Things to Do in Crete: The 13 Best Day Trip Destinations

City trip to Chania, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Malia, or Matala

• What to expect: Strolling, shopping, dining, culture
• Location: Spread across Crete
• Cost: Free

The beautiful harbor towns and fishing villages on Crete are seriously always worth a day trip. And the best part: no matter where you’re based, every area has one of the most beautiful places in Crete.

The most beautiful town for a day trip on Crete is Chania. Here you can stroll through narrow alleyways, pick up great souvenirs, and simply watch the bustle around the Venetian harbor.

Rethymnon and Agios Nikolaos are also really lovely destinations. Like Chania, both harbor towns are full of charming little alleyways and boutiques.

If you’re in the mood for a bit more buzz and maybe even some nightlife, Malia should be your pick on Crete. During the day the town is really pretty and relaxed, but in the evening things really get going.

For a day trip with kids, we recommend Matala. Here you get the perfect mix of a small, colorful town, fascinating caves to explore, and a beautiful beach.

All five places are perfect for a great road trip around Crete. You can easily do it independently — no need to book a tour for this.

The charming potter's village of Margarites

• What to expect: An authentic village and beautiful ceramics
• Location: In the north inland, about 30 minutes from Rethymnon
• Cost: Free without a tour

Feel like exploring the interior of Crete by car? Then the beautiful potter’s village of Margarites should be one of your day trip destinations on Crete.

This small, charming village is famous for its ceramics. You’ll find 17 workshops that still produce ceramics using traditional, ancient Minoan techniques.

In some workshops you can even watch the craftspeople at work — really cool. Since we genuinely love ceramics from Greece, Margarites is one of our favorite day trip destinations on Crete.

If your hotel is around Bali or Adelianos — two of the best places to stay on Crete — Margarites is perfect for a quick day trip. From either place it’s only a 30-minute drive.

If you’re staying in the Rethymnon area but don’t have a rental car, you can also discover Margarites on a guided tour.

On this outing you won’t just visit the potter’s village — you’ll also see the Melidoni Cave and the stunning Arkadi Monastery. The latter is our next recommendation for a day trip on Crete.

Book a trip to Margarites, Melidoni Cave & Arkadi Monastery

Arkadi Monastery

• What to expect: Impressive architecture and a fascinating history
• Location: In the north inland, about 30 minutes from Rethymnon
• Cost: 4 euros for adults, children under 16 free

You don’t necessarily have to be into the history of Arkadi Monastery to make a trip to this Orthodox monastery during your time on Crete.

That’s not to say the history isn’t fascinating. There’s a reason Arkadi Monastery is the most significant national monument in Crete and a symbol of resistance.

Honestly, we think the monastery is a wonderful day trip destination on Crete for its impressive architecture and truly beautiful courtyard alone. It’s a place where you can take really great vacation photos.

You can buy your ticket on the monastery’s website. Or you can join the guided tour that also includes the potter’s village of Margarites. At 35 euros with a guide, it’s an excellent deal.

Book a trip to Margarites, Melidoni Cave & Arkadi Monastery

Day trips to the most beautiful beaches

• What to expect: Beach, sea, sun, relaxation
• Location: Elafonisi Beach and Balos Lagoon in the west, Vai Beach in the east
• Cost: Free without a tour

A really great independent day trip on Crete is, of course, a day at the beach. And there are truly so many amazing ones to choose from.

You can of course just hang out at the beach near your accommodation, but most of the most beautiful beaches in Crete always require a day trip.

Here are the three beaches we think are best for a day trip on Crete. If you’d rather not tackle these trips independently, you can also book a guided excursion.

#1 Elafonisi Beach

Our absolute favorite beach on Crete is Elafonisi Beach in the west of the island. Why? The sand is simply pink — really stunning. The color comes from countless crushed shells.

The turquoise water pairs perfectly with it. At Elafonisi Beach you’ll find everything you need: plenty of loungers, umbrellas, and even two restaurants.

They’re not right on the beach, but just before the parking lot. We recommend the Kalomirakis Taverna, by the way. The vista is stunning and the food is really delicious.

The water at Elafonisi Beach is very calm and the entry is super shallow — making it a perfect day trip destination with kids too. Snorkeling here is also really great.

Book a day trip to Elafonisi Beach

#2 Balos Lagoon

Also in western Crete, you’ll find the breathtakingly beautiful Balos Lagoon. If you plan this trip independently, it’ll be a bit of an adventure.

You have two options for getting to Balos Lagoon: drive there by car or take a boat from Kissamos.

If you go by car, at the end of the route you’ll need to drive along an 8-kilometer gravel road. From the parking lot you’ll then need to walk about ten minutes down to the bay.

Arriving by boat is a bit more relaxed and lets you discover Crete from a completely different perspective. You’ll need to drive to Kissamos first to catch one of the boats.

We recommend bringing a beach umbrella or a pop-up beach tent. There is genuinely very little shade on site, and only a few loungers and umbrellas available. There is no restaurant.

Book a private day trip to Balos Lagoon

#3 Vai Palm Beach

The eastern part of the island is still considered a true hidden gem on Crete. Visitors often come out here for just one reason: Vai Palm Beach.

It may no longer be a secret, but it’s definitely a really beautiful day trip destination. Because at Vai you’ll find the largest palm forest in Europe — incredible!

The palm trees make the beach an absolute standout. Here you genuinely feel like you’re on vacation somewhere in Costa Rica or Cuba. Truly stunning.

Even the drive to the beach is an amazing experience. The coastal road from Agios Nikolaos is considered the most scenic drive on Crete.

And the cool thing: thanks to all those palm trees, Vai naturally offers tons of shade. That’s really rare on Crete. There are also a few loungers and umbrellas available.

Keep in mind that it’s already about a two-hour drive from Malia to the beach. If your accommodation is further west, it’ll be even longer. There’s a good restaurant on site.

Book a tour to Vai Palm Beach incl. Sitia & Toplou Monastery

Spinalonga Island

• What to expect: A truly fascinating past
• Location: In the northeast of Crete
• Cost: Adults 8 euros, children 4 euros

Spinalonga Island has an incredibly fascinating past. It was a Venetian fortress, a home for the Ottomans, and a colony for the sick.

Today the island is one of the most popular attractions on Crete. On a trip to the island, you can explore the ruins and hear the full story of its history.

The only way to reach the island is by boat. If you want to discover Spinalonga independently, take one of the fishing boats from Elounda for 12 euros.

If you want to really understand what happened on Spinalonga, we recommend visiting on a guided tour, since there are only a few information boards on site.

It’s best to book online in advance to make sure you have a spot. Most tours depart from Agios Nikolaos.

Our tips: Since a trip to Spinalonga is very popular, you should get there as early as possible. And bring enough water and snacks — everything on the island is pretty expensive.

Book a guided boat tour to Spinalonga

Boat tour on Crete

• What to expect: A day out on the water, with sun-kissed skin, saltwater, and sea breeze
• Location: Spread across Crete
• Cost: 25–140 euros depending on the boat tour

A boat tour is always a great idea and is definitely one of the best things to do in Crete. From the water, you get to discover the island from a completely different angle.

We recommend booking your boat trip online in advance. That way you can compare options, since there are many different tours available on various types of vessels.

Don’t let promoters on the street talk you into a boat tour on the spot — it takes up a ton of time and energy, and you never really know what you’ve signed up for.

The five coolest boat tours for the perfect day out on Crete are:

#1 Boat tour to Agioi Theodoroi & Lazaretta

• Departs from: Chania
• Duration: 4.5 hours
• Cost: Adults 25 euros, children 13–17 years 22 euros, children 4–12 years 17 euros, under 3 free

If your accommodation is in western Crete, this boat tour is perfect for you. Agioi Theodoroi and the island of Lazaretta are really beautiful spots on Crete.

On this tour you’ll learn a lot about the history of Venetian rule, and you’ll also get to swim and snorkel in some really gorgeous coves.

For us, this boat tour has an unbeatable price. It’s a great pick if you’re looking for an affordable activity on Crete and don’t need a special vessel. You even get a few snacks and a drink.

Book a boat tour to Agioi Theodoroi & Lazaretta

#2 Glass-bottom boat tour

• Departs from: Chania
• Duration: 3.5 hours
• Cost: 27 euros for adults and children ages 4 and up, toddlers under 3 free

Prefer a boat tour that’s great for kids? One where the little ones are guaranteed not to get bored?

Then book a tour on a glass-bottom boat from Chania. Through the glass floor, kids can watch the colorful marine life below.

This tour also includes two stops. The first is on the island of Thodorou, where you can spot Kri-Kri goats. The second stop is also on Lazaretta. Food is not included on this tour.

Book a glass-bottom boat tour

#3 Sunset catamaran cruise

• Departs from: Rethymnon
• Duration: 3.5 hours
• Cost: 85 euros, children under 4 years 45 euros

For a slightly more luxurious and above all more romantic experience on Crete, consider a boat trip on a catamaran at sunset.

You’ll cruise along the beautiful northern coast and can drink unlimited wine and beer throughout the trip, along with delicious cheese and fresh fruit.

In a cove you can snorkel and try stand-up paddleboarding. The absolute highlight is the sunset you get to enjoy out on the open sea.

Book a sunset catamaran cruise

#4 Catamaran cruise with food & drinks

• Where: Agios Nikolaos
• Duration: 5 hours
• Cost: 140 euros for adults and children ages 5 and up, 75 euros for children under 4

Prefer a morning catamaran tour? Those exist too. A really great one departs from Agios Nikolaos — perfect if your accommodation is in eastern Crete.

On this tour you’ll get everything you need: a truly delicious lunch, all-inclusive drinks, and a stop in a stunning bay.

You can of course also swim, snorkel, or go stand-up paddleboarding. The tour doesn’t have a specific destination, but you’ll sail around the beautiful island of Spinalonga.

Book a catamaran cruise with food & drinks

#5 Sailing trip with food & drinks

• Departs from: Heraklion
• Duration: 4.5 hours
• Cost: 80 euros for adults and children

A sailing trip is also a really cool adventure. A sailboat moves at a more leisurely pace than a catamaran — and if you ask us, it looks a bit cooler too.

The destination for the day is the uninhabited Greek island of Dia. At your stop you can explore the island and swim, snorkel, or simply relax.

On board you’ll get a really delicious meal and drinks are all-inclusive. On this Crete tour, you can choose whether to go in the morning or the afternoon.

Book a sailing trip with food & drinks

Day trip by boat to Santorini

• What to expect: A day on one of the most beautiful islands in Greece
• Departs from: Heraklion
• Duration: 11–15 hours
• Cost: Adults 170 euros, children 3–11 years 85 euros, under 3 free

One of the things to do in Crete that surprises people most: during your Crete vacation, you can actually do a day trip to a completely different island — Santorini, for example.

The white houses with blue rooftops are the quintessential Greece postcard image. But Santorini also has really charming little alleyways to explore.

We strongly recommend booking a guided tour if you want to discover Santorini in a day. And for a first impression, one day is absolutely enough — we’ve done it ourselves.

Book a guided day trip to Santorini

In a dedicated article we’ve written up all the important information and our best tips in detail. There we also tell you how to do the trip to Santorini independently.

Beautiful gardens on Crete

• What to expect: Lush green plants, colorful flowers, idyllic scenery, and peace and quiet

A somewhat different day trip destination on Crete is a garden. Here you can enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful island and escape the tourist crowds for a while.

There are two gardens on Crete that we think are genuinely worth a visit.

#1 The botanical garden

• Location: About half an hour south of Chania
• Cost: Adults 7 euros, children 6–12 years 4 euros, under 6 free

You can experience Crete’s fascinating nature at the botanical garden of Crete. The plants are a rich green and the flowers come in yellow, red, purple, and other beautiful colors.

An approximately 2.5-kilometer path winds through the grounds, taking you past fruit trees, herbs, spices, and medicinal and ornamental plants from around the world.

A few donkeys, goats, ducks, and other animals also roam the grounds, and from certain spots you have a truly stunning panoramic view.

After your stroll, you can grab a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant. Some of the vegetables and herbs come straight from the garden — how cool is that!

#2 Maravel Herb Garden

• Location: In Spili, about 30 minutes south of Rethymnon
• Cost: Free

Another beautiful garden worth a day trip on Crete is the Maravel Herb Garden near Spili, right in the heart of the Cretan interior. Here the focus is naturally on herbs.
More than 2,500 well-known and lesser-known medicinal herbs are said to grow in the garden. In the morning you can even join a free guided tour.

There’s also a really excellent restaurant in the park. The food is completely vegetarian and seasoned with the many herbs from the garden, of course. Our recommendation: the herbal teas.

Discover Knossos on a day trip in Crete

• What to expect: The largest Minoan palace on Crete
• Location: 15 minutes south of Heraklion
• Cost: Adults 18 euros, visitors under 26 free

Knossos is by far one of the most popular things to see on Crete. A day trip to the ancient site with the famous Palace of Knossos is something nearly every visitor to Crete does.

The palace complex is more than 3,000 years old. It was built by the Minoans, the first European civilization. The history surrounding this culture is incredibly interesting.

Something many visitors to Knossos don’t know: many of the structures are partly reconstructions of the palace. Not everything you see here is actually 3,000 years old — it’s important to be aware of that.

If you’re planning a trip to this Crete highlight, we recommend booking a guide online in advance, because what makes this place truly interesting is the history.

You can easily drive to Knossos yourself by car, and you’ll meet your guide on site at the booked time.

The tour we recommend already includes your ticket. Keep in mind: you’ll need to pay for the tour for your children too, even though visitors under 26 don’t normally have to pay admission.

Book a guided tour of Knossos

You can of course also explore Knossos independently. Even so, it’s best to buy your ticket online in advance.

Book a ticket for Knossos
Our tip: Especially during peak season, Knossos can get really crowded. We recommend arriving after 4 PM. The site is open until 8 PM.

Archaeological Museum

• What to expect: One of the most significant museums in the world
• Location: Heraklion
• Cost: 8 euros

An archaeological museum might not sound like the most exciting excursion of your Crete vacation at first. But if you’re interested in Greek history, this museum is practically a must.

The museum in Heraklion is one of the most significant museums in the world. Here you’ll find, among other things, art and artifacts of the Minoans, the first European civilization. Pretty cool, right?

If you’re up for a full day of history-themed activities on Crete, you should combine your museum visit with your Knossos day trip.

Book a ticket for the Archaeological Museum

Cave of Zeus on Crete

• What to expect: The birthplace of Zeus and a fascinating cave
• Location: 40 minutes south of Malia
• Cost: Adults 6 euros, children under 18 and seniors 65 and over free

Another historic excursion option on Crete is the Cave of Zeus in the island’s interior. According to legend, the Olympian god Zeus was born in this very cave.

Beyond this fascinating story, the cave itself is incredibly interesting. Enormous stalactites hang from the ceiling and there’s even a lake right in the middle of the cave. A staircase leads you about 40 meters down into it.

Even the drive to the Cave of Zeus makes the trip worthwhile on its own. The cave is located on the Lasithi Plateau, and from up here you have a one-of-a-kind panoramic view over Crete.

Our tip: Set off as early as possible — the drive up to the plateau takes some time, and from late morning the cave can get crowded.

If you’d rather not explore the cave independently, we can also recommend a tour. One we really love is an off-road safari tour — it’s one of the best activities on Crete.

Book an off-road safari tour to the Cave of Zeus & Lasithi Plateau

The best day trips on Crete with kids

So many of the best things to do in Crete can also be done really well with kids. Great options with kids include a day at the beach, a boat tour, or the Cave of Zeus.

Because Crete is a perfect vacation destination with kids, we’ve listed the 12 best day trip destinations on Crete with kids in our Crete with Kids article.

But we’ll show you two of them right now, because we think they’re truly great.

Agia Marina Donkey Rescue

• What to expect: Lots of donkeys you can pet
• Location: 10 minutes from Matala
• Cost: Free

One of our best free day trips on Crete was the Agia Marina Donkey Rescue. Today it’s home to a large number of old and unwanted donkeys.

The grounds near Matala are a sanctuary for donkeys that in some cases were overworked for years. But don’t worry — they’re doing great now.

During our visit we were able to pet and groom the donkeys and simply spend some time with them. If you’re up for it, you can also take some fun photos with the animals.

The donkey rescue is also one of the best day trip destinations with kids on Crete, since alongside the donkeys there are also some chickens and goats roaming the grounds.

Our tips: The Agia Marina Donkey Rescue is funded entirely by donations. You can help just by bringing the donkeys a few carrots or apples. Since the grounds are very close to Matala, you can easily combine these two day trips on Crete.

CretAquarium

• What to expect: Colorful fish, turtles, and even a shark
• Location: 20 minutes from Heraklion
• Cost: Adults 12 euros, children between 5 and 17 years 6 euros, under 4 free

With kids, the CretAquarium is also a great excursion option on Crete, especially in bad weather.

The aquarium is on the smaller side and can’t really be compared to a SeaLife. There are still plenty of fish, though — especially native species from the Mediterranean.

The undisputed stars of the aquarium are probably the shark and the giant sea turtle — a small highlight even for adults on this Crete excursion.

You don’t need a guided tour for the CretAquarium — you can visit it at a relaxed pace on your own in one to two hours. You should book your ticket online in advance, though, to skip the line.

Book a ticket for the CretAquarium

Frequently Asked Questions