Crete is Greece’s largest island, and with over 1,000 kilometers of coastline,
it boasts an astounding diversity of landscapes. From the high mountains, rivers flow down through
narrow gorges, feeding fertile farmlands, past traditional villages and into the clear waters
of the Mediterranean Sea. There are also tons of fabulous beaches, rich history, and amazing food.
As one explores the island, the countryside offers endless groves of olive trees, bee hive boxes,
and wine vineyards, with roadside stands selling fresh olive oil, honey, wine and other delicious
homemade food products. You’ll also find the island’s 3 main cities - Heraklion,
Chania, and Rethymnon along the northern coast, each about an hour’s drive apart.
Most visitors should plan a week on Crete if possible to visit the main attractions,
though it’d be easy to stay longer and dive deeper into this fascinating place.
Now everything featured in this video and lots more,
is spelled out in far greater detail in our Crete Travel Guide at SantoriniDave.com and
across this YouTube channel, including the best hotels, restaurants, beaches, tours, and more.
We consider the romantically charming city of Chania, to be the best place to stay for first
time visitors. Chania is seen by many visitors as the most beautiful city on Crete. Here,
the 14th century Venetian Old Town is built around the gorgeous Old Port, with a 400 year
old lighthouse at its center. The old town is a maze of narrow alleyways, which are largely
pedestrian-only and overflowing with lovely cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops. Reflecting the
layers upon layers of history here, one can see and feel the blend of past cultures and eras,
especially in the variety of amazing architecture. There are also a handful of excellent museums
including the Archaeology, Maritime, Byzantine, and Folk Art Museums. And there are great
beaches just a short walk away, with even more awesome ones just a short drive or bus further.
Visitors will want to stay in the Old Town part of Chania, which is packed with great
boutique hotels and apartment rentals. Some of our favorites include Casa Delfino, Serenissima,
and Domus Renier, all exquisite in unique ways, and within a one minute walk of the central port.
There are many great day trips to be enjoyed from Chania as well, either as part of an organized
tour or by renting your own vehicle. Some of the most popular include visiting the incredible
Balos Beach, the pink sands of Elafonisi Beach, or doing the spectacular Samariá Gorge hike.
Other options include farm tours, monasteries, historical sites, and small villages to visit.
Along the island’s southern coast are a handful of small towns worth checking out
as well. An hour and a half drive from Chania is the coastal town of Sfakia,
from where it’s possible to either rent and drive your own boat or hop on and off of a shuttle that
runs between a handful of amazing beaches, including Sweetwater, Marmara, and Loutro.
Both of the cities of Rethymnon and Heraklion are also worth a visit. Rethymnon has an old
port lined with great restaurants, shopping, and architecture to explore. The capital city of
Heraklion, is home to Knossos, the largest tourist attraction and archaeological site on Crete.
It is possible to join a tour to Knossos that departs from and returns to Chania.
Visitors to Chania arrive by plane or ferry. The small Chania airport has flights from Athens,
as well as other European cities. Two hours drive away, the Heraklion Airport is much larger and has
more domestic and international flights. It’s easy to rent a car at either the Heraklion ferry port
or airport, and drive the modern, well-maintained highway along the coast all the way to Chania.
It is possible to take a direct ferry from Athens to Chania, though they tend to run slower and less
frequently then to Heraklion. Athens to Chania ferries run overnight and offer sleeping berths,
so it is possible to sleep on board and wake up in Chania in the morning.
Most ferries from other popular islands land at the Heraklion Ferry port.
Check out our comprehensive Crete Travel Guide for the best of everything Crete,
as well as for Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, and across the Greek Islands and beyond,
at SantoriniDave.com, and on this YouTube Channel. Thanks for watching.