Top Tours in Crete
There are so many unique experiences to fill your days in Crete, Greece. From getting lost in the back alleys of port towns to hiking gorges, exploring bright blue lagoons or simply relaxing on a pink sand beach.
No matter what you choose to do, if anything at all, you’re in for a fun holiday.
1. Explore Chania Town
Chania is the second largest city in Crete and it is absolutely stunning. The old town is full of cute apartments with balconies overlooking the harbour and small back alleys to get lost in. Cretan street music fills the air, as local fisherman go about their daily routines. Souvenir, arts-and-crafts shops are scattered throughout the streets and the walls, adorned with plants & bright flowers. We felt the atmosphere of Chania resembled similar to that of the small villages in Italy.
2. Hike Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe and is situated in the National park of Samaria, in the White Mountains of West Crete. The hike starts near the town of Omalos at 1230m, before you reach the refreshing shores of Agia Roumeli. The hike inside the national park itself is 13km but you’ll still walk (or crawl) another 3 km before you reach the sea. Although we are not avid hikers, we do enjoy the outdoors and with a working set of legs, there wasn’t any reason not to tackle this challenge. Nearly every tour agency and hotel offer a transport package to get there, more on that below.
3. Cruise to Gramvousa Island & Balos Lagoon
Before arriving at Balos Lagoon, we stopped at the amazing island of Gramvousa. Perched high on the hill is a very impressive Venetian castle that was built on top of the rock. The castle was built way back in 1579 and 1584 during Venetian rule over Crete to defend the island from the Ottoman Turks. It took us about 15-20 minutes to walk to the top but once we reached the top (with the 700 other people!) it was absolutely breathtaking and felt like someone was holding a postcard right in front of our faces.
5. Visit Archaeological Site, Knossos
If you are into archaeological sites, Knossos is one of the most visited on the island. Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and is considered Europe’s oldest city. The palace is a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square. The site is most visited when staying in Heraklion (5 km away) but can be visited via a tour from other parts of the island.
Geropsiloritis 