Hike
Hike the Samaria Gorge
About 16 km downhill from the Omalos plateau to the sea at Agia Roumeli, through the narrow 'Iron Gates'. Open roughly May to October; finish with a ferry along the south coast.
Chania
Crete · Things to do
Things to do in Crete
Beaches, trails, festivals, food and wine: the experiences that make this island its own.
Experiences
Our favourite things to do
Ideas for every kind of day, from a lazy swim to a full-day hike.
Beach
Swim at Balos Lagoon
Shallow turquoise water and pale sand at the island's north-west tip. Go early by car and on foot, or by boat from Kissamos.
Gramvousa peninsula, Chania
Culture
Walk the Palace of Knossos
Arrive at opening time to beat the tour groups, then see the original frescoes at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum the same day.
Heraklion
Culture
Boat to Spinalonga
A ten-minute crossing from Plaka to the Venetian fortress and former leper colony, best on a calm morning.
Plaka & Elounda, Lasithi
Food & wine
Taste wine in Archanes and Peza
Family wineries work native grapes such as Vidiano, Liatiko and Kotsifali. Most welcome visitors for tastings; call ahead.
Heraklion wine country
Culture
Old-town evening in Chania
Walk the Venetian harbour to the lighthouse at sunset, then lose yourself in the lanes of the Splantzia and Topanas quarters.
Chania
Only in Crete
What makes Crete different
What sets Crete apart from every other Greek island.
Europe's first civilisation
The Minoans built palaces at Knossos and Phaistos a thousand years before Classical Athens, and left frescoes that still look modern.
Gorges and high plateaus
The White Mountains and Psiloritis rise above 2,400 m, cut by gorges such as Samaria that end at the Libyan Sea.
The Cretan diet
Olive oil, wild greens, mountain cheeses and raki shared at the end of every meal, often on the house.
Lyra and mantinades
The three-stringed lyra and improvised rhyming couplets are still part of weddings and village feasts, especially in Anogia.