Crete is a paradise for adventurers! The diversity of Greece’s largest island offers endless possibilities for explorers. You can explore on your own with a rental car or join a guided day tour. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the most popular excursions in Crete.
For many of Crete’s attractions, all you need is a reliable rental car to get from A to B. This way, you can plan your tours in Crete perfectly at your own pace. For those who don’t want to or can’t drive a car in Crete themselves, here are our suggestions for great day trips during your vacation:
#1 Crete Jeep Safari
- Providers: Discovery Safaris / Cretanholidays / Safari Club Crete, among others
- Location: Rethymno region, Agios Nikolaos, Malia
- Languages: English, German, French
Both providers of off-road tours will show you Crete far off the beaten path. Perfect if you want to combine interesting facts about Crete with a healthy dose of adrenaline. The off-road tours in Crete are among the best excursions on the island.
The route takes you along gravel roads into the mountains of Crete, past traditional villages where time seems to stand still. One of the most popular excursions, for example, leads to the palm-fringed beach of Preveli. Most Crete jeep safaris include lunch. The tour operator, as well as the drivers and guides, receive high praise from travelers. Click on the links for details such as availability and tour prices:
➲ To the off-road tour near Heraklion*
➲ To the jeep safari on the south coast*
#2 Trip to Balos
- Providers: Platanos Tours / Cretan Daily Cruises, among others
- Location: from Chania, Rethymno, and Kissamos
- Languages: English
A tour to the Balos Lagoon is definitely one of the most popular excursions in Crete. Consequently, there is a large influx of tourists here during the summer months. Many tour operators offer bus trips to the lagoon followed by a boat tour to the island of Gramvousa.
→ For more tips and information on this Crete tour, see our separate post about Balos
Once there, you can relax comfortably on one of the many sun loungers and take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters. If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, you can climb the offshore rock featuring the eponymous Tigani viewpoint and enjoy a spectacular view of the lagoon and Balos Beach.
➲ Buy your online ferry ticket from Kissamos*
➲ Book an organized tour from Chania*
➲ Book an organized tour from Rethymno*
#3 Trip to Elafonisi
- Provider: Platanos Tours, among others
- Location: Chania and Rethymno regions
- Languages: English
Along with Balos, the bay of Elafonisi in the far southwest of Crete is one of the island’s highlights. Here, you’ll inevitably get that Caribbean vibe right in Crete. Expect large crowds here during peak season, so arriving early in Elafonisi is well worth it.
→ For more tips and information on this Crete excursion, check out our separate post on Elafonisi
The vast lagoon landscape is breathtaking even as you approach, with the sea shimmering in the most beautiful shades of blue. Elafonisi Beach also has a unique feature: in some places, it is a delicate pink color. This is due to tiny deposits of pink coral and shells. A trip to Elafonisi will stay with you for a long time!
➲ Book a guided tour from Chania*
➲ Book a guided tour from Rethymno*
➲ Book a guided tour from Heraklion*
#4 Palace of Knossos
- Providers: including Foniadakis Travel, Vangelis Alefantinos (Guide)
- Location: from Heraklion
- Languages: English
The Palace of Knossos is the most significant site of the Minoan civilization. If you’re a history buff vacationing in Crete, you shouldn’t miss a visit. From our own experience, we recommend a German-language guided tour with Vangelis Alefantinos. Otherwise, it’s difficult to grasp the complexity of Minoan culture.
→ For more tips and information about this Crete activity, see our separate post on Knossos
Especially during peak season, there can be long wait times at the ticket office. On the one-hour guided tour of Knossos, a professional guide will accompany you, and you won’t have to wait in line for long at the entrance. In this context, a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum is also well worth it. You can book Knossos tours right here:
➲ Get your skip-the-line online ticket*
➲ Book a guided tour incl. Heraklion trip*
#5 Quad Tour in Crete
- Provider: Discovery Safaris, among others
- Location: from Rethymno
- Languages: English
A guided quad bike tour is an adventurous way to discover the landscapes of the island of Crete. On remote roads, far away from the tourist hustle and bustle, you can experience the wild beauty of Crete.
The half-day quad bike tour in Crete is organized by Discovery Safaris in Rethymno, which also offers jeep safaris. Most tours include a light snack and a stop in a mountain village. Due to the scenic location, tours depart from Rethymno, Heraklion, or Agia Pelagia.
➲ To the quad bike excursion from Rethymno*
➲ To the quad bike excursion from Heraklion*
#6 Samaria Gorge Hike
You can book a trip to the Samaria Gorge through local tour operators. The experiences of Crete vacationers with these excursions vary widely. Most often, the long drive or the time-consuming pickup of individual participants from their hotels is viewed very negatively.
→ Tips for an independent hike can be found in the separate post about the Samaria Gorge
A hike through the gorge is worthwhile for travelers staying in the Chania and Rethymno regions. From Heraklion alone, it takes about three hours to reach the famous gorge. If that doesn’t bother you, you can choose from a variety of providers for a guided Samaria hike.
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Alternatives to the Samaria Gorge
Unfortunately, the Samaria Gorge can get quite crowded during the summer months. Ideally, you should hike the Samaria Gorge during the off-season. Then there are fewer visitors, and the weather isn’t as extremely hot in May or starting in September.
Alternatively, there are other beautiful gorges in Crete that you can hike through without the crowds. For example, the Aradena, Kourtaliotiko, Lissos, Richtis, or Sarakino Gorges. Even during the peak season, these are less crowded than the Samaria Gorge.
#7 Trip to Chania
The city of Chania is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, if not all of Europe. Along with Rethymno and Heraklion, the capital of Crete, Chania is an ideal starting point for exploring the island. A stroll through Chania, including the Venetian harbor, can be described as one of the most beautiful excursions in Crete.
→ More tips and information about this Crete excursion can be found in our separate post about Chania
You’ll find a great photo opportunity around every corner. Chania offers a mix of medieval alleys, ancient ruins, local culture, and rich tradition. You should definitely visit the city during your Crete vacation; there are also interesting street food tours and culinary walking tours. Many interesting Crete tours to the surrounding area start from Chania.
➲ To the excursions around Chania*
#8 Spinalonga, Dia, and Chrysi Island
Excursions to the islands around Crete are usually only worthwhile if your hotel is located in the immediate vicinity of these islands. Travel times on Crete can be very long under certain circumstances.
For example, it takes at least 4–5 hours to travel from eastern to Western Crete. From north to south, the shortest route is 45 minutes. Most excursions and day trips can be booked directly at the harbor of your respective Crete holiday resorts (ideally one day in advance).
Spinalonga Island Boat Trip
A visit to Spinalonga is especially worthwhile for vacationers in the Agios Nikolaos region, and also for those in the Heraklion and Chersonissos regions. There are also some Spinalonga tour operators in Agios Nikolaos. Alternatively, you can drive to Plaka on your own and take the short ferry ride from there.
➲ See the excursions to Spinalonga*
- Departure point: Plaka (above Elounda)
→ For more information on a trip to Crete’s Leper Island, see our article: Spinalonga Island
Sailing trip to Dia Island
A trip to Dia Island is ideal for all vacationers in the Heraklion region. Tour operators like Sailingtrips.gr even offer special sunset tours followed by dinner.
- Departure point: Heraklion
Tour to the Paximadia Islands
The excursions depart from Agia Galini. This makes them ideal for all visitors staying locally or in the Matala region. Vacationers from Rethymno need just over an hour to get there.
- Departure point: Agia Galini
Chrysi Island Boat Tour
A visit to this Caribbean-like island in the Libyan Sea is well worth it for anyone spending their Crete vacation in the Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos region. Tour operators are located right at the port of Ierapetra.
➲ See excursions to Chrysi Island*
- Departure point: Ierapetra
Do you have any other recommendations for a day trip, or have you already taken one of the Crete tours listed above? Then share your experiences with us and other Crete travelers in the comments.
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Here you’ll find more information to help you plan your vacation, as well as interesting tips for your trip to Crete:
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