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Things to do in Crete

Meander between coastal villages, colorful old towns, and idyllic beaches on Greece’s largest island.

Our most recommended things to do in Crete

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

1. Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

Sail to the exotic Dia island on our modern and large sailing yachts! Explore the magnificent bay of the island and spend 6 hours of pure relaxation and joy. Sailing to Dia takes approximately 1 hour so there is 4 hours to spend on the island swimming, enjoying our delicious menu and trying our endless water activities before setting sails to return to Heraklion enjoying 1 more hour of relaxing sailing. You can choose between the morning or the afternoon cruise with the sunset view. Below we give you the timetables of the 2 trips. Morning Sailing Trip: 9:00 AM : Departure from the Port of Heraklion. As we sail you can enjoy the sun, the wind or have some drinks or even learn how to sail and be the captain yourself! 10:15 AM : We arrive to the exotic Dia island. Time for swimming, exploring and trying our water activities. 12:00 AM : Time for a break to enjoy our delicious menu. 12:30 PM : More time to spend swimming, sunbathing, relaxing or trying our water activities. 1:45 PM : Time to say goodbye to the beautiful scenery and the crystal waters and set sails once again to head back to Heraklion full of joy and great memories! 3:00 PM : We arrive to the Port of Heraklion and we wish you farewell hoping to see you again in one of our trips! Afternoon Sailing Trip: 3:00 PM : Departure from the Port of Heraklion. As we sail you can enjoy the sun, the wind or have some drinks or even learn how to sail and be the captain yourself! 4:15 PM : We arrive to the exotic Dia island. Time for swimming, exploring and trying our water activities. 6:00 PM : Time for a break to enjoy our delicious menu. 6:30 PM : More time to spend swimming, sunbathing, relaxing or trying our water activities. 7:45 PM : Time to say goodbye to the beautiful scenery and the crystal waters and set sails once again to head back to Heraklion admiring the magnificent sunset, full of joy and great memories! 9:00 PM : We arrive to the Port of Heraklion and we wish you farewell hoping to see you again in one of our trips! We look forward to welcome you on board for an unforgettable day!

From Crete: Santorini Island Guided Tour

2. From Crete: Santorini Island Guided Tour

Enjoy a roundtrip tour to Santorini. Travel comfortably on a modern boat and in air-conditioned buses while learning about this island's history and mythology. Capture pictures of Santorini's famous Aegean architecture and narrow, winding streets.  Travel to Heraklion port where you will depart on a high-speed boat for Santorini. Enjoy ocean views on the 2.5-hour cruise to the island and pickup a snack from the bar onboard.  Arrive at Port Athinios and hop aboard the bus for the guided tour. Travel 40 minutes to Oia, where you will admire the blue and white houses built over the cliffs. Learn about the city before enjoying free time to admire the volcanic caldera at your own pace. Next, travel 30 minutes to Fira, the main town of Santorini, built on the edge of a 300-meter cliff. Check out its narrow streets, white vaulted houses, and bright blue domes. Have the option to take a cruise from Fira in a wooden boat to the volcano and hot springs (for an additional charge) or spend more time exploring the city. Return to Port Athinios where your guide will help you board the return ferry.  Take in the late-afternoon views on the boat before arriving at Heraklion port.

From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion

3. From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion

Embark on a full-day guided trip to the Samaria Gorge from Chania. Arrive in Omalos in the heart of the White Mountains, and enjoy breakfast before trekking along the longest gorge in Europe — 4,000 feet above sea level.  After breakfast, enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace with your English speaking guide at the end of the group to help out if you need them. Hike over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees and along a river, passing by fresh-water springs along the way. Enjoy views of Crete’s most beautiful mountain range and see mountain goats roaming in the wild. Feel the exhilaration of challenging yourself with a long hike. At the end of the trek, visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon you’ll board a boat that will take you from Agia Roumeli to Sougia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the starting point about 730 PM.

Crete: Palace of Knossos Ticket with Audio Tour

4. Crete: Palace of Knossos Ticket with Audio Tour

Enjoy an exciting visit to Knossos Palace, Crete’s most famous historical attraction, with a skip-the-line e-ticket, including a compelling audio tour downloadable on your phone and a detailed map of the site. Lose yourself in the audio tour's storytelling and immerse yourself in history as you walk around this iconic site. Visit the grand capital of Minoan Crete, located just south of Heraklion, and see the evocative setting, complete with impressive ruins and brightly-colored frescoes, come alive through an engaging narrative that sheds light on various elements of Minoan culture. The cupbearers and procession frescoes at the South Propylaeum, which depict scenes from everyday life and the ceremonial activities in Minoan Crete, provide a great insight into the aesthetic ideals of the time. Follow the evolution of Minoan fashion, learn about the popular hairstyles of the people, and discover the beauty products locals used to touch up their look. At the West Magazines, where the storage facilities of the palace are located, gain an understanding of the well-organized bureaucracy that supported the palace organization, the earliest forms of linear writing, as well as the Minoan economy and trade networks. Discover the copy of the “Prince of the Lilies” at the South Entrance Corridor and gaze out on Mount Juktas, perfectly framed by the eroded walls of the palace. Visit the Queen’s Megaron, embellished with famous blue dolphins fresco and equipped with a bathroom and a toilet room, where you can find out everything about the bath habits in the Minoan era.

Hersonisos: Boat Cruise with Swim Stops and Lunch

5. Hersonisos: Boat Cruise with Swim Stops and Lunch

The company operates a 19 meter/62 feet (total capacity of 100 people) new built traditional wooden boat, cozy enough to provide high quality services. From the moment you step onto the vessel you will experience Greek hospitality at its best from Cpt.Panos, George and Leftheris. Our mission is to offer our guests a relaxing experience where they live, feel and taste the best Crete has to offer through a unique journey of authentic moments. The standard trip includes two stops for swimming and snorkelling at St.George bay and Stalis area. On the first stop, one hour after sailing, the crew will prepare a grilled meal (lunch) and on the second stop (at Stalis area) a fruit platter will follow. Kindly note that there is always the option of booking the vessel for a private trip and personalize the experience according to your group's needs. Come aboard, experience Greece with all your senses and make memories that will last for a lifetime.

From Rethymno: Half-Day Quad Bike Safari

6. From Rethymno: Half-Day Quad Bike Safari

Choose from a morning or afternoon Quad Bike safari, and benefit from a hotel pick-up from Rethymno, Bali, or Georgiopoulis. Journey to the base in Rethymno town and get kitted out with all the necessary equipment. Listen to a detailed briefing before you set off for some serious off-road fun. Journey up into the mountains of Maroulas, and head for the summit for a 10-minute break to take in the panoramic views. Then, continue on your bike for another 20 minutes to reach a spot where you can relax over coffee at a traditional kafeneion (Greek coffee house). Soak up the peace and quiet of Café Gidospito overlooking beautiful Lake Potami before making your way to the picturesque village of Prassies for a quick snack to refuel after your Quad Bike experience. Return to Rethymno and get dropped off at your hotel to relax and freshen up after your dusty adventure.

Heraklion: Half-Day Sailing Trip to Dia Island with Meal

7. Heraklion: Half-Day Sailing Trip to Dia Island with Meal

Set sail from the old Venetian Port of Heraklion to Dia Island on a yacht tour. Cruise through the Mediterranean Sea. Feel the wind on your skin, cool off in the sea by snorkeling and swimming, and enjoy a full meal onboard. After an hour of sailing, drop anchor at St George's Bay, the biggest bay on the island. Spend 2.5 hours there, swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. With the snorkeling equipment that is available for everyone on board, explore the Mediterranean biodiversity and the remains of the ancient Minoans' port. Or use the fishing gear to try your hand at fishing, with respect to the local ecosystem. For the more adventurous, there is also a chance to walk the wild landscape of the island towards the chapel of Analipsi. Later, come back onboard for a taste of local cuisine. Sit on the deck, savor your meal, admire the scenic view, and listen to music.

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

8. Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

Spinalonga is a magnificent island with fortresses dating from the Venetian period. It is an island of legends, a triumph to survival in the early 20th century from the scourge of leprosy, now a place of great archaeological and historical significance. On Spinalonga island, enjoy the opportunity to visit the Interpretive Centre there and discover the settlements of the victims and survivors of this former illness. Explore the Venetian fortifications and learn all about the long and fascinating history of the island. Take time to walk around the island and see the views of the bay and the fortifications. Later the cruise continues, passing along other points of interest in the Bay of Mirabello such as the cave of the legendary Pirate Barbarosa, the sunken ancient city of Olous, and the island where the endemic and hardy Cretan Kri Kri goats live. Have time to relax and swim in the exquisite turquoise waters of Kolokitha Bay. The 40 m boat features two bars, a lounge, and a restaurant serving Greek and international cuisine at reasonable prices with high-quality service from the crew.

From Chania Areas: Gramvousa Island Day Trip and Balos Beach

9. From Chania Areas: Gramvousa Island Day Trip and Balos Beach

Leave Chania behind and head on a day trip to Kissamos on a guided tour. Enjoy a boat trip to Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon Beach and admire the landscape and panoramic views. Your day starts with a pickup from your hotel or at a specific pickup point with the bus. Depending on the option you choose, enjoy pickup from Chania, Kalyves, or Almyrida. Drive towards the west side of Crete in order to reach the port of Kissamos Kasteli. After receiving all the necessary information about the cruise from your escort, arrive at the port where the Gramvousa ferry awaits you to start the cruise. Your escort will collect the money for the boat tickets from you so you can skip the lines at the ticket offices. If you've chosen the option leaving from Kalyves and Almyrida, your boat ticket and Fortress entrance are included. At about 10:40 AM, set off for the island of Gramvousa which takes approximately 45 minutes. Help yourself to the ferry kitchen with self-service dishes, meals, or snacks (at your own expense). You can sit back on a deck chair or in the lounge. During your cruise, see the elevation of the land along the cliff edges of Crete. This elevation has happened for over 2000 years. The history of the island is explained through microphones in different languages. Once you arrive at the island of Gramvousa, you can either swim or take a hike to the top of the island to the Venetian fortress. There you have 2.5 hours before you continue to the lagoon of Balos which is 20 minutes away. Enjoy 3 hours at the lagoon. You may go back to the boat to purchase food at any time or hire umbrellas if the heat is too intense. After a swim and relaxation at the lagoon, the boat will take you straight back to the port of Kissamos. This is a great photo opportunity as the sun will be behind you as you look out to the scenery of the island. At 6:00 PM the ferry arrives at the port and the journey comes to an end. Return time to your starting point in time for dinner.

From Kissamos: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa

10. From Kissamos: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa

Take a day trip from Kissamos port to the uninhabited island of Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon on a round-trip cruise. Glide past cliffs, stop at pristine golden beaches, swim in crystal-clear waters, and visit Gramvousa Fortress—a castle that offers incredible panoramic views. Depart from Kissamos Port and sail for about an hour in the bay. Approach the island of Gramvousa and then the lagoon of Balos or vice versa, depending on the itinerary route. Cruise against a stunning backdrop of steep cliffs and rocks, incredible secluded beaches, and infinite blue. Have the chance to see a large cave, which is thought to be an ancient shipyard. At the end of the bay, sail between Gramvousa Island and Cape Vouxa. Soak in the scenic landscape against the backdrop of Valenti, Pontikonisi, Balos Lagoon, and Imeri Gramvousa. Arrive in the small port of Gramvousa and enjoy the magical environment created by Cretan nature, the legends, and the area's turbulent history. See the beach is adorned by a lonely shipwreck. See the famous castle of Gramvousa, the highest point on the island that sits atop a steep rock. Swim in the area next to the Church of Agioi Apostoloi, and stay on the ship to relax or have some fun on the water slide. After a stop at Gramvousa, get back on the boat to head to the Balos Lagoon. Listed as one of the world's best beaches, this exotic beach lagoon is situated between the Gramvousa Peninsula and Cape Tigani. Choose to swim in the turquoise blue waters, relax on the pink sandy beach, or admire the natural beauty, the rocks, and the cliffs rising above you during your rest at the beach before heading back.

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What people are saying about Crete

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 23,195 reviews

Panos (captain) and George (Skipper) were great. They picked us up right in the Chania harbor. They then sailed is out to one near by island where we laid anchor and got out and swam with snorkels and noodles. Then they brought out snacks and refreshments before getting underway. The views of Crete and the surrounding islands were great from the boat. George and Panos made this the perfect evening sail for my Wife and myself on our honeymoon.

the trip was amazing! pick up and drop off from the hotel went smoothly, our guide was amazing and spoke English as well as German perfectly, she also respected when everyone went to sleep on the bus and didn't say anything for that time, it was great. Elafonisi is one of the most beautiful places on earth rest assured, I'd definitely go again. tour was well organised and it deserves a hundred stars! I'd absolutely recommend it to everyone.

I am an archaeology student, and the guide was able to adapt to that, moving beyond all of the basic talking points and going deeper into the history and archaeological practice at the site. She was extremely knowledgeable!

Had a premium exprience. I was the only one on this tour this day and the guide was amazing in making the tour interesting. Definitely coming back in the future with my family! Thanks for the tour!

The palace was beautiful and I enjoyed guided tour because we got some special informations that I am sure we couldn't get visiting on our own. I would highly recommend to visit this palace.