Crete Greece Itinerary – Best Places, Tips & Travel Guide
Updated: Mar 26
A 12-day Crete Greece itinerary focused on western Crete, with highlights, travel tips, and route planning
May-June 2025 [All the posts in Greece]
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Content
Crete 12-Day Itinerary Overview
Orientation map of the island’s west side (featuring accommodations, one lovely winery, cities, beaches, and hiking trails)
Crete in Short
Crete Greece Itinerary: Crete, the largest island in Greece, offers a perfect mix of beaches, mountains, and historic villages. This guide covers a 12-day itinerary, the best places to visit, hiking routes, and practical travel tips.
We set off for twelve days in Crete after not having visited the island for many years. The last time we were here, we spent time with the kids—who were little back then—at a resort not far from Heraklion.
Crete is divided into four regions stretching from the east to the west of the island. This time, we explored mostly the Chania region and wrapped up with a visit to the Rethymno region. We crafted our favorite mix of nature hikes, beach swims, and urban strolls.
I’m not sure why, but in my memory Crete seemed too big and not all that appealing. Long story short—we were surprised and discovered a large, diverse, and beautiful destination. It really has it all: fun and unique cities like Chania and Rethymno, stunning beaches, traditional villages and breathtaking gorges. In hindsight, I would’ve added a few more days to this trip :)
Tips for Traveling in Crete
Getting Around & Renting a Car
Whether or not to rent a car really depends on the kind of trip you’re planning in Crete.
If you're coming for just a few days of vacation, you probably won’t need one at all.
Most likely, transportation to your hotel will be arranged, or you can easily get there by taxi or bus.
For those planning to rent a car—like I mentioned in the Chania post—we usually book through EconomyCarRentals, a platform that aggregates many international and local rental companies.
In most cases, it’s cheapest to pick up and return the car at the airport (be sure to compare drop-off options and prices). Also, consider whether you want to pay for extended insurance coverage. And of course—keep an eye on the road and drive carefully!
Beyond all their wonderful qualities, Greeks aren’t exactly known for being the most cautious or courteous drivers. Pay extra attention on narrow, single-lane roads—Greek drivers will overtake even on solid lines.
If you don’t have a car and want to get to beaches or attractions further out, you can turn to local travel agencies in the cities. For example, in Chania you can check ATTIOS TRAVEL, where you can book day tours or transfers to special beaches like Balos or Elafonisi. (There are plenty of similar agencies across the island.)
It’s definitely possible—and often a good idea—to use public transportation. On Crete, public transit mainly means intercity buses operated by the KTEL company. They’re generally considered efficient, comfortable, and quite affordable, especially on major routes and in the larger towns.
In some supermarkets and kiosks, you can buy bus tickets at a slightly lower price than paying directly on board (this applies only to local city lines).
One thing to note: some villages in the south of the island—like Agia Roumeli or Loutro—aren’t accessible by car. If you’re planning to stay overnight in one of them, be sure to check the ferry schedule in advance (yes, you can bring your car on the ferry).
Our Recommended Crete Stays
We divided our trip into three different areas—all in the western part of the island—and spent four days in each.
We usually prefer private homes, where we can enjoy complete privacy, peace and quiet, and a space that feels like home. That way, we can keep up with our routines—exercise, meals, and even laundry. We also like shopping at the local supermarkets, at least for breakfasts and dinners.
When we stay in private homes, we get two main benefits: first, we get to learn about and enjoy local products (like feta cheese or yogurt in Greece); and second, we more or less eat what we’re used to at home :)
We booked all the homes through Airbnb. Always make sure to ask the hosts or property managers a few key questions—like: is the house truly private? Is there any noisy construction or renovation nearby? And anything else that matters to you personally (kitchen equipment, air conditioning, parking, access road, Wi-Fi speed).
Photos don’t always show the full picture, but asking usually gets you the answers you need.
We rented a charming semi-detached house, perfect for a family, right across from Golden Beach and just steps from bus stop 21, which takes you to the city center in about 15 minutes. (Airbnb link)
The Second House: Moni Chrisoskalitissis – This quiet village sits on the western side of the island, close to the famous Elafonissi Beach. We stayed in a simple but lovely detached home with two bedrooms, ideal for a small family. (Airbnb link)
The Third House: Myrthianos Plakias – Located in the far south of the island, near some breathtaking beaches.
This one was a gem: a beautiful standalone house overlooking Plakias Bay in a truly spectacular spot (a bit tricky to reach by car, but totally doable). Two bedrooms again, just right for a small family. (Airbnb link)
Money
Most places accept credit cards or digital wallets, but it’s a good idea to carry some cash with you—some village tavernas don’t take cards (for example, in Imbros).
More Trips
Our Trip In Crete
Chania
We landed in Heraklion, picked up our rental car, and headed straight to Chania—about a two-hour drive. We settled into the house we rented for the next four nights and took the bus into town. We're staying near Golden Beach, which I think is Chania’s nicest city beach area, just 15 minutes by bus from the center.
Chania is charming and full of character—and according to the locals, one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. It’s also a great base for exploring the western part of the island. From here, we took a day trip to the Samaria Gorge.
Hiking In Samaria Gorge
A few days before the trip, my back seized up, but I wasn’t about to give up on hiking—and if you’re going to hike in Crete, Samaria Gorge is the obvious choice.
You can hike the gorge from early May to October. The trail isn’t too difficult (it’s mostly downhill), but it’s fairly long—about 16 km—so it’s best for experienced hikers.
It’s a full-day outing involving a bus ride, the hike itself, and a ferry at the end. The gorge is absolutely spectacular—I definitely recommend it.
Four Days in Western Crete
We rented a simple and charming house for four nights in the village of Moni Chrisoskalitissis. The house has everything you need, including a lovely yard.
The village has a supermarket and a few tavernas, making it a great base for staying in the area.
The house is within walking distance of Chrysoskalitissa Monastery—you can see a photo below
This is a 17th-century Greek Orthodox monastery built atop a ~35-meter cliff overlooking the sea. If you're in the area, it’s worth visiting to explore its two small exhibitions and enjoy the views from the top.
Just a short walk from the house, you'll find two small and beautiful beaches:
The beach in the photo above is called Voulolimni. Technically, it’s not really a beach but more of a natural sea pool surrounded by rocks—and it’s quite deep. Really lovely!
You can get there on foot or by car via a good dirt road. There’s no real space to lounge around, but it’s perfect for a swim and for sitting on one of the smooth rocks by the water. The surrounding vegetation is beautiful, and you can see the monastery from here too.
The beach in the photo above is called White Lake —a charming little spot with free umbrellas and sunbeds (first come, first served). A shallow, calm lagoon forms here where seawater flows in, and you can swim in the deeper parts of the “lake.” It’s easy to reach by car on a well-maintained dirt road. The vegetation is beautiful, and you’ll even spot a few palm trees growing nearby.
One of the largest and most famous beaches in the area is Elafonissi Beach, located about 5 km from “our” village.
There are shuttle buses from Chania to Elafonissi, both private and public. You can also drive and park in one of the lots (3–5 euros). From the parking area, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the beach. Be prepared for big crowds during tourist season—try to arrive early.
Elafonissi is a vast stretch of sandy lagoons with a unique look—and a beach that appears slightly pink thanks to crushed seashells. You can wade through the shallow water across to a larger island with its own beaches. There are also restaurants where you can sit, eat, drink, and enjoy the views of this stunning bay.
Note: you can’t bring your own umbrellas here. Renting a sunbed and umbrella for the day costs around €15. The photos don’t quite capture how beautiful and unique this place really is—maybe a drone would do a better job :)
Another beach—my favorite in the area—is Kedrodasos. It's not far from Elafonissi and is often mistakenly called “Cedar Forest Beach”, though the trees here are actually junipers that grow almost to the shoreline.
The beach features both sandy and rocky areas, and it’s also part of the E4 hiking trail that crosses Crete from west to east.
The beach is not organized, but you can reach the parking area by car (parking is free). From there, it's about a 10-minute walk to the beach itself through a beautiful juniper forest.
Restaurant recommendation in the village: We had lunch twice at the excellent Kosmos Fish Tavern.
Hiking in Imbros Gorge
Imbros Gorge will always be runner-up in the "Cretan Gorge Championship", but it offers an easier hike that’s accessible all year round.
The trail descends gradually for about 6-7 kilometers, running between the villages of Imbros and Komitades, with narrow and very impressive passages between the canyon walls...
Four Days in Southwest Crete
We rented a stunning house on a mountainside overlooking the bay, located between the upper village of Myrthios and Myrthianos Plakias. These villages are about 35 km south of Rethymno, surrounded by beautiful beaches and scenic landscapes.
On the way from Rethymno to the village, you pass through the Kotsifou Gorge, which is also great for a short hike. In the area, you can also find Kourtaliotiko Gorge, home to a waterfall and hidden pools.
In the village of Plakias, you’ll find a lovely promenade, a small harbor, restaurants, cafés, and beautiful beaches stretching along the entire bay.
The mountain village of Myrthios also has several restaurants — we visited Vrisi Restaurant that was quite good and offered a wide open view of the bay.
With the stunning view from our house’s balcony, the breeze, the olive trees, and the incredible peace and quiet, we really didn’t need much more — but we still set out to discover Preveli Beach, one of the most unique beaches on the island.
It combines the mouth of the Kourtaliotis River, a palm tree oasis, lush vegetation, and a beautiful beach.
You can get there by car or directly by boat from the village of Plakias — basically like a taxi, running two or three times a day.
There are two parking lots near the beach (one of them paid). We arrived from the eastern side.
In any case, you’ll need to walk around 600 meters to get to the beach itself. Bring comfortable shoes or hiking sandals. There’s also a cafe on the beach that sells drinks.
Another stunning beach is Kalypso Beach (also known as Pirates’ Fjord).
The beach is part of a small hotel complex and is just a 5-minute drive from our village.
If there’s space, you can park inside the hotel grounds, or just outside and walk a few minutes to get there.
As you can see in the photos, there’s no sand here — just a concrete deck, umbrellas, and sunbeds. The small lagoon is sheltered by a unique natural rock wall, and the water is deep. You can go snorkeling or join a guided dive, and even jump from the cliffs (under supervision).
As with most beaches in the area, it’s best to come early in the day or in the late afternoon.
You can climb up the cliff here for a great view of the beach from above.
It’s even possible to cross over to the other side of the cliff, where you’ll find another beach on the eastern side called Damnoni.
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