Day trip reviews · CRETE DAY TRIPS
The 15 best day trips in Crete you can book today, with what each costs, how long the road really is and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Spend 8 to 11 hours exploring northeastern Crete with hotel pickup, a guide, and transport to Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, and Spinalonga Island. Guides such as Manos, Helena, and Alexandra have led recent departures. Expect free time, boat rides, island history, and a swim stop.
“We got to visit lots of interesting places! Group was also organised, no delays present! See you next time!”
Travel from Chania to Elafonisi with hotel pickup, a modern air-conditioned coach, and an English, German, or Danish guide. See Topolia Gorge and traditional villages, stop for breakfast, enjoy nearly four hours at the beach, then eat at a local tavern in Elos. Guides such as Simona and Joanne add local color.
“I thought that everything was well timed for each of the stops. The information that was given was good. The bus ride was comfortable. The pick ups and drop offs were on time and the overall trip was everything that was advertised.”
Travel from Crete’s east to its handsome west coast, stopping in Rethymno, Chania, and freshwater Lake Kournas. You get free time in each place, hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and a guide in English, German, or French. Guides such as Michael and Elena have earned special praise for clear timing and local detail.
“I really enjoyed this day trip. It was lovely to see a bit more of the beautiful island of Crete. Our guide Michael gave us a lot of facts about Crete and the different areas we were going to. The only downside was not enough time in each place. Bus was very comfortable, long day, but I bet much enjoyed it.”
Travel from Rethymno through Kourtaliotiko Gorge to Damnoni, Preveli, and Plakias. Swim in the Libyan Sea, walk beside Preveli’s palm-lined river, and ride a boat between Damnoni and Preveli. Guides such as Barbara, Stella, and Alex lead in English or German.
“Such an amazing trip. Anastasia, I hope I spelt her name right was such an amazing guide. She curated such a great trip with stops at different points to take in the beautiful views. 10/10 would highly recommend”
Travel from Rethymno to Santorini by high-speed ferry, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus. You’ll get guided sightseeing, free time for photos and shopping, and optional hotel transfers. The day lasts about 13 hours, with roughly 5.5 hours spent at sea.
“The guide was informative, the activities well planned and everything was on time. The guide offered extra information when requested and was very pleasant. We highly recommend this tour company. Santorini was beautiful and the optional Caldera boat ride was a pleasant addition.”
Travel from Heraklion to Santorini on a comfortable high-speed ferry, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus. Your escort explains the island’s past, while free time in Fira lets you shop, wander, or stop for a drink. An optional €20 volcano boat trip is available from mid-May.
“mal. os escribí mensaje. mi hijo menor sin sitio en bus fue sentado en un escalón. riesgo y peligro. no sé paga para esto. tomaré medidas”
Travel from Rethymno to Knossos Palace and Heraklion with an English or German-speaking guide. Anastasia is known for lively stories about Crete, while the comfortable coach, skip-the-line entry, and four hours of free time make this a practical history-packed day.
“The guide Anastasia was very informative, speaking English, German and some french. She told us about the island, stories and myths of the land as we approached the palace. The driver Costas was the life of the party, I would describe him as a rascal. Heraklion and the museum were great, it was amazing to see artifacts that were excavated from Knossos palace having just came from there. The map provided was also very useful!”
Travel from Rethymno or Chania to Preveli Palm Beach with an English-speaking guide, a boat ride from Damnoni, free time for swimming, and a stop at Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Guides such as Spiro and Michael have added local food, culture, and humor to the day.
“The best and most modern bus from all 4 trips i done. The beach is beautiful as is the river. I Found the river very cold, not sure if this is normal or not. The river is sharp stones so if you plan to travel up it get some swimming shoes. the sea is the Libyan sea which is beautiful”
You’ll ride from Heraklion to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon. Hike to a Venetian fortress, swim in clear water, and enjoy guided transfers, but plan for a long day and extra cash for the €22 boat ticket.
“It was great the views are amazing and the balos beach is really great, the tour guides also very nice. I highly recomend this activity”
Travel by coach from Heraklion and nearby resorts to Matala, where you get about four hours for swimming, lunch, town walks, and the optional Roman cave visit. Guides speak several languages, and hotel pickup is available from selected Crete resorts.
“het plaatsje Matala, erg leuk. ook erg toeristisch maar dat mag. we hebben lekker gezwommen en gesnorkeld. de grotten was veel van hetzelfde. je kon alleen steeds van buitenaf de grot in, dus niet echt doorlopen. maar binnen toe. reisleidster heeft veel verteld in de bus. was ook leuk. en informatief. goeie buschauffeur”
Travel by coach from Rethymno to Chania and Lake Kournas for six hours of sightseeing and free time. An English-speaking guide such as Nicholas or George shares local history, while you explore Chania’s harbour, swim in the lake, spot turtles, or rent a pedalo.
“Exactly what I wanted thanks so much. The driver and guide were first class”
Join guide Alexandra or another English or German-speaking guide for an eight-hour trip from Georgioupoli to Imbros Gorge and Frangokastello. You’ll walk for about two hours, pay €2.50 at the gorge, then swim and eat beside the Venetian castle before returning by bus.
“tres bien a la hauteur de nos attentes Alexandra enjouée et intressante”
Travel from Heraklion or nearby resorts to Elafonisi by air-conditioned bus, passing through Topolia Gorge before 4.5 hours of free time by the shallow turquoise lagoon. A multilingual guide provides commentary in English, German, French, Polish, or Romanian. Lunch is not included.
“Nice to experience a different side of Crete, the beach was nice but felt disappointed by the pink beach as was made out that it’s very pink when it is isn’t! Too long travel time…”
Spend eight hours exploring rural Crete from Analipsi, Heraklion, Hersonissos, or Sisi. With guides such as Nico, Marios, and Nick, you will visit a farm, drive through Embasa Gorge, cook local dishes, shape pottery, see Krasi’s ancient plane tree, and taste olive oil.
“Nikos and Mike were amazing hosts super knowledgeable, we got to see a lot of Cretan historical sites in one day whilst also observing and doing multiple activities. If you don’t have a lot of time on the island it’s a great way to see Crete!”
Travel from Heraklion and nearby resorts to Chania’s Venetian harbor, peaceful Lake Kournas, and Rethymno’s old town. A multilingual guide accompanies the day, with free time for photos, walking, food, shopping, and a possible swim. Expect up to 11 hours, including long bus rides.
“Leider war die Tour sehr hektisch. Es blieb kaum Zeit, sich die einzelnen Orte in Ruhe anzuschauen. Mir ist klar, dass man auf einer Rundreise nicht alles sehen kann, aber es war einfach zu wenig Zeit – weder zum Essen oder Trinken noch für eine saubere Toilette. Ich hatte das Gefühl, länger im Bus zu sitzen als wirklich etwas zu erleben. Außerdem kamen wir sehr spät im Hotel an. Ich denke, man hat sich zu viele Ziele vorgenommen – lieber nur zwei Orte, dafür mehr Zeit vor Ort. Noch einmal würde ich diese Tour nicht machen. Beim nächsten Mal würde ich lieber ein Auto mieten und die Reise selbst gestalten.”
A coast, a castle, a cellar or a cave.
