Top Crete How to Get Around

Skip the self-drive stress and indulge as much as you want on this full-day trip to Elafonisi Beach, a 90-minute drive from Chania. Stop at Agia Sofia Cave (subject to conditions), a dramatic cave that contains a historic church, then head to the white sands and turquoise waters of Elafonisi Beach. Enjoy the dunes, the lagoon and facilities such as umbrellas, showers and snack bars (own expense), before heading home.

See some of Crete’s most beautiful beaches on this private tour from Chania. Skip the crowded buses on a private tour and relax on the scenic drive to Balos, a stunning lagoon with white sand beaches. You’ll also visit Falassarna, a beach known for its ideal windsurfing and kite-surfing conditions.

Set sail on a semi-private catamaran cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island for a day of sea, sun, and swimming. Your journey begins with a warm welcome featuring coffee and local pastries. Enjoy stunning coastal views, refreshing sea breezes, and unlimited drinks as we sail. Upon reaching Dia Island, anchor in a secluded bay to swim in crystal-clear waters before indulging in a freshly prepared Mediterranean lunch onboard.

Join a tour with all of Crete's most iconic products. All the areas that you will visit are famous for their vineyards, the olive groves, and their wine production since the Minoan era. Even today they are considered the largest areas in Greece for cultivating grapes and high-quality olive oil. Stop at a local olive mill and take a tour of the olive grove and after the olive mill where you can taste fresh olive oil. The second stop is a family-owned winery that uses organic methods for cultivating. You will get a tour around the vineyards and the winery and taste 5 wines. The next stop is a unique distillery with an ancient wine press. Raki is the most famous Cretan spirit. Take a tour of the distillery and then enjoy a traditional lunch at a local tavern. Before finishing off the tour with a visit to a pottery studio located in a traditional village that is famous for its pottery. *The pottery lab is not available on Sundays

Elafonisi sits at the far southwest tip of Crete, a long drive on winding roads that puts many self-drivers off. Get driven there and back instead, with the route handled so you can spend the day on the beach rather than behind the wheel. Walk the pink-tinged sands and swim in the shallow, clear water of this protected reserve. Enjoy local product tasting included in the tour.

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.

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.

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.

Spend a day sailing on the glimmering waters around Crete on this leisurely cruise to Spinalonga Island. Climb aboard your boat and sail across Mirabello Bay as you make your way to “the island of tears” known as Spinalonga where you take a guided tour and then enjoy free time to explore. Then, head to Kolokytha where you enjoy a fresh lunch and plenty of time to swim and sunbathe.

Discover the rugged landscapes of Crete's northern coast on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV or quad bike) adventure with transfers from Rethymno hotels. Splash through streams, wind along ancient gorges, and look for island wildlife from behind the wheel of a personal solo or tandem quad that can access tucked-away mountain reaches. You’ll need to be at least 18 and have held a license for one year to drive the quad.

Familiarize yourself with the traditional lifestyle and history that makes up the real Crete. Your tour will start at the Melidoni Cave. Dating back to the Neolithic Period, this area is full of clues into ancient lifestyles. Finally, visit the village of Apostoli. Home to a functioning olive oil factory, you'll learn about the production of olive oil before enjoying lunch at a tavern.

Explore Crete’s mountains and countryside by Polaris ATV (all-terrain vehicle) on a 4-hour buggy expedition from Rethymno. Traveling on- and off-road, rumble up mountains and through gorges and shallow rivers to experience the island’s wild side. Pause for photos, visit medieval villages, look for wildlife, and stop for snacks, including coffee at a lakeside coffee house. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, with equipment, instructions, and central Rethymno or Rethymno hotel pickup included.

Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island are considered among Crete’s top attractions, but organizing transportation independently cuts into valuable sightseeing and sunbathing time. On this tour, reach both sites with ease by boat and discover their natural beauty. Follow winding walking routes at your leisure, soak up the rays by the lagoon, and enjoy hotel pickup and drop-off at your Chania accommodation.

Discover Crete by water with this private boat trip to Balos Lagoon. Climb aboard a boat for a scenic excursion in the Mediterranean Sea to Gramvousa Beach. Go snorkeling off the boat with provided equipment or swim and sunbathe. The itinerary and tour length can be customized according to your individual interests.

Immerse yourself in the Aegean Sea with this 3-hour guided snorkeling trip from Chania. All equipment is provided. Swim in the crystal blue waters in Almyrida Chania and explore reefs, caves and see the Elephant Cave of Crete.

Step aboard the 'Mikros Naftilos' for a private cruise to the islands of Gramvousa and the Balos Lagoon. With a well-established local operator as your skipper, you'll relax on a carefully planned route that showcases the area's coastal highlights. Enjoy a lunch of regional dishes and unlimited drinks as you cruise, and stop for cool-down dips in the sea along the way.

With an ancient history spanning millennia to the time of the Ancient Greeks and beyond, exploring Crete is a great choice for history lovers. Explore sites such as Aposelemis Dam and the Windmills of Lassithi Plateau on this full-day private tour. Learn the island’s history and culture before a visit to the Palace of Knossos: the largest site of Minoan antiquity on Crete.

The best way to explore Crete is by boat, and this half-day cruise from Hersonissos visits St. George's Bay and the small towns of Malia and Stalis. Set sail aboard a traditional pirate ship, ideal for younger travelers; stop to swim and snorkel at the island’s beaches and bays; spot dolphins and sea turtles along the coast; and tuck into a delicious BBQ lunch on board.

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.

Skip the expense of car hire and relax with this convenient transfer service for scenic Gramvousa island. Your bus will collect you at one of a range of Chania locations, and drive you to the port of Kissamos. Here, pay for your prebooked tickets and a small municipality fee, board the boat, and explore the island. Catch the boat to Balos Lagoon before returning to Chania by bus.

Follow the lead of this excursion on the way to Ierapetra by bus, accompanied by the morning sun. Soon after embarking in the boat, enjoy the trip in the Libyan sea on your way to Chrissi island where you will taste the natural beauty of a unique and protected by “Natura 2000” golden beach.

Discover a new perspective of Chania on a captivating sailing cruise. Meet at Old Venetian Harbour and embark on a journey around the gulf of Chania. Along the way, pause at two enchanting destinations. First, drop anchor at the island of Ag.Theodori, a protected haven teeming with vibrant birdlife. Then, venture to the secluded paradise of Maherida, boasting stunning turquoise waters. Indulge in traditional Cretan snacks, fresh fruits, and refreshing drinks from the open bar.

Step back in time to ancient Minos and immerse yourself in the island’s exciting myths and legends at Minoan’s World Museum and Cinema. With life-sized 3D exhibits, discover the island’s many stories – its rich history and ancient legends – in an interactive and family-friendly way. Then step into the museum’s 9D cinema and thrill at the mythology of Minos, told with a variety of immersive special effects.