To the point
Take a look at our photos from the Crete travel guide, which includes must-see attractions and our favourite locations!
Crete is an ultimate sun destination. We made this wonderful trip in 2019. Here you’ll find natural wilderness, beautiful beaches, charming towns and villages to be discovered
You’ll appreciate the friendliness of the Greeks, their history with the presence of archaeological sites, their culture for wine and olive oil, and their cuisine made with simple, fresh ingredients.
Don’t be surprised if the restaurant service is slow: it’s part of their local culture! Be patient, enjoy, and let yourself be tempted at the end of the meal by a glass of raki!
The landscapes of Crete are enchanted by the multitude of olive trees. Cicadas are ever-present and wild goats are regularly encountered on the roads.
The Essentials
What to See
Chania
Nicknamed Little Venice, come here for a drink, to enjoy the sunsets over the port, to get lost in the alleys and its shops, to try restaurants and taste the different cuisines. There’s no shortage of choices!
Rethymnon
The city of Rethymnon is very friendly. We loved walking around. You’ll find the same little tourist shops, but the town has a lot of charm.
You’ll enjoy wandering through the less commercial parts of town, discovering lovely little streets with traditional Turkish wooden balconies.
You can visit the Fortezza citadel which triumphs over the city and once protected its inhabitants from the Ottomans.
Close to Rethymnon, we suggest a visit to the Arkadi monastery sanctuary, where the resistance against the Ottoman occupation had settled. Ideally, you should be accompanied by a guide.
Heraklion
Capital of Crete, this city is not a must-see for us. However, several historic sites are well worth a visit:
- The fortress, built by the Venetians ;
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum;
- The palace of Knossos, archaeological site ;
- The historical museum of Crete.
Lake Kournas
Lake Kournas is a unique freshwater lake in Crete. There is plenty of free parking all around it.
Cretans love to relax, swim, pedal-boat, and picnic here. You can see turtles, geese and ducks.
Several restaurants and craft stores have taken advantage of the opportunity to set up shop in the area.
The Beaches
The island boasts several magnificent beaches. The best known are Elafonissi, the lagoon of Balos, and Falassarna. On the other side, to the east, you’ll find wild beaches: access is generally well indicated and parking is available. We have them detailed below in the family section.
However, not all beaches are easy to access (Balos lagoon and Seitan Limania beach), so be careful if you’re with children!
Agios Nikolaos
A very touristy town that lacks a little in authenticity. It’s still a nice place to stroll, whether on the pedestrian streets or around its natural lake. However, it doesn’t take a lot of time to go round it.
As for bars and restaurants, there is no shortage of choice. Stop at the statue of Zeus at the end of the pier!
Spinalonga Island
The Venetians originally built a fortress on the island of Spinalonga in 1579, opposite the town of Elounda, to protect Crete from Turkish forces.
From 1904, the island became known as Leper Island. Anyone carrying leprosy was deported to the fort, as the Cretans thought the disease was highly contagious.
Spinalonga has a lovely waterfront with restaurants near the water offering fresh catch of the day fish.
British author Victoria Hislop wrote the book “The Island of the Forgotten”, which traces the tragic life of a family affected by leprosy.
Want to find out more? This private day trip to Spinalonga and Elounda near the Roman town of Olous is a great option.
To Eat
Cretan Specialties
Don’t miss the various Cretan specialties such as:
- Mezzes;
- Greek salad;
- Olive oil and local olives;
- Fried snails;
- Stuffed or fried garden vegetables;
- Moussaka;
- Meat stews, grills or slouvaki (pork, lamb, beef, rabbit);
- Fish (swordfish, sea bream, red mullet, sea bass), cuttlefish, squid, octopus and saganaki shrimp.
Suggested Restaurants
Spelios
At Spelios, they shake your hand when you arrive! The place is crowded, which is no mistake, this is the place to be.
After a day on the beach, there’s nothing better than a beautiful terrace to admire the sunset, accompanied by a glass of wine.
Enjoy a delicious moussaka (the best we’ve ever had in our lives, bar none!), or let yourself be tempted by grilled meats, octopus or shrimp saganaki!
Corinna Star
The Corinna Star restaurant has a terrace overlooking a beautiful pool and the sea, perfect for admiring the sunset as you dine.
Very good food. Several menus on offer. Beautiful flavours. An excellent Greek salad, delicious tuna. We loved it!
Mon.Es
Mon.Es is a restaurant tucked away in an alleyway in Chania, very charming, in a magnificent setting. Delicious food, refined dishes, we really appreciated the service! We recommend it.
Visit the washrooms and you’ll feel dizzy with the archaeological remains under your feet!
Meltemi
Meltemi is a bar and restaurant. We suggest you stop off here for a refreshment and, above all, to admire the breathtaking view!
Other Restaurants
- Salis – in Chania ;
- Peskesi – in Heraklion;
- Captain Longa – in Plaka.
To Try
Hiking
If you’re a keen hiker or climber, you’ll find all the information you need on the website of the Association of Mountaineering Clubs of Chania. Between canyoning, climbing and trekking, you’ll find plenty of delightful options.
We suggest a visit to the Samaria Gorge These well-developed gorges are popular with hikers (16 km), so start early in the morning.
Rendezvous at Omalos or Sougia. Ask about taking the morning ferry to Agia Roumeli.
Diving and Snorkeling
With its clear, deep waters, snorkeling is a great choice. There are many caves to see. Contact one of the diving centers to observe morays, scorpion fish, octopuses and other fish. There is a large variety of them.
There are several spots to try:
- Around Elounda to see the sunken town of Olous, Blue Cave near Agia Pelagia;
- Dia Island to see a shipwreck;
- To Malia to see the wreckage of a German fighter plane;
- Or on Skinaria beach, near Plakias.
Other Activities
For the adventurous, explore picturesque landscapes on a quad safari, book a Jeep tour through eastern Crete or the southern canyons and reconnect with nature on horseback.
For wine lovers, a visit to a vineyard such as Klados, Douloufakis or Manousakis is a must.
For the foodies, we suggest you visit an olive oil factory. Why not visit Astrikas or Vassilakis: a culinary voyage combining olives, wine and raki is a sure choice!
Want to cook like a Cretan? Don’t hesitate to take a cooking class to become an expert.
Finally, a sailing excursion, whether for the day or to watch the sun set.
What to Do as a Family
The Beaches
Ideally, we suggest you get to the main beaches early in the morning or late in the afternoon, to avoid the large influx of tourists during the summer season. Beach-chairs and umbrellas are available on every beach.
Elafonisi Beach
After 1 h of winding, narrow roads, which can be done very well in a small car if you’re coming from the north, you’ll be on the protected beach of Elafonissi, listed in the Natura 2000 network.
Ample parking is available along the entire length of the site, and we’ll tell you where to park.
The sandy beach is very large and very busy. Some places have pebbles. In some areas the sand takes on pink hues due to shell debris.
With an average depth of one metre over long distances, it’s perfect for families with children. The water is very clear.
Kedrodasos Beach
Too many people on Elafonissi beach? Located about ten minutes away, this wild, well-hidden beach is very beautiful with its juniper plants. Perfect for snorkeling!
Falasarna Beach
Located to the north-west, this beach is more pleasant, longer, with more waves, less clear and deeper, but less windy than the previous one.
Balos Beach
You’ll have to drive 7 km of dirt road at 20 km/h to get to Balos lagoon! With an ounce of hope, try to make your way to the main parking lot to find a spot.
The rest is done on foot. A beautiful 2 km “hike” ascending and descending on steep paths, carved out by the footsteps of tourists.
Stunning views of the lagoon! You’ll be amazed by this stretch of turquoise water sheltered by rocks.
A few large tourist boats drop beach-goers further down.
The right-hand side is busier, of course, thanks to its clear water and fine sand, and the tourists who get dropped off nearby by boat. Keep to the left side if you want more tranquility even if it can be a little more rocky.
On the way back, a surprise may be waiting for you on the roof of your car: there are plenty of friendly goats around!
The Natural History Museum of Heraklion
The Heraklion Museum of Natural History is not very big, but it is very nice. It appeals to younger visitors with interactive features.
Aquaworld
The Aquaworld Aquarium located at the port of Hersonissos is a children’s paradise. It is also a rescue center for injured and orphaned reptiles. You can interact with the animals in the center
Limnoupolis Water Park
Need to keep your kids cool and busy? The Limnoupolis water park is 15 minutes from the center of Chania.
On the Spot
Getting There
How many Aeroplan points do you need for a one-way economy flight from Montreal? According to Air Canada’s points predictor, you’ll need to save at least 40,000 points to reach Heraklion airport (HER).
For our part, we took Easyjet from Nice to Chania, a 2.5-hour flight.
Accommodation
Save With Points
There are two Marriott Bonvoy credit cards issued by American Express, which allow you to quickly accumulate a large number of Marriott Bonvoy points. Thanks to these cards, you can enjoy several free nights.
We stayed at Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection and Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection.
Here are our reviews of these establishments:
At independent hotels, travel credit card points can also be used to save on reservations.
They’ll add up quickly with your day-to-day spending and welcome bonuses when you open a new credit card. You could opt for the National Bank World Elite Mastercard®, which offers excellent insurance coverage.
Getting Around
By Land
The easiest thing is to rent the car. Please present your French or international driving license (compulsory). For our part, we chose Sixt – booking via Holiday Autos – which is fast and convenient, being located just outside Chania airport on the left.
Gasoline is expensive, so consider a compact car with low fuel consumption to a diesel.
The driving is on the right side. Cretans are not the most disciplined drivers:
- Don’t be surprised if they overtake, honk or cross the white lines;
- Don’t be surprised if you see people driving in the emergency stop lane. It’s their way of letting themselves be overtaken.
Speed cameras are present and the police are rare, but present enough to have seen them in action, so take care and respect the limits.
Other ways to travel for long distances, the bus. I recommend the ktel company (central and eastern region) or this ktel website (western region).
In the city, we recommend taxis, and make sure their taximeter is activated.
By Sea
Various ferry connections (with the option of taking the car on board) are available between villages such as Paleochora and Agia Roumeli. However, it is important to check the weather conditions and timetable on the day itself.
We recommend the gtp|Ferry Connections website, to see all the ferry connections and timetables on the Greek islands, and the Anendyk website.
Other Information
As a family, the stroller will only be useful in the city. Away from home, you’ll be more comfortable with a baby carrier or children on your shoulders, as the roads and paths are not suitable, especially if you’re a fan of archaeological sites!
You’ll find plenty of mini/super markets, petrol stations and pharmacies with late opening hours. Choices are sometimes limited in small boutiques, but don’t worry, the main items are there!
Budget
You’ll generally need to budget around €70/person/day for Crete, less if you use points (rates shown are for 2019).
- Food: affordable, between €15 and €30, but the bill can quickly go up in restaurants. We suggest you don’t always order dessert, since a sweet touch is usually offered with the digestif;
- Accommodation: everything will depend on the types of rentals Hotel, Airbnb, homestay or other type of rental. For our first three nights, we booked the Dempla Heights Villas accommodation ;
- Car : for our week-long trip, we used the Holiday Autos website, which offered excellent rates at Sixt. The rental cost €150 and we filled up only once (after 1,000 kms!), on our return to the airport, for about €60;
- Activities: entrance fees for sites and museums range from a few euros to around €12. If you’re planning activities such as boating, quad biking or diving, the costs will of course be higher.
When to Go
Crete is a destination where the weather is good all year round, with mild temperatures in winter. To visit, we suggest the period from April to mid-October, and avoid July-August when attendance, prices and heat are at their peak.
What to Take With You
In addition to the classic sun kit (sunglasses, hat, cream, etc.), we recommend that you take:
- Mask and snorkel, if you’re a snorkeling fan;
- Good sneakers for walking the steep terrain to beaches, and flip-flops so you don’t burn your feet in the sand;
- In addition, beach shoes can be practical since some beaches are rocky.
The Essential Guides
Ulysses Travel Guides has an extensive collection of books on this destination:
Visa and Canadian Representation
We recommend that you complete the registration form for Canadians abroad on the Government of Canada website to be notified of any events, civil disturbances or natural disasters during your travels abroad.
Canadian Embassy:
- 48 Ethnikis Antistaseos Street, Chalandri, 152 31, Athens, Greece. 30 (210) 727-3400.
- athns-cs@international.gc.ca
- Passport services are available
- Canadian Embassy in the Hellenic Republic
Canadian Consulate :
- 19 Kountouriotou Street North, 546 25, Thessaloniki, Greece. 30 (2310) 256350.
- petmezas_canada@thessalaw.gr
Tourist Offices
If you’re looking for inspiration, take a look at the Crete Tourist Board website. The site provides a map with all points of interest, all the information is there.
Health and Safety
It is recommended to have up-to-date vaccines and a list of your drug profile in case of a problem, with a copy of your prescriptions for opioid-containing treatments.
Many pharmacies are present, you will have no trouble finding one.
This geographical area does not present a risk of unsanitary conditions, conventional hygiene rules apply and tap water is safe to drink.
Long clothes and high-boots are recommended for hikers due to the presence of snakes that can be dangerous on the island.
Suggested Itinerary
You should allow around two weeks to visit the island of Crete. One week on the west coast, with its famous beaches, and another week in the wilder, more authentic east. We therefore suggest a minimum stay of one week to discover part of it!
