See Also
- Locations that are highly recommended to reside in Crete
- Best Hotels in Crete
- Maps of Athens for Travelers to Peruse
- Crete Travel Guide
The 15 Best Tours in Crete
1. Heraklio Food Walking Tour
Guided walking excursions through new cities prove a stimulating means of exploration and this tour of Heraklion, Crete appropriately fits that description. While lacking the sheer visual appeal of Chania, the region`s largest city maintains a genuine Greek essence with hints of grit stemming from longstanding tradition and cuisine. Accounts characterize it as the premium Heraklion experience.
2. Chania Old Town Highlights with Street Food
Through insightful stories and personal anecdotes, a guide illuminates the rich culture and history of Chania on a fascinating walking tour. Visits to top attractions and recommendations for quality dining make this the premiere Old Town experience.
3. Hiking Tour of Samaria Gorge
Traversing the 18 km length of the impressive gorge is a highlight activity in Crete. Arranging the expedition independently can be tricky, but tours provide transport from hotels to the starting point of the hike. They then pick up hikers at the gorge`s opposite end following a brief ferry journey, returning individuals to their original lodgings. Guides and additional interesting stops are included beyond what one could experience alone. Hotels in Chania, Heraklio, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Hersonissos, Georgioupolis, Sissi, Milatos, Matala, Agia Galini, Malia, and Stalida offer free shuttle services. Selecting “Book Now” allows choosing a departure city.
4. Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa
The well-known Balos Beach Tour involves a roughly 7 hour roundtrip aboard a spacious boat with indoor and outdoor areas, restrooms, and a snack concession selling frozen treats, cool beverages and draft beers. The journey to Balos Lagoon takes approximately one hour each way, allowing 4 hours to explore the location, with another must-see stop being a 1 hour visit to Gramvousa Island`s captivating beach and historic fortification that can be toured with brief hikes. Private boat excursions are also available from Chania and Kissamos.
5. Craft Beer Tour (Chania and Rethymno)
Curated walking tours around the historic districts of Chania and Rethymno pair local Greek and Cretan craft beers with regional cuisine to showcase the towns` most iconic landmarks and provide historical context, as well as insights into beer styles, what distinguishes Greek brews, and Crete`s craft beer movement. Suitable only for adults aged 18 and over.
6. Wine and Olive Oil Tour (from Chania)
A superb 6-hour tour exploring the local farms and wineries in western Crete. Lots of food, olive oil, and wine tastings (still kid-friendly).
7. Authentic Cooking Class in the White Mountains (from Chania)
Guests embark on an educational cultural immersion through sampling local fare and wine crafted by a welcoming homestead family. Situated with picturesque landscapes, one absorbs indigenous culinary traditions and history firsthand. This intimate tour brings children opportunities to bond with locals in an unhurried environment, with complimentary rides from a west coast port city.
8. Boat Tour to Santorini
Santorini is considered to be one of the most spectacular islands in all of Greece. This single-day excursion involves taking a ferry (which takes around 2 hours each way) and spending approximately 7 hours exploring Santorini to see destinations like Fira, Oia, and the breathtaking views from the caldera. (While this tour allows you to experience the island, staying overnight on Santorini would provide a more in-depth look, as you`d have more time to see what it offers. Typically I don`t advise day trips to other islands since the time spent traveling limits how much you can truly explore, but Santorini is so unique that it`s worth making an exception.)
9. Elafonisi Island Day Trip (from Chania)
Elafonisi beach on Crete is very suggested (possibly among the best beaches in Greece). It really is quite simple to acquire there by yourself with community buses however the trip helps it become effortless and you will end up halting at some nearby towns along the way there. There is also an Elafonisi trip that leaves from Rethymno).
10. Cretan Wine Tasting Tour & Gourmet Lunch (from Heraklio)
A highly praised excursion offering lunch, fifteen wine tastings, several samples of olive oil, and multiple vineyard tours.
11. Day Tour to Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, and Plaka (from Heraklio)
This full-day tour encompasses the highlights of eastern Crete.
12. The Real Crete (from Rethymno)
Excellent small-group tour of some of central Crete’s top sights. Good local insight and history.
13. Knossos Archaeological Tour
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