culinary experience.

Forget the tourist tavernas and eat the way locals do on this small-group foodie walking tour through Heraklion. Choose your vibe—tapas-style snacks to share, or a full 3-course meal with beer or wine—and head to authentic local spots to work your way through some of the island's most beloved flavors.

Escape the crowds and see the countryside of Crete on this adventurous safari tour with hotel pickup. Choose from a quad bike, buggy, or Jeep ATV. After a safety briefing and instruction on operation for beginners, jump on your vehicle and follow your guide around the countryside, past villages, olive groves, historic sites, and panoramic viewpoints.

Sail away from Heraklion’s touristy center on this all-inclusive day cruise to Dia Island. Only reachable by boat, Dia Island is one of the few uncrowded destinations left near the city. Board the catamaran to reach the island's secluded bays, where you can swim, paddleboard, or simply relax on deck. A Mediterranean seafood lunch is prepared on board, and an open bar with soft drinks, wine, and beer runs throughout the day.

Reaching Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island from Falassarna usually means a slow ferry—this speedboat cruise gets you to both in a fraction of the time. Spend 1.5 hours enjoying the lagoon’s shallow turquoise water and pink-tinged sand, before heading to Gramvousa, where a Venetian fortress and panoramic views of the Cretan Sea await during a 1.5-hour visit.

Crete’s 5-mile (8-kilometer) Imbros Gorge offers a scenic, easy hike ideal for older travelers and families (under-14s go free). This affordable tour includes hotel pickup and a hiking escort to ensure safety. Enjoy seamless transfers to picturesque Sfakia for swimming and optional taverna meals. Entrance fee to Imbros Gorge is not included; pay as you go for other expenses except guiding and transfers.

Driving on winding mountain roads can be a daunting experience—so eliminate the stress and let someone else take care of the driving with this Elafonisi bus tour from Chania. Spend a full day exploring the island's highlights in a comfortable air-conditioned bus. Stops include Elafonissi Beach—with free time to relax and explore it independently and Elos village—known for its stone houses and olive groves.

Discover the finest sands of Crete with the help of a local private guide. Ideal if you don't have your own transport, this private day trip helps you get to the must-visit beaches without any fuss. Book for a group of up to 12 people, then travel to Falassarna and Elafonissi beaches where shallow waters and pink sands await. You'll also visit Vouves, home to one of the world's oldest olive trees.

Mirabello Bay’s spectacular coastline and charming islands look their best from the water. See them in style during this intimate catamaran cruise on a premium craft equipped with stand-up paddleboards (SUP), fishing gear, and snorkeling kit. As you explore, savor a gourmet menu with Cretan appetizers, washed down with drinks including white wine and beer. Upgrade to include round-trip hotel transfers from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, and beyond.

Learn all about olive oil on this private tour in the charming village of Epanos Archanes in Crete. Explore an olive grove and olive mill and learn about olive farming and different methods for producing olive oil. Afterwards, sample three different olive oils, a flavored oil, table olives, grape syrup, and a sweet vinegar.

Explore the spectacular Balos Lagoon on a 4x4 Jeep Safari from Kissamos! Travel through the wild landscapes of the Gramvousa Peninsula in a comfortable, air-conditioned Jeep, accompanied by an experienced local driver. Enjoy 4 hours of free time at Balos, including approximately 3 hours of beach time to swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters, relax, explore the lagoon and take unforgettable photos. The experience also includes a scenic trail of moderate difficulty, taking about 1 hour in total (25 minutes downhill and 35 minutes uphill). Along the route, discover the natural beauty and wildlife of Crete, with possible encounters with wild goats and eagles, while learning about local products and traditions. • Air-conditioned 4x4 Jeep transportation • 4 hours of free time at Balos • Small groups, max. 6 people per Jeep • Experienced local driver • Minimum booking: 1 people An authentic Balos adventure — more than just a transfer!

Get a taste of traditional Cretan life by setting off on this off-road 4WD adventure to local villages off the usual tourist trail. The tour introduces you to a local shepherd who shows you how cheese is made, followed by foraging wild herbs, wandering lush vegetable gardens, and creating ceramics at a pottery studio. Cooking classes and a tasty local lunch with wine and water are included.