Day 1 - Arrive in Athen in evening. Crete: Iraklio and Chania Spending 6 days in Crete in early October. There are lots of things to see and do and you really need to do a lot of research. People drive 10-20km/hr faster then what the signs are showing. Stay in Chania to start: it’s the most picturesque of the night 3 cities, and has the most convenient proximity to other cool places. -Lodging. Start in Chania and then likely rent a car to explore the beaches on the west. Malta is cool and interesting, and pretty cheap for Europe, but Greece is better value for money (except Mykonos and Santorini, those islands can fuck right off). Day 5 - Crete, details TBD. You did mention you wanted islands, but that has the better sites, plus beaches, and is less touristy, too. Athens wouldn’t recommend a car but some places you may want to visit would make it easier ( lake vouliameni, sounio or day trips to marathon, delphi, nafplio ) 2. But in May, Santorini is even more important because it’s not a beach destination and the crowds will be far, far less. Crete is a good choice for what you want, but -- and this is the less relaxing part -- things are spread out, even to go to a nice beach you need to get in the car. Day 4 (Early flight to Crete) -Holy Trinity; Seitan Limania and Old Town. I’m newly single with busy friends. Day 5 -Balos, Kissamos and more Old Town. Most things will be open so there should be a lot of restaurants etc to choose from. A great beach for little ones that I don’t see mentioned often is Bali. Day 7: drive to Agios Nikolaos, use as base. I stayed in 3 different Bnbs. Also Mili Gorge is a relatively light hike that is particularly nice. Sea will still be cool but definitely warming up by then. . The pros of this plan is I can fly out of Chania and avoid Santorini entirely, Crete is definitely plenty diverse from the Cyclades, and that I have heard it will be a bit warmer in October. Probably about $50 USD one way. I'm trying get away for a while, and to experience an ancient land and beautiful landscape. Ferry hop between islands, likely fly back to Athens from Santorini. The big companies at the airport also were around $230-260. Budget: doesn't really matter, but we would consider significant differences in the quality of the trip for the cost between options. Don't waste precious holiday times on a 9+ hours ferry with potential rough seas. Hey guys! Is Crete worth visiting in December? Mostly I want to do some hikes and chill a bit. You can’t really go wrong though bc driving in Crete is never boring. Is 16 days too long to stay in Crete or would I find enough things to do around the island? Looking for a mix of beach relaxation, water activities, hiking and night life. Most places only take or prefer cash in general there, I took out €800 and had plenty of spending and play money for over two weeks. Matala Beach and Caves. Nafplio is so pretty. If you're up for museums, the Heraklio Archaeological Museum will complement your visit to Knossos, with a wealth of artifacts and art from the site. Day 2 & 3- Explore Athens. Besides that, make it a point to stop and enjoy the scenery whenever you can. The city proper is very Central European feeling and the beaches are next level (but colder water). Distances to remote places far by bus and usually places to see in between that you would miss. dryden789. Our concerns are: Mykonos may not be as lively in the off season. So that will be about a week of the trip. Mycenae is the perfect compliment to Crete since the Mycenaeans invaded Crete shortly after the Minoan collapse. Photos are a great way to augment your story. Day 2 Balos beach and Chania. There are so many beautiful beaches all over and i imagine some would be very difficult to get to via public transit. Zeus cave #2 (Dikteon andron) is very fun to explore! 10-Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga island fortress Agios Nikolaos is a very cozy city with a lake-nice for a romantic dinner by the lake. Sept 18 Crete. The best ruins and historical sites are on the mainland, and there are a lot on the Peleponnese, south west of Athens. ago. Crete is chill, absolutely amazing food and very unique. I am curious in the nicest areas of crete, most fascinating, historical, authentic, etc that are (relatively) unspoiled by tourisim and what places I should avoid. Clickbait, spam, memes, ads/selling/buying, brochures, classifieds, surveys or self-promotion will be removed. Instead of having to pay for travel and accommodation, I just pay one price for both. Go to the north side of Crete for your swim time. Wednesday - meet my parents arriving in Santorini, spend the day with them, spend the night in Santorini. Sept 20 - Depart Crete>Athens (plane) Sept 21 - Depart Athens, return home. 5. I'm looking in the southern coast of Crete because I intend to go during this summer and don't want to be somewhere too touristy. Melidoni Caves. 2. Sept 19 Crete. Crete is not an outlier with regard to car rental prices. The quieter the better. Here's my plan: Day 1: Arrival in Heraklion at night heading straight to chania. The ONLY thing you’ll miss is neither of those has the ‘white building’ look you may expect from ‘Greek islands’. Santorini is beautiful, extremely touristy and harder to find decent cuisine, quite pricey but beautiful views. My Somewhere to discuss travel. It's only a 55 minutes flight from Athens to Heraklion. (And yes, rent a car). **Note that images are 100% welcome as part of a longer, thought-out text post. The Tanneries Hotel. From Kos you should be able to easily ferry either back towards Athens (into the Cyclades) or to Rhodes. The island itself is beautiful. Our price limit is 1000 Euro for the flights, but this is seemingly impossible, checked every single possibility with TUI, Aegan, etc. We were thinking of staying in Chania the whole time and taking the bus, but were not sure. EDIT: Just to add to this - if you tip on a credit card, it’s highly unlikely the server is I plan on visiting Crete in early to mid May. I would say that at least as good as Crete in the other aspects (maybe Crete better with food), but way better in terms of history is the Peloponnese, which Dislikes: long hikes, super expensive hotels. Incredible beaches and warm water that are not swarming with crowds. Being able to sleep on board and wake up at my destination was a huge plus. For topics to do with the wider ancient Roman republic/empire, please post in /r/ancientrome. Plan an itinerary and stick to it. Despite what some people have to say about crowds. So, if you're interested in Greek history, some main sites are: Knossos, of course, the Bronze Age settlement of the Minoans. The very best place to stay near Chania is Chania. The advantage with Crete is that if you do get bored there are many other options, including changing cities. We would like to stay in a nice beach town. It is a great base, but Public transportation is a bit difficult as it doesn’t cover the entire island and buses run only certain days to certain areas. Sort by: Search Comments. We have never gone for less than 7 days and usually 14-21 . Share a trip report. 4 nights between Paros and Naxos, 3-4 nights in Milos, 1-2 nights in Santorini. Santorini is far from cheap for hotels. Crete is too far to do in three days, I suggest you look into other islands, or consider a mainland town like Nafplio if you want that Venentian Vibe of Heraklion / Chania with amazing ruins and a lot more accessible in a short timeframe. Crete has everything. Crete becomes the center of the Cretan Renaissance. It has tons of ancient ruins to explore—if that’s your thing—and charming beachfront towns like Chania, where you can wander the cobblestone streets and stroll along the harbor. With a full 6 days you can spend half your time in eastern Crete and half in western Crete. Not to dump your vacation photos. Then we are flying out of Chania and will stay a few days there. γεια σας! That's yia sas or "hello" in Greek. There is a great bus that runs from /chora out to the beaches every 15 minutes. Offer advice or ask for it. Driving in Crete is, unlike what you read everywhere, quite ok. It’s an ancient fortress that was used to protect Elounda from pirate attacks, was used as a place of resistance to the ottoman occupation, and then was used as a leper colony. Hello everyone, I'm going to be travelling with my family to Greece in the summer and am trying to put together an itinerary. I’ve been going to Crete for 30 + yrs , at least 10 yrs of it we would go for over 5 weeks . Stay in Heraklion (or drive to Reythimno, if easier for my next day plans) Day 2 - 1 (or 2 things) listed below. I am overwhelmed by the amazing options in Greece, and right when I thought I was settled on spending 7 days in Crete (hopping all over the island) I learned about Zakynthos and Kefalonia and now I am so torn!! Would love some advice. I've drafted a rough itinerary, but I'm seeking some advice and suggestions to make the most out of my trip. •La Salumeria (AMAZING Italian food) -walk in. rhodes is nice too, been a couple of times & love it there as well. Helpful websites: Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Cretan Beaches, Matt Barrett's greek travel. My main Day 2: day trip to Milia + cooking class. Day 4: Exploring Chania and visiting Balos Lagoon Day 4 - Crete, details TBD. Chania is a wonderful place. Rhodes also has an airport and you either fly to Athens or there will be some direct island flight in high season. • 5 days ago. We will be in Crete for 2 weeks and need a bit of advice. A very short walk to old town and all the sites. You can buffer in a third incase hot air balloon gets cancelled and it’s on your to do list. What are the best areas in Crete to visit? Question. I slept with windows open and was so nice to hear the chatter of excited tourists. Definitely going back. Feb 4, 2024 · Although Crete offers a wealth of attractions and activities year-round, the ideal time to enjoy this Mediterranean gem is during late autumn when the crowds subside and the island comes to life in a more authentic light. Having said that, no doubt I’ll get itchy feet and will embark a hike or trips to the 3. I’d do Greece, better beaches, friendlier people, amazing seafood. Meteora is 5 hours one way from Athens, so remove that from your itinerary because it’s not worth two extra days of travel. Way more variety in beaches plus a lot more history than Paros/Naxos in my opinion plus hiking! 4. Keep in mind it takes around 5 hours to drive from one end of Crete to the other so it’s really quite large, however day to day you won’t need one in Chania or any of the cities at all and there are buses etc to use if needed. I would need help with itinerary… so far I have. fotispap. Wouldn’t cancel or be overly concerned. From Crete Greece. Originally, I wanted to go to Milos because of the relaxing atmosphere and Sarakiniko beach! But I see it will be hard to get around. Azade is right in the center of things in old town. Yep, Crete was also my favorite over Santorini and the mainland. Mykonos is very pricey, good for nightlife and eurobeach party vibes, if you dive in to it it's really fun. Your pictures, questions, stories, or any good content is welcome. See the main towns , maybe so the Fira to Oia hike , the volcano , wonder a bit and do a vineyard tour. I’ve been to Istanbul about 5x, staying for a month at a time sometimes. There seems to be a car shortage. Originally i had plans to visit Lofoten islands in Norway. Crete you need a car unless you just want to stay on one town. Solo traveller seeking beach to flop on end of May. What I want. We went to Crete and had an amazing time! Best food, best beaches, best people! And way cheaper. We are staying in Chania and then Heraklion for 8 days, but would like to do one more island before spending 2 nights in Athens for the final leg of the trip. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Day 8 - Santorini, and at night return to Athens. We plan to fly into Heraklio and stay a few days there. You will be super happy campers!! Just my humble opinion. Award. Go and enjoy yourselves. I usually stay at a friendly basic place near the bus station -- Alena Apartments. However with a strike going on with the pilots of SAS airlines my flight was canceled less than 24 hours before take off. 1. It was $85 for 4 days because I am under 27. It’s one of the most iconic vistas in the world and totally unique even among the Greek islands. Little bit of a modern city in Heraklion, great hiking in center of island, also lovely mountains with really nice views, great small towns, lovely port town with beach in Rethymno, great local town in Chania, best food in Greece, lovely beaches, and best of all honest helpful people in Crete that are not out to scam you or to steal stuff from you. We have two weeks, and I think that Chania is an absolute must for sure other than that, we don't know. Arkadi Monastery. Paros and Naxos are really similar and both are similar enough to Santorini. The price difference between flying and ferry is likely not going to be that significant. Santorini for the limited amount of days that you have and the towns are beautiful and the beaches there are not as impressive as other islands. TripAdvisor is a good start and a good site to check out is Santorini Dave. Sheltered cove, shallow water, lots of amenities. As to where to stay, basically the Northern side of Crete from Inform yourself of the currents (anywhere north of Crete will drift you towards Crete VERY quickly), EU requirements and supply stations for pumping sewage, fuel and getting electricity beforehand. Nafplio, Monemvasia, and Mani are all very worthwhile. Day 9 - Spend the morning and afternoon seeing any cultural sites or museums we missed, head to the airport in the evening. We loved driving through the mountains on all the switchbacks and through the charming towns in the southern part of the island. I would also cut 1-2 days from Corfu since Corfu and Milos are very far from each other. Would be my last recommended choice. Hello! I spent about 7 days in the beautiful island of Crete with my wife. Or if on the other side Elounda or Agia Pelagia. The ferry from Athens to Naxos is dreadfully long (6+ hours) so if you have the opportunity to fly there - I would. Looks decent to me although I haven’t been to Crete or Milos. Hello! I am looking to spend a month in Crete. Notice: Are you asking for travel advice about Greece? Read what redditors had to say in the weekly destination thread for Greece. Crete is too big to cover reasonably in 3 days. Taxi to Elounda from the airport cost me 80€ per way last month. It’s more expensive than Mexico City, which is kind of the gold standard for five star vacations at rock bottom prices. Delphi is another great site that can’t be missed. I can recommend Balos. There is an airport on Kos. It also has later antiquities from Crete in the Classical era. Looking for some recommendations. For context, we are a mid 30s couple traveling by ourselves. Rent a car. It’s very low key, beautiful, and the most amazing food I had in my life. One was in Chania in old town. Overnight ferry Athens-Crete : r/GreeceTravel. Crete was hands down my favorite Greek island. Everybody seems to be in a hurry, even trucks, so if you are unsure about your driving or the road, or you are just sightseeing, stick to the right so everyone can pass you buy. Also find an app that lista all the nearby beaches. Buses are abundant and straight up cheap. Day 2: exploring the Old Town of chania and venetian port + maybe a beach. Crete. It’s only in the touristy places that they’ll even ask or give you an option to tip because they know they can, but declining is never an issue. Day 6 -Elafonisi, Topolia Gorge. Fiancé and I are planning to spend about 5-6 nights there and then 3-4 nights in santorini. We are basing our stay in Chania, and having a hard time deciding which hotel to select. Hello everyone! I was searching for places to visit in Crete and found this amazing blog! You should definitely check it out as it's filled with interesting information! If you're planning a trip to Crete and looking for places to visit, how to travel there and so on, I highly recommend checking out this incredible blog I stumbled upon. I was thinking a couple days each in Santorini, Naxos, and Paros, and a couple days in Athens at the beginning or end. I was in Chania Crete for 7 days earlier this summer. Absolutely Crete is worth a visit! It's a beautiful island full of tourist attractions and AWESOME food! Definately try seafood if you go. If you want to be efficient about it get flights in and out of Athens which is faster, the other option is the ferry. We visited Crete in 2018 and I would highly recommend a rental car if you want to explore more than just Chania and do so at your own pace. Greece is much cheaper than Malta. Day 3: Beach day in Falassarna. Day 3: day trip to a beach (Stavros Beach) Day 4: day trip - Samaria Gorge hike. I personally really liked the botanical park of Crete. Istanbul is one of the few cities that actually deserves a full week. Visit Knossos and/or Heraklion Archilogical Museum, in the afternoon. Car rental is definitely a plus but I was afraid of driving so I limited my travels around Crete based on what areas the bus served. All the time. Go to Rethimno for a day or two and definitely go to the little villages for food. And for the Christian era, there's the small Agia Aikaterini (St Catherine) church and museum, a 16th century church (located next to You could go Bodrum to Kos very easily. The island it’s probably most similar to is Syros, but still I’d say very very unique. Santorini will get you the well known white greek buildings, Crete isn’t like that as much. I'd recommend flying instead. We are flying in Chania and we would really like to have the greek experience (with taverns, the venetian ports, walks through the old town) but also stay near a beach with fine sand, wake up in the morning and drink our coffee with a view, start our day with a swim. Crete is very large and you need a week minimum and you will definitely need a car. Hi there, I’m looking at a 6 nights stay at either Crete or Serifos for a true break from life. Sept 17 Crete. They’re still absolutely stunning. The best two places to visit in Crete are Chania and Elounda, but they’re like an hour from the airport. 11K subscribers in the crete community. It has more of an “authentic” feel to it, while still providing that hint of luxury/aesthetic we look for on vacations. My family (children will be 12 and 15 in summer) go to Crete almost every August - at least 3 weeks or longer and we always have a rental car for the whole time. I’ve been to both. Day 8: day trip to Elounda Beach. Simply embed them within your text post. I'm not a vegetarian, but you should be able to avoid meat Can also see a bit more around athens area ie Sounio. Im travelling to Crete in June and I just have a couple of questions for someone more knowledgeable. Milos is smaller and has okay public transport. I've been able to find parking in Chania, near the fort. We don't mind taking the bus a lot. I love mountain towns, like I loved Delphi. Hi everyone! So me and my family are planning to visit Crete for 2 weeks in September. I am curious if Anopolis would be a good idea for this trip. Acropolis and Parthenon is the same location, they have multiple other sites around and the Acropolis museum. We will rent a car in both islands and will stay in Old Town Chania and Old Town Rhodes, Both airbnbs have private parking. Usually it in areas with lots of dry bush / trees so beach / town holidays are not effected at all. For the Love of Travel. Santorini in 3-4 is good. By the way we used Swift Car Rental on Matt Barrett's site. Trudestiny • 26 days ago. The middle of the trip is what we are unsure of. 4. Katholiko. Crete for sure. • 4 yr. The better option is Milos. I felt the prices in Crete were the cheapest of my whole trip (Athens, Crete, Naxos, Dubrovnik). Not much of a partier, staying outside of Sitia for 6 days, then going to spend a couple nights on Santorini, then back to Crete, staying near Matala. Go with via ship from chania, because by car you have to walk like 30 min. Day 7 - Santorini. It doesn’t feel like a slog bc every view is more beautiful than the last. Cave of Zeus/Psychro. After the fall of Crete to the Ottomans in 1669, all of that moves to the Ionian Islands, especially Corfu and Zakynthos. This trip was planned super last minute. For general travel enquiries please visit /r/italytravel. Has anyone heard of the travel company, For the Love of Travel? They advertise as a “slow travel” group with only 8-14 people per trip, and for people 25-39. 11-Sitia and Vai beach. Day 5 check out from Chania… either morning in some beach near Chania then bus to Heraklion or bus to Heraklion then afternoon in some beach easy to reach I think 6 days in Athens are too much you should be fine with 2-3 days unless you want to day trips. one way. Can't decide if we should stay in just Chania and take day-trips to other parts of the island or split our time between Chania and Elouda or Agios Nikolaus. They are cancelled multiple days in a row. 3. Day 3 Samaria Gorge Full day guided tour. A 3 minute walk to the harbor. ** Hello, My wife and I are heading to Greece in the first two weeks of July, flying into Athens, with a connecting flight to Crete. There's more to choose from in Greece and the weather is The bus from Chora (the name of main town on most Greek Islands) goes out at best twice a day to the distant cities of Apiranthos, Halki, Filoti and I think Apollonas on the northest end. For such a fast visit no car, just use taxis and public transportation. If you have a hot take on a gladiator, centurion, praetorian guard, senator, consul, or emperor, you will get a better reception in /r/roughromanmemes. Still haven’t seen it all and we used to go for 5 weeks a year for 10 yrs. Pose a question. Between Rethymno and Iraklio. Day 5: day trip to a beach (Balos Beach via Kissamos ferry) Day 6: drive to Rethymno, day trip to Arkadi monastery, stay overnight. Chania, Rethymno, Heraklio and Lasithi. Cappadocia deserves two days, max. Here's two restaurant recommendations for Heraklion: •Peskesi (traditional Cretan) -book in advance. The one-way cost this year is 2 euro. Friday - in the afternoon, fly to Istanbul, spend a few days there. The two hotels we have landed on are: Azade Hotel. Recount a funny/unique travel related story. This day in 1941, Fallschirmjäger from Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 executed male civilians from the village of Kondomari, Crete, in response to Cretan civilians who attacked and killed German paratroopers with knives, axes and scythes. Planning on spending most of our time in Chania and exploring the western part of the island, but since we will be arriving on the ferry from Santorini in Iraklio in the late afternoon, we won’t be able to see Knossos and the museum unless we spend the night. It was a little pricier than Crete but not as much as Athens or Dubrovnik. ArtistAlternative750. Oct 8, 2023 · Hands down, Crete is one of my favorite Greek islands. Crete and Corfu have their own local flavors of architecture and have a lot more Venetian influence. Day 6 - Crete, and at night we take a flight or ferry to Santorini. Day 4 Elafonisi beach. We have 3 days to allot to either Mykonos or Crete, and are confused as to which one to pick. I was all over the place. Logistics: 7 days total in mid-May (assume 4-5 days actually at the vacation spot, 2 days for travel); Cyprus would be easiest to get to for us. I will be working from Athens in December and was planning a week trip there. Spinalonga is an interesting venetian fortress turned leper colony nearby. Would skip crete and make it a separate trip as it’s quite big. I LOVED this Airbnb and area. For everything about Crete, the Greek island in the Mediterranean. Arkadi Convent. Reply. Typically it’s fine to not tip, perhaps polite to just round up a bit (say from €37 to €40). 11. Maritime communication at sea is the same around the world, so make sure to tune into the shipping forecast. 8-10 nights on Crete, western side. I rented in Athens (Hertz), Milos (Avance) and Tinos (Vidalis) and they are all much more expensive than in 2021 or 2020 (the Covid years). Crete is far different from most of the other Greek islands. You can take a short boat trip to the Spinalonga island which have interesting history as well. Now we think we might do 3 places in 14 days. Athens -> Direct fight to Crete, stay in Chania? (5 days) -> Flight to Athens (2 days) -> Flight home I have been reading threads, and people are split on if Crete is accessible without a car. Preveli. Sleep - in Heraklion or Reythimno, if day 3 is another thing above. You should be easily able to get a taxi from the airport to Chania at that time. And yes Santorini is worth it. r/travel is a community about exploring the world. End of May is perfect. It’s as likely as unlikely that it will happen. Favorable prices, clean, friendly, kitchenettes. Hit me up for food recommendations. Thursday - early morning, fly to Mykonos from Santorini (I want to go there if I can!), explore myself and spend the night. I’m looking to travel with people my age (32 f) that aren’t interested in just getting wasted at tourist traps. my family is from crete so i’m a lil biased but probably the best food i’ve had & super relaxing but with the options of things to do! you can party in malia with all the international australian kids & do laughing gas out of whipped cream cans if you wanna get super crazy lol. A con is the increased travel time, massive size of the island for only 6 days, and being only 24, renting a car may be a pretty steep price (I rented a Hands down, Crete is one of my favorite Greek islands. We said f it and booked flights to Heraklion Crete. Add a Comment. Taxis are abundant and relatively cheap. Have 100’s of relatives there that have been living there for generations and regardless of a fire not one of us has ever been effected . Recommend getting the ferry from Elounda as they are fairly cheap and run frequently. You may find you want to explore them all after these two…. My flight leaves out of Istanbul on Tuesday morning. Naxos wasn’t bad. • 1 yr. I didn’t feel the need to swim in Santorini or go the beach at all. October and November are widely considered the best time to travel to Crete, as the weather remains warm and pleasant You could do Athens for two days, boat of fly to Naxos two to three days, Fly or boat to Crete 5-6 days fly to athens and home. Please add your favorite locations and hotels for romance and adventure in Crete down Highly recommend getting a car and exploring the south. Hello, Can people post recommended towns in Crete to honeymoon in? I’ve read that most people recommend west side of Crete and thy Chania is one of the main places. Corfu is really unique among Greek islands. Knossos , spinalonga , zeus cave , prevail , Samaria gorge , other gorges , fortezza rethymnon, explore chania , go to balos , agia sofia cave , falassarna , Crete has way to much to see & do. Got questions? Need advice? Overwhelmed with your itinerary? Want to share your travel tips and experiences in Greece? Then this is the place for you! /r/GreeceTravel is for any and all looking to visit Greece — including those who have already been. Weather should be warm and you might even get the first heat wave, but you’ll avoid the bull of the tourist season. Fires happen almost every summer all over Greece. I'm all ears for any and all opinions. Also it makes more sense to go to Santorini and from there to Mykonos or to Mykonos and then to Santorini rather than going back to Crete. Kefali has a better view, Elos has better food. We’ll be renting a car hopefully near the Heraklion airport, and using the car for our stay. r/GreeceTravel. Day 1 arrival to CHQ late evening, sleep. When you’re in Elounda make sure to take a boat to Spinalonga. There's a minoan palace near Malia which is worth a quick visit and has a fairly quiet beach next to it. vanoitran. Since you are going to Crete make sure you visit Elafonisi , it's one of the most unique beaches not just in Greece but all throughout the Mediterranean, it's a nature reserve with pink sand. The other main reason was because of the overnight ferry coming into Crete. Headed to Crete for 5 days at the end of our 12-day trip to Greece in September, which also includes time in Athens, Milos, and Paros. While im normally an active traveller, I think I need a flop on a beach all day type affair for this trip. Hi all, My wife and I are traveling to Greece in late September / early October. os ov af lv fn hn sb ni dp dj