Best Things to Do in Crete, Greece

Crete stretches 260 km west to east and sits at the southern edge of the Aegean, closer to Africa than to the Greek mainland. The things to do in Crete span four provinces of dramatically different character. Heraklion, the capital, is anchored by the Palace of Knossos (Europe’s oldest city, the center of the Minoan civilization 3,500 years ago) and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (the world’s finest collection of Minoan artifacts). Chania, in the west, has the most beautiful town in Crete: a Venetian harbor with a lighthouse, Ottoman minarets, and a labyrinthine old town. The Samaria Gorge (18 km, 5-7 hours downhill) is the longest gorge in Europe, accessible from the Omalos plateau in the White Mountains above Chania. Balos Lagoon in the far northwest, reached by 4WD or a short boat from Kissamos, has shallow turquoise water between two curved beaches. Elafonisi, in the southwest, has pink-tinged sand from crushed seashells and a shallow lagoon suitable for children. The Palm Beach of Vai, in the far east, has Europe’s largest natural date palm grove.

Best time to visit

April through June and September through October are the best months. July and August are very hot (35-40°C on the coast, hotter inland) and extremely crowded; Balos and Elafonisi can have thousands of visitors on peak summer days. The Samaria Gorge is open May through October (closed in winter and in extreme heat when flash floods are possible). April/May bring wildflowers to the mountains; October has warm sea temperatures (still 25°C) and far smaller crowds. Winter (November-March) is the island’s rainy season; the mountains receive snow and most tourist infrastructure closes.

Getting around

Crete has two international airports: Heraklion (N. Kazantzakis, the main gateway) and Chania (Ioannis Daskalogiannis). Charter flights from all over Europe operate in summer; year-round routes connect to Athens. Rental cars are by far the best way to explore the island; the north coast highway is fast; mountain and south coast roads are narrow and winding but rewarding. KTEL buses run the main north coast route between Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion (3 hours end to end). Ferries connect Heraklion and Chania to Athens (Piraeus, 8-9 hours overnight).

What to eat

Cretan cuisine is considered the most authentic expression of the Mediterranean diet. Key dishes: dakos (barley rusk with tomato, feta, and olive oil), sfakiani pita (crispy cheese pie from the Sfakia region), lamb with stamnagathi (wild greens), gamopilafo (wedding rice cooked in meat stock), and fresh grilled fish at seafront tavernas. Cretan olive oil is exceptional (some of the world’s most highly rated extra-virgin); raki (firewater grape distillate) is the post-meal tradition. For cheese, graviera (hard sheep/goat mix, similar to Gruyère) and mizithra (fresh sheep’s milk) are the island specialties.