Crete itinerary, day by day

Pink-sand lagoons, deep gorges and Minoan palaces, across the largest Greek island from Chania to Heraklion: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 4 or 7 days📍 2 stops☀️ Best time: May to June and September to October

Balos · Photo Francesco Ungaro / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Crete in 4 days

2 stops · 6 things to do · ≈ 80 km

1Chania and the west

Days 1-2

The best-kept old town in Crete, around a Venetian harbour. It is the base for the lagoons of the west coast and the Samaria Gorge.

🎟️ Worth booking

Boat trip to Balos lagoon and GramvousaFull day · from €35
From Kissamos by boat to the Venetian fortress on the islet of Gramvousa, then the shallow turquoise lagoon of Balos.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Samaria Gorge hikeFull day · from €30
About 16 km downhill from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli, a village with no road, where a ferry takes you on. Open roughly May to October.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Venetian harbour of Chania · Elafonisi lagoon

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Cocoon City Hostel (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Leone (€120 a night) · Luxury: Domes Zeen Chania (€320 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Opera Chania ★ 5 · 106 reviews
Fourogatos ★ 4.9 · 1709 reviews · €€
PORTA Μεζεδοτεχνείο ★ 4.9 · 427 reviews
il Lupo Chania ★ 4.9 · 351 reviews
Colombo Kitchen & Bar ★ 4.8 · 1733 reviews · €€

Photo Pexels

🚗 Car · 2h15 · 140 km

2Heraklion and Knossos

Days 3-4

The capital of the island, with the Minoan palace of Knossos five kilometres south, the setting of the Minotaur myth.

🎟️ Worth booking

Palace of Knossos, guided2h · from €30
The largest Minoan palace, excavated and partly rebuilt by Arthur Evans from 1900. A guide makes sense of the frescoes and the maze of rooms.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The old town and the Koules fortress

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: So Young Hostel (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Lato Boutique Hotel (€110 a night) · Luxury: Capsis Astoria Heraklion (€120 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Leonis IV ★ 5 · 366 reviews
Avli ★ 4.9 · 1569 reviews · €€
Sir Papafigos ★ 4.9 · 933 reviews
Almi family restaurant ★ 4.9 · 704 reviews · €€
Selam -Arabic Cuisine ★ 4.9 · 341 reviews

Photo Pexels

Crete in 7 days

2 stops · 6 things to do · ≈ 200 km

1Chania and the west

Days 1-3

The best-kept old town in Crete, around a Venetian harbour. It is the base for the lagoons of the west coast and the Samaria Gorge.

🎟️ Worth booking

Boat trip to Balos lagoon and GramvousaFull day · from €35
From Kissamos by boat to the Venetian fortress on the islet of Gramvousa, then the shallow turquoise lagoon of Balos.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Samaria Gorge hikeFull day · from €30
About 16 km downhill from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli, a village with no road, where a ferry takes you on. Open roughly May to October.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Venetian harbour of Chania · Elafonisi lagoon

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Cocoon City Hostel (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Leone (€120 a night) · Luxury: Domes Zeen Chania (€320 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Pexels

🚗 Car · 2h15 · 140 km

2Heraklion and Knossos

Days 4-5

The capital of the island, with the Minoan palace of Knossos five kilometres south, the setting of the Minotaur myth.

🎟️ Worth booking

Palace of Knossos, guided2h · from €30
The largest Minoan palace, excavated and partly rebuilt by Arthur Evans from 1900. A guide makes sense of the frescoes and the maze of rooms.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The old town and the Koules fortress

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: So Young Hostel (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Lato Boutique Hotel (€110 a night) · Luxury: Capsis Astoria Heraklion (€120 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Dakos: a barley rusk topped with grated tomato, mizithra or feta, and olive oil.
Kalitsounia: small pies filled with soft cheese, savoury or sweetened with honey.
Grilled octopus: by the harbour, with a glass of ouzo.
Souvlaki and gyros: grilled skewers and pitta wraps, the cheapest good meal on the island.
Moussaka: aubergine, minced meat and béchamel, baked in the oven.
Tsikoudia, also called raki: the local grape spirit, often poured free at the end of a meal.

⚠️ What to avoid

Ask the price per kilo before you choose a fish: it is charged by weight.
Skip the restaurants with photo menus and touts along the harbourfronts of Chania and Heraklion.
Leave the pink sand of Elafonisi where it is: the area is protected and taking sand is against the law.
Start Samaria early and check that it is open that day: the gorge closes in strong wind or heavy rain.
Carry some cash: small tavernas and village shops do not always take cards.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Crete guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Crete, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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