Things to do in Crete
Boat Trips Chania Crete26 optionsCrete to Santorini Day Trip14 optionsQuad Safari Crete16 optionsSnorkeling Tour Crete20 optionsScuba Diving12 optionsCrete Hiking Tours9 optionsSunset Cruises5 optionsCrete Wine Tour6 optionsClimbing6 optionsElafonisi Beach Tour15 optionsCrete Sailing Tours17 optionsCrete Catamaran Tour12 options
Sort
Palace of Knossos Guided Tour: Skip the Line, Licensed GuideA guided tour of the Palace of Knossos in Crete with skip-the-line entry, a licensed guide speaking English or German, and groups kept to a maximum of 16 people. The guide meets you at the archaeological site entrance and leads you through the palace for 90 minutes. Listening devices are provided for groups over 10 guests, and the site is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?The guide speaks English or German, so you'll follow the commentary in your language without translation lag or guessing what you're looking at. Choose this if you want someone who knows the palace to explain what's original, what's restored, and why the layout matters — not a self-guided walk with a map.
Phaistos & Gortys Day Trip: Minoan Ruins & Roman CapitalA guided day trip from Plakias visits Phaistos, the second-largest Minoan palace in Crete, then moves east through Mires market and the Messara Museum before ending at Gortys, the former Roman provincial capital. The tour runs 9.5 hours with an English or German-speaking guide, bus transport throughout, and entry to all archaeological sites included; snacks and lunch are on your own.Is it for me?The bus picks you up in Plakias and returns you there at the end of the day, which means you do not need a rental car or need to arrange your own transport between sites spread across the island. The guide handles all the tickets and entry logistics, so you walk straight into each site without stopping at a booth.
Elounda to Heraklion Airport: Private TransferYou're picked up at your Elounda accommodation and driven directly to Heraklion Airport with a professional driver, bottled water, and no intermediate stops. The journey takes roughly 90 minutes, the price is fixed, and specialized child seats are available on request. Ideal if you want to skip arranging a taxi or negotiating a fare at the last minute.Is it for me?Book this if you want to avoid arranging a taxi or negotiating a fare—the driver meets you at your accommodation, the route is direct, and the price is locked in before you leave.
Day trip Santorini from Chania: Oia & Fira by boatA full-day guided tour of Santorini departing from Chania areas with hotel pickup, boat transport from Rethymnon, and a professional guide in five languages. The itinerary splits the day between Oia—the northernmost village with its signature blue-and-white houses—and Fira, where you have 2.5 hours free to explore, shop or sit with a view of the volcano. You return by ferry the same evening, arriving back in Chania around 7:25pm. The guide leads you through both towns; the rest of the time is yours to spend.Is it for me?Book the "With Transfer" option if your hotel is in one of the Chania pickup zones—it saves you the drive to Rethymnon. If you're staying in Rethymnon itself or prefer to meet at the port, the "from Rethymnon Port" option skips the hotel pickup and starts at the ferry dock.
Chania Old Town Walking Tour: Secret Alleys & Venetian HarborIf you’re curious about Chania beyond what guidebooks show, this walk is for you. You’ll hear real stories from someone who grew up here and see places most visitors miss—from ancient shipyards to tucked-away synagogues—all in just a couple hours on foot.
Crete: Via Ferrata Asterousia Mountains Adventure TrailYou’ll climb Crete’s only Via Ferrata route in the rugged Asterousia Mountains with an experienced local guide, learning to trust your own grip on steep iron rungs while catching wild sea views. Includes all equipment and transport from Kapetaniana village—plus plenty of laughs along the way.
Chania Airport Transfer: Private Car from City HotelsA driver meets you at your Chania hotel at a time you set and takes you directly to Chania International Airport in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. The fare is fixed before you travel, and the driver waits free for 15 minutes if your hotel checkout runs late. You skip the taxi queue and arrive at the airport with your schedule already settled.Is it for me?Worth booking if you're arriving or leaving Chania with luggage and want the airport route settled before you land — the fixed price and scheduled pickup time mean you skip the taxi negotiation and arrive on time without the stress.
Luxury Sailing Cruise Agios Nikolaos: Mirabello BayA luxury sailing cruise departing from Agios Nikolaos that takes you around Spinalonga Island and to Kolokytha Bay for swimming and snorkeling, with the option to extend to Psira Island on full-day trips. Choose between shared half-day cruises, private half-day, or private full-day; snorkeling gear, drinks, towels and snacks are included, and lunch at a local restaurant is available on full-day trips.Is it for me?Book the shared half-day cruise if you want a morning or afternoon of sailing and swimming without committing a full day. Choose the private option if your group wants the boat to yourself and the flexibility to linger at stops without coordinating with other passengers.
Chania Old Town Food & Culture Walking Tour: 4 TastingsA private walking and tasting tour of Chania Old Town with a licensed local guide, covering Venetian fortifications, Byzantine landmarks, and the Jewish and Muslim quarters while stopping at 4 family-run shops and eateries for authentic Cretan flavors. The tour lasts 2–3 hours and includes pickup from your Chania accommodation, airport or port, bottled water, all tasting stops, and museum entry fees. Inform the operator of any food allergies or dietary needs when you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guide to lead you through the old town's architecture and history while stopping at family-run shops for authentic local tastings—you choose between a smaller group (up to 6) or larger group (up to 10) based on your party size.
Boat tour Sfakia to Loutro: Car-free village day tripThis full-day boat tour from Sfakia takes you to Loutro, a whitewashed seaside village on Crete's southern coast accessible only by water. You sail across the Libyan Sea, swim in the clear harbor, eat lunch at a waterfront taverna, then return by road to Chania with a live guide and air-conditioned transport. The boat ticket (12€ per person, paid in cash on the bus) and meals are separate.Is it for me?This tour runs 12 hours door-to-door, which locks in an early morning and a late evening—it leaves little room for other activities that day, but that commitment is what makes a full inland escape to a car-free village possible inside a single outing.
Matala Beach & Caves Tour from Heraklion: Hippie HistoryA half-day tour from Heraklion to Matala beach combines swimming and lunch by the sea with exploration of the prehistoric caves that once sheltered Roman tombs and later became a 1960s hippie colony. A professional guide in English, French or German leads the day, with hotel pickup included from Heraklion, Malia, Stalis, Hersonisos, Anissaras, Gouves, Ammoudara or Agia Pelagia. The caves are carved directly into the steep rocks above the beach, accessible on foot.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to combine beach time with a walk through actual caves rather than a guided hike — you set the pace at Matala, swim when you choose, and explore the rocks on your own terms with the guide available to explain the history.
Chania Airport to Heraklio: Private Transfer with WiFiYou're met at Chania Airport arrivals with refreshments and assistance, then driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle to your Heraklio destination. The fixed price covers transportation, WiFi, and luggage help, so you arrive rested and ready without arranging local transport or haggling over fares.Is it for me?Choose this transfer if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive without the friction of arranging local transport—the driver waiting for you and the fixed price are what make the difference between a stressful arrival and a smooth one.
Chania Airport Transfer to Platanias & Agia MarinaYou book online with your flight details; the driver tracks your arrival in real time and meets you at Chania Airport with a sign. The transfer is private (no shared stops), the vehicle is air-conditioned with bottled water, and child seats are included at no extra cost. Fixed pricing means no haggling, and the driver speaks English and knows the local roads. You arrive at your Platanias or Agia Marina hotel without arranging anything else.Is it for me?Worth booking if you land with luggage and children and don't want to negotiate a taxi fare or wait for a shared shuttle—the fixed price and real-time tracking mean you know exactly when your driver arrives and what you'll pay.
Preveli Palm Beach tour: Gorge, river, lagoon full-dayThis full-day tour from Chania visits Preveli Palm Beach on southern Crete, combining a stop at the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, a boat ride along the coastline, and several hours of free time at the beach and palm forest. The tour includes an English or Greek-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and hotel pickup from Chania; ferry tickets to Preveli are purchased separately. The river lagoon stays full year-round, and marked walking paths wind through the Theophrastus palms, the second-largest palm grove in Greece.Is it for me?The 10-hour commitment means you leave early and return in the evening, which rules out combining this with other major stops but leaves the afternoon at Preveli unrushed—enough time to swim, walk the forest, and sit with the landscape without feeling hurried through it.
Falasarna Beach Day Trip from Chania: 3 Miles of SandFalasarna Beach day trip from Chania is a guided tour to one of Crete's longest beaches on the west coast, with air-conditioned transport, entry and water included. The beach stretches three miles with parasols and sunbeds across its main section, turquoise water for swimming, and a reputation for dramatic sunsets. Your guide speaks English or Greek and hotel pickup is included, so you leave Chania without arranging a car or navigating the coastal road yourself.Is it for me?Book this trip if you're staying in Chania without a rental car and want a full beach day without driving the coastal road yourself. The pickup and transport mean you leave your hotel and arrive at the beach ready to swim, and the seven-and-a-half-hour window gives you real time in the water instead of a rushed morning visit.
Chania Airport to Rethymno: Private Transfer & Flight TrackingA driver meets you at Chania Airport arrivals with your name on a sign and handles your luggage; the car has Wi-Fi and climate control, and your flight is tracked so delays don't surprise anyone. For departures, pickup happens from your Rethymno hotel or villa at a time you choose, getting you to the airport early enough to breathe. The 75-minute journey costs a fixed price with no hidden fees, and child seats are free if you're traveling with kids.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving tired or leaving early and want to skip the taxi queue and shuttle-bus wait—the fixed price and door-to-door pickup mean you're not arranging transport or negotiating a fare, just getting from the airport to your Rethymno accommodation (or back) without friction.
Heraklion Airport to Rethymno: Private Transfer 75 MinutesYou get picked up at Heraklion Airport with a name sign and driven 75 minutes to Rethymno in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle, or collected from your hotel for the return journey. The driver tracks your flight and waits free of charge if you're delayed; Wi-Fi, luggage help, and child seats are included. Book this if you want to skip taxi queues and arrive without the stress of arranging transport yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you land at Heraklion and want to reach Rethymno without arranging a taxi or navigating public transport — the fixed price and real-time flight tracking mean you arrive on your own schedule, not on a negotiation at the curb.
Santorini 2-Day Trip from Heraklion: Oia, Fira & Volcano OptionA 2-day guided tour of Santorini departing from Heraklion with round-trip SEAJETS boat tickets, guided exploration of Oia and Fira, one night in a 4-star hotel, and private transfers between the port and hotel. The volcano excursion and hot springs swim are optional add-ons. Guides speak English, French and German, and the itinerary leaves the morning of day two free before the afternoon return ferry.Is it for me?Book this trip if you're staying in Heraklion or arriving by plane without a rental car—the boat and hotel transfers mean you don't need to drive, and the overnight stay lets you see both villages without rushing back the same day. The volcano excursion is optional, so you can add it or skip it depending on what appeals to you when you arrive.
Samaria Gorge Full-Day Hike from Heraklion with BeachA full-day guided hike through Samaria Gorge from Heraklion covers 18 kilometers of the longest gorge in Europe, starting from the Omalos plateau and descending through White Mountain forests and river valleys to the village of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea. Hotel pickup is included; the hike takes around 4.5 hours with a professional guide, followed by time to swim and eat at local taverns before a one-hour boat ride to Chora Sfakion and the return drive to Heraklion. The boat ticket (15 euros per person) and lunch are separate from the tour price.Is it for me?The guided route and fixed schedule mean you don't navigate the gorge alone or build the day yourself—the guide handles the pace, the group stays together, and the boat and bus connections are arranged so the full descent and beach stop fit into one trip from Heraklion. This works best for hikers with solid fitness who want the structure and the company of a guide, not for solo walkers or those looking for a casual stroll.
Santorini day trip from Rethymno: Clifftop villages by boatA full-day guided tour from Rethymno to Santorini by luxury catamaran, with a professional guide leading visits to Oia and Fira. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle on the island, see the blue and white architecture from the clifftop villages, and have free time to explore each stop at your own pace. The boat departs and returns from Rethymno port; pickup from nearby hotels in the Rethymno area is available for an extra fee.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see both Oia and Fira in a single day without renting a car or navigating the island on your own—the guide handles the route and the timing, so you spend your energy on the villages themselves, not on planning how to get between them. The 12-hour span means you leave early and return after sunset, which suits travelers based in Rethymno who want a full immersion in Santorini without an overnight stay.
