Welcome to Crete, the captivating gem among the Greek islands! As the largest and most populous island in Greece, Crete is known for stunning landscapes, history, Mediterranean water and warm-hearted locals. While renowned destinations like Santorini and Mykonos often steal the spotlight, Crete offers an equally enchanting experience without breaking the bank.

In this blog post, we will share how we explored the island for a week, hopping from one stunning beach to another and experiencing the distinctive charm of various towns and local flavors each night. We will be sharing our unforgettable experiences and even our own missteps along the way to offer you valuable insights on what you can do differently.

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If you would rather just choose a town or two to visit, check out our guide of the top 5 best areas to see and stay in Crete.

Please note that this itinerary is packed with activities and we recommend you rent a car for flexibility. If you choose Crete over the smaller islands, we assume that you are doing so with more focus on travel and exploration. While this itinerary covers all the highlights that are doable within a week, an additional week would be ideal to travel at a slower pace and explore the island more thoroughly.

Whether you're seeking a budget-friendly escape or simply yearning for an authentic Greek island adventure, join us as we discover the hidden treasures of Crete. So, let's delve into our day-to-day itinerary on an unforgettable journey through this remarkable island.

Day 1: Arrive in and explore Athens, Greece

Flying from Canada, we arrived in Athens, the historical capital city. You can take a taxi to the city center, however we opted for a more economical option and hopped on the Metro at the airport. The Metro Line 3 connects the airport to the city center (Syntagma Square). For €10 per person and running every half hour, the metro is a great way to reach the city center after an hour's journey.

Once we reached the city center, we left our luggage in a secure storage facility (usually €3-5 for the day) allowing us to fully explore Athens without all the hassle. We also made sure to purchase a reliable sim card, as we planned to book a rental car and Google Maps would be a necessity.

In Athens, you cannot miss to visit the famous Acropolis, an ancient archeological site. Entrance to this iconic place costs €25 for a skip-the-line ticket including an audio guide. We explored the Parthenon, temple of Rome and Augustus, the Helenic flag with a viewpoint and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus to name a few.

We did not stay in Athens and took an overnight ferry instead, saving us time and having to pay for a night's stay. Departing from Piraeus port, the Festos Palace ferry costs us €160 for 2 people and our accommodation on the ferry resembled a cozy hotel room, complete with two comfortable beds and a personal washroom. Remarkably, the journey remained stable throughout, ensuring a restful night's sleep for both of us.

With a travel time of approximately 8 hours, the ferry offered remarkable amenities including spacious restaurants, different shops, a dedicated children's area, and a deck with invigorating sea breezes and the sight of seagulls alongside the ship. This was a preferable trip to Crete from Athens, saving us both time and money.

Our advice:

If you're looking to book an Acropolis ticket with audio guide, download it and the map ahead of time. Be sure to buy your tickets online prior to arrival.

Athens is big and if you are a history lover, one afternoon is not enough. Purchasing the City Pass and exploring for two days would be ideal. The pass gives you access to the Acropolis and a number of other famous sites within the city, in addition to bus transport and other discounts. 

We had difficulty finding both a luggage storage facility and a store selling sim cards. For luggage storage facilities, research them ahead of time, there are quite a few around town. For the sim card, we recommend getting an e-sim for convenience and sometimes cheaper option. If not, you can find a store near KFC close to Syntagma train station selling a sim card for €20 euro for 1 month of unlimited data.

Day 2: Explore Heraklion and stay in Stella Island Luxury Resort and Spa

We woke up in Heraklion, the principal port of Crete, with anticipation for all the adventures in this Greek island. Upon disembarking, we headed to pick up our rental car. The rental car costs us $288 CAD for the week, inclusive of insurance. We typically rely on the insurance benefits provided by our travel card for coverage during our trips. However, we made the decision not to use it at this time due to certain limitations in the offered insurance policy, such as the exclusion of police coverage.

Our first activity is to take a leisurely walk through the bustling town of Heraklion. We enjoyed a breakfast admiring the Venetian Fortress. Our exploration led us to the Central Market, where we got essential supplies for our trip, including a beach mat, beach umbrella and some booze. To our surprise, we found ourselves in an early morning wine and raki tasting experience at 9 AM—an invigorating way to start the day.

Next on our itinerary was the place we had eagerly anticipated - Stella Island Luxury Resort and Spa, and it is a a true paradise in every sense.

Upon arriving at this all-inclusive and adults-only resort, we were warmly greeted and the attentive staff took charge of our luggage. As we proceeded with the check-in process, we were pleasantly surprised to be served refreshing cocktails—an experience we believe should be the standard for all check-ins! The resort boasted captivating swim-up pools and over-the-water bungalows that mirrored enchanting islets.

Picture yourself relaxing by the hammock or taking a refreshing plunge into the swim-up pool mere steps away from your room. We enjoyed our refreshing cocktails, good-tasting food and the amazing architecture of the place. We concluded our day with a rejuvenating soak in our private hot tub. Honestly, we cannot recommend this place enough!

The next day started with waking up by the beautiful poolside while listening to bird songs and having a lavish buffet breakfast with all kinds of food. The best part? You can enjoy breakfast with a live saxophone serenade.

It is important for us to be transparent about our travel expenditures, and we want to provide you with an honest account. The accommodation at Stella Island Luxury Resort and Spa included a room with a swim-up pool and an outdoor jacuzzi, as well as all-inclusive meals and drinks, constituted the largest portion of our expenses—approximately one-third of our total budget. We paid $1000 CAD for this remarkable experience, which we felt was well worth it given the exceptional amenities and unforgettable moments we enjoyed throughout our stay. We were very glad that we chose the all-inclusive option, as the restaurants were of incredible quality and service.

Our advice:

If you are going to stay at Stella Island Resort & Spa, ask for a later checkout or ask if you can enjoy the pools and restaurants after checkout. The staff was very encouraging that we could spend the day in the resort after checking out of our room, and we’re glad we did as we certainly didn’t want to leave.

If we did not take this day to relax at Stella Island, we would have spent our day visiting Knossos Palace, and the nearby vineyards.

Day 3: Visit Potamos and Kolykytha Beach

Though we are sad to leave the dreamy Stella Island, we are excited to start our beach exploration adventure. We drove to the east heading to our first stop, the beautiful Potamos beach. With its inviting long strip of sandy shores and a selection of restaurants in the vicinity, this beach provided a delightful introduction to our coastal journey. What's more, it offers free entrance and convenient free parking along the roadside.

Our next destination, Kolokytha beach, proved to be a thrilling and slightly unconventional experience. According to Google Maps, a road led to the beach, but much to our surprise, we found ourselves maneuvering along a cliffside navigating a narrow one-way road. Oh, Google Maps!

Then, we spotted a few parked cars in the area and noticed a small trail. However, in hindsight, it was a mistake to carry our food drone, and snorkeling gear along the rough and indistinct path with spiky plants and rocks.

After a challenging trek, we reached a rocky area where sunbathers lounged and we took advantage of the moment to fly our drone, capturing the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings. We walked towards the coast and took our first dip - the water was so clear and perfect to try out our snorkeling gear.

Our accommodation for this day was the beautiful Blue Marine Resort and Spa. Located on the cliffside, this hotel offered a vantage point with views of Mirabello Bay and the fish-shaped pool. Imagine waking up and having your breakfast with this view. Perfect start of the day, right?

Our advice:

Do not fully trust Google Maps, especially in remote destinations; try to read reviews and suggestions, so you can be prepared.

If you have more time, we suggest you check out Elounda, famous for its luxury resorts. You can also take a ferry to Spinalonga, a preserved Venetian island, as this is one of the most popular attractions in the area. Agios Nikolaos is the main town and offers beautiful views of the bay lined by excellent restaurants. Both areas are perfect for enjoying snorkeling or just relaxing in the beach.

Day 4: Enjoy the sun in Matala Beach and at Agia Galini

We continued our exploration and headed to Matala beach, a little gem perfect for enjoying the sun. Sunbeds are available to rent, if you don’t have your own umbrella or mat. This spot can also get touristy so make sure you go early. The waves here are strong but equally fun. If you wish, you can also visit Matala caves which housed hippies in the 60s for only €4.

After enjoying the sun, we headed to Agia Galini to find a dinner spot. We wish we had more time to explore this charming town. Built in a hill, be prepared for some uphill paths but you can stop every now and then to shop. Also, there are a lot of restaurants that offer good sunset views. We had our dinner at Taverna Avli, a highly recommended restaurant! We enjoyed our meal in their outdoor dining but had to leave as soon as the sun had set and we didn't want to drive in the dark.

Be warned that the drive in the south is not the best, especially at night. Despite our efforts to start our drive early, we only drove for 10 mins of setting sun then its complete darkness driving around cliffs and steep turns. The 1.5 hour drive felt like forever as there were no street lights other than when you are passing small towns and this major highway passed through small one-way streets of small towns. It would be a little more enjoyable in the daytime. 

At 10:30 pm, we reached our overnight accommodation, Kallicrates Village, where we were warmly greeted by the kind-hearted owner. He went above and beyond by assisting us in carrying our luggage up to the second floor. We couldn't help but notice the surprise in his eyes upon learning that we had driven all the way from Agios Nikolaos.

Kallicrates Village is a lovely stay with its unique architecture, spacious garden and scenic mountains in the background. We had breakfast while enjoying the pool and the views, this is one of the best value stays in Crete.

Our advice:

Try to avoid driving in the south of Crete at night, the steep turns by the cliffs in darkness is not the most ideal driving situation. However, it would be a scenic drive during the day.

The south coast is quite remote and rugged compared to the north. If you have more time, you can easily spend an entire week on this coastline. We missed out on a number of excellent destinations: Ierapetra, Prevali Beach, Skinaria beach and countless others.

Day 5: Stroll at Hora Sfakion and admire the charming town of Chania

Our first stop of the day was the stunning town of Hora Sfakion, nestled along the southern coast of Crete. Known for its charming harbor, we strolled around the town admiring the views and tasting coastal foods. We saw signs for a water taxi ride to private beaches which, unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to do. We headed to Frangokastelo beach instead and found scenic landscapes and even a historic fortress in the background.

Afterwards we drove north and found ourselves navigating a curvy road that snaked its way along the cliffs. The drive from Hora Sfakion to Imbros Gorge is one of the most windy roads we’ve ever driven and every twist and turn reveals breathtaking views. Unable to resist the magnificent views, we made several stops along the uphill drive to take photos and videos of this scenic road.

We continued our drive heading north towards the charming town of Chania. Known for its colorful streets and tourist attractions, Chania offered a delightful mix of shops, historical ruins and beautifully restored buildings. Our Airbnb, situated in the heart of the town center, welcomed us with its authentic Greek charm, and the complimentary raki in our room added a touch of local flavor. On the rooftop patio, we savored our drink while observing the vibrant energy of the town below, as fellow travelers explored the shops and took memorable photos.

As night falls, the town of Chania comes to life with its brightly lit shops and restaurants lining the coast and the iconic lighthouse adding charm to the lively vibe of the town. Chania at night is a true gem and will surely leave a lasting impression. We spent the rest of the night visiting shops and continuing our food journey as we sampled various snacks from local shops.

For dinner, we chose to dine at Steki, a charming tavern that exceeded our expectations with its delicious food and romantic vibe. We were treated with a free dessert and of course, more raki.

Our advice:

You can consider hiking Imbros Gorge, an 8-km hike and second most popular gorge that runs parallel with Samaria Gorge. You can park at the bottom and get a cheap taxi to take you to the trailhead. Samaria Gorge is one of the major tourist attractions in the island, twice the distance and the longest in Europe.

When you stay in Chania, we suggest you choose a hotel near the downtown/harbor and see the fortress, lighthouse, Old Town and several other historical sites.

Day 6: Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island - destinations you shouldn’t miss

Energized by a quick breakfast and after a playful insistence to get a matching Greek shirt, we then headed to the Kissamos port. A boat tour to Balos and Gramvousa proved to be one of the absolute highlights of our Crete adventure. If there's only one tour you can experience on this magnificent island, we highly recommend making it this one.

We opted to book our tour online through Get Your Guide. It is a 7-hour tour and costs $35 CAD per person. Bring bathing suits, snacks and plenty of sunscreen. The boat offers umbrella rentals and onboard food options for those in need.

Our first stop on the tour was the breathtaking Gramvousa island, one of the famous destinations northwest of Crete. For the more adventurous souls, there is an option to hike up to the fortress (€1 entrance fee) for approximately 20 minutes, followed by a refreshing swim. Since we wanted to maximize our time in the water, we decided to just capture aerial shots using our drone and spend the rest of our time swimming. The crystal-clear water is perfect for snorkelling and spotting colourful fish just steps from the shore.

Next part of the boat tour was the enchanting Balos beach and lagoon, a place that quickly stole our hearts. Another popular spot in Crete with its amazing landscape. The turquoise water was perfect for snorkeling, while the adjacent lagoon with shallow areas were perfect for relaxation and simply lay or sit in the ankle-deep water.

For a truly memorable experience, we had dinner at Taverna Vasilis, a delightful family-owned restaurant with ample garden seating. We savored the best Moussaka of our entire trip with the stunning sunset backdrop.

After a filling dinner, we started heading to Elafonisi for our Airbnb accommodation, marked as Stomio Room in Google Maps, a place with the charm of a castle from the outside. Walking through the entrance, we couldn't help but feel like royalty. While the interior space was slightly smaller than anticipated and certainly lacked some modern comforts, with enough room for a bed, we appreciated the experience as we knew it would add a special touch to our trip.

Despite our late arrival at around 10:00 pm, we were warmly greeted by our host, who happened to be hosting a small family gathering at their restaurant, adjacent to our stay. Their hospitality was truly heartwarming and we were invited to join in the celebration. Although we had already enjoyed dinner, we gladly accepted the offer of dessert and raki. How often do you find yourself invited to a family gathering by your Airbnb host?

Our advice:

Visiting Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island is one of the highlights of this Greek island. We highly suggest you visit these stunning locations 

The western coast has some stunning beaches, some of the highest rated in all of Europe. If beaches are high on your Greek priority list, dedicate some additional time here.

Day 7: For the best sunset views, Fallasarna Beach and Elafonisi Beach (which also happens to be a pink sand beach!)

Our weeklong exploration keeps getting better and better. One of the absolute must-visit spots on this Greek island is Elafonisi Beach, known for its distinctive pink sands. While it may not have been as vividly pink as seen on Instagram when we visited, it still has some shades of pink. The pink hue can vary depending on the tide and weather conditions. We couldn't resist taking a pinch of the sand home as a special souvenir.

As one of the island's top attractions, a pink beach of Crete, Elafonisi Beach tends to draw a considerable crowd during peak times and seasons. As it is also facing the west side, this is a perfect spot to watch the sunset. Umbrellas are available for rent, and there's a small coffee and snack bar to keep you refreshed. If you're seeking a more secluded spot, you can head towards the sandbars that connects to another island. Additionally, certain rocky areas provide excellent opportunities for snorkeling.

On our way back north, we passed by the long strip of Fallasarna Beach, renowned as one of the most scenic spots in all of Crete to witness the sunset. We highly recommend timing your visit to coincide with the golden hour.

After enjoying our time by the beaches and soaking up in the sun, we made our way back north to the charming town of Rethymno. Our accommodation was the luxurious Caramel Grecotel, a magnificent 5-star hotel where we were able to apply our $200 Amex travel credits, further enhancing our stay. Taking advantage of the $125 USD AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts benefit, we treated ourselves to a couples' massage and a complimentary late checkout.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with refreshing drinks and escorted to our beautifully decorated room. To top it off, a complimentary bottle of wine awaited us, setting the tone for a great stay.

While we contemplated enjoying a glass of wine in the comfort of our room, we couldn't resist to jump in the hotel's pool. The scene was nothing short of picture-perfect, not to mention the display of changing colors as the evening unfolded. To enhance the relaxing evening vibe further, live violin music was played by the poolside.

Our advice:

Though in our map we highlighted spots to see in Rethymno, we were not able to explore it and we wish we had more time to do so. You can also choose to find a stay in this beautiful town and spend a full day as there are plenty of things to see.

Day 8: One last glance of Heraklion

Returning to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, we found convenient parking available for a reasonable fee of €6 or a three-hour duration. Exploring the town on foot, we discovered hidden gems that we missed during our initial visit. One of the spots to see here is the Morosini Fountain, Venetian Loggia, which currently serves as the city hall, and other famous landmarks such as the Heraklion Museum, Agios Titos Church, Bembos Fountain, and the historic Koules Fortress.

For a memorable dining experience, we opted to dine at Peskesi where the staff of Grecotel helped us to book. Known for its commitment to serving fresh farm-to-table cuisine, this highly-rated restaurant is one of our favorites in our journey through Crete.

For our return journey to Athens, we chose Aegean Airlines, opting for a short one-hour flight. Many people recommended ferries to travel between the Greek islands, however wanted to avoid a lengthy transit to the airport, so we opted for a flight back to the capital before continuing home. 

Our advice:

Visit a local winery or farm to add to your authentic Cretan experience. Make sure to check their websites as they do not offer daily tours.

Final Thoughts

Our exploration of Crete has been an unforgettable journey filled with stunning landscapes and beaches, rich history and warm hospitality. From the charming streets of Heraklion to the coastal towns of the South Coast to the pink sands of Elafonisi Beach, this Greek island has captivated us at every turn.

Crete exceeded our expectations, offering a perfect blend of history and natural beauty, without being overly expensive. We encourage you to explore this diverse and vibrant island and create your own unforgettable experiences.

One thing we loved doing every time we were in the coast is flying our drone and capture some incredible shots and share with you! If you're curious, we recently got our DJI Mini 4. It has better stabilization and has some great added features.

If this one-week exploration is not enough for you, check out our blog of the 5 best spots to see and stay in Crete. This will help you better decide where to stay and spend more of your time.