Ferries to Crete
Overnight ferries sail from Piraeus to Heraklion and to Chania (Souda) every day of the year. The crossing takes about nine hours. In summer, fast ferries also link Heraklion with Santorini in around two hours.
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Crete, Greece · Independent guide · Updated for 2026
Crete travel guide: beaches, hotels, ferries and car hire
Discover Crete is an independent guide to Greece's largest island, written from Chania and Heraklion. Compare ferries and flights, book hotels and villas with local partners, rent a car, and plan your route with Touristas AI.
- Region guides
- 16
- Beach guides
- 30
- Articles
- 41
- Hotels & villas
- 2,000+
- Live ferry timetables
- Hotels booked with local partners
- Cars with full insurance, no deposit
Start here
Plan a Crete trip in six reads
Start hereFirst time in Crete?Which side of the island to base in, how long to stay and what to book first.Read the guideBeachesThe best beachesBalos, Elafonissi, Falassarna, Preveli and Vai, with parking and access notes.Read the guideItinerary7 days, west to eastOne week by rental car from Chania to Elounda, with realistic driving times.Read the guideWhere to stayPick the right baseChania old town, Rethymno, Elounda or a slow village on the south coast.Read the guideGetting thereFerries and flightsOvernight ferries from Piraeus, plus direct flights to Heraklion and Chania.Read the guideGetting aroundRenting a carTypical prices, insurance, mountain roads and why most trips need one.Read the guide
Explore the island
Crete by region
Crete is four prefectures and about 260 km end to end. Pick one base for a week, or split your stay between the west and the east.
Chania
Venetian harbor & exotic beaches
Rethymno
Renaissance charm & Fortezza Castle
Heraklion
Minoan Knossos & cultural capital
Lasithi
Tranquil Mirabello Bay & Vai Palm beach
HersonissosBiggest resort, harbour strip & hill villages- Agios NikolaosLake Voulismeni, Mirabello Bay & Spinalonga boats
- EloundaElite luxury resorts & Spinalonga views
- MaliaNightlife strip, Minoan palace & dunes
- StalisShallow family beach between Hersonissos & Malia
- Agia PelagiaSheltered cove 20 minutes from the airport
- BaliFour coves halfway between Rethymno & Heraklion
MatalaBohemian hippie caves & sunset bay- SfakiaWild gorges & car-free Loutro
PaleochoraDouble-sided beach peninsula & hiking
The coast
The best beaches in Crete
Each beach page covers access, parking, the best time of day and where to stay nearby.
Logistics
Getting to Crete and getting around
Flights to Crete
Crete has two main airports: Heraklion (HER) in the centre and Chania (CHQ) in the west. Both take direct flights from most of Europe between April and October. Athens connections run all year.
Find flightsCar hire in Crete
A car turns Crete from a resort into an island. Most beaches, gorges and villages are not on a bus route. Compare local companies with full insurance and no deposit, delivered to the airport or your hotel.
Compare rental carsItineraries
Routes we would drive ourselves
Itineraries · 7 min readCrete in 3 Days: A Short Break Done Right (2026)Only have a long weekend on Crete? A focused 3-day plan for either the west (Chania) or the centre (Heraklion) without rushing.Itineraries · 12 min readCrete 7-Day Itinerary: West to East in One Week (2026)A practical 7-day Crete itinerary by rental car: Chania, Balos and Elafonisi, the Samaria Gorge, Rethymno, Heraklion and Knossos, finishing in Lasithi.Itineraries · 13 min readCrete 10-Day Itinerary: The Complete Island Road Trip (2026)A relaxed 10-day Crete road trip covering Chania, the west-coast beaches, the Samaria Gorge, the south coast, Rethymno, Heraklion, Knossos and eastern Lasithi.Travel Planning · 10 min readWest Crete 7-Day Itinerary 2026: Chania, Balos, Samaria & ElafonissiA 7-day west Crete road trip based in Chania: Old Town, Balos, Elafonissi, Samaria Gorge, Falassarna and Sfakia.
Travel Planning · 9 min readEast Crete 7-Day Itinerary 2026: Heraklion, Elounda, Vai & Sitia7 days in eastern Crete: Knossos, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Spinalonga, Vai palm beach and Sitia.Travel Planning · 8 min readCrete Without a Car 2026: Buses, Tours & Where It WorksCan you visit Crete without a car? Best bases, bus/tour options and when you still need wheels.Touristas AI
A Crete trip planner that knows the ferry times
Touristas AI is trained on our Crete guides and connected to live ferry, hotel and car-rental inventory. Ask it anything you would ask a friend who lives here.
Why Discover Crete
Built by locals, not by a booking engine
Independent, no markup
We are not a tour operator or a booking agency. Every booking goes straight to the hotel, ferry company or rental partner at their own price.
Local partners you can call
The businesses we list are Crete companies with a phone number, an address and a real person answering. We visit them.
Kept current
Ferry timetables refresh weekly in season. Guides carry a visible update date. If a beach road is closed, we say so.
Written by people who live here
Guides are written and checked by George K., a Crete travel specialist based on the island, not generated from other websites.
Read more about how we work and who writes the guides on the about page.
Verified local businesses
Crete launch partners
Real Crete businesses we audited directly — stays, dining, transport, and experiences across Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi.
premiumHotel
Rethymno Old Town
Garden-view rooms steps from the Fortezza
Boutique hotel in the heart of Rethymno, overlooking city gardens with views of the Venetian Fortezza. Smart rooms, winery tastings, and a short walk to the beach.
- Old town location
- Garden terrace
- Cretan wine tastings
premiumVilla & apartments
Lampini, South Rethymno
Three pool villas in a quiet Cretan village
Villa Alkioni, Kanaki, and Polimili — private pools, outdoor dining, and authentic village life twenty minutes from the south coast.
- Private pools
- Village taverna nearby
- Family-friendly
platinumVilla & apartments
Spili
Luxury villa with pool & jacuzzi in Spili
Fully equipped luxury villa with countryside views, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and generous hospitality — ideal for families exploring southern Crete.
- Private pool & jacuzzi
- Mountain views
- Free parking & WiFi
premiumVilla & apartments
Mariou · near Plakias
Modern villas near Plakias & South Rethymno
Villa Katerina I & II offer quiet countryside stays with pools, A/C in every room, and hosts who know the best beaches and hikes nearby.
- Swimming pool
- South-coast base
- Flexible check-in
premiumVilla & apartments
Spili Hospitality
Spili village
Authentic village stays in the heart of Spili
Family-run hospitality hub in Spili — home to SpilGaia, Domus Polymnia, and Fabrica Cafe. Panoramic village views and warm Cretan welcome.
- Village centre
- Multiple property styles
- On-site cafe
premiumVilla & apartments
Spili Apartments
Spili
Nature-inspired rooms surrounded by green hills
Earth, Nature, Ophrys, and Stone rooms — family-friendly apartments with free WiFi, parking, and easy access to south Crete activities year-round.
- Family rooms
- Free parking & WiFi
- Nature setting
Good to know
Crete travel questions, answered
Short, direct answers from people who live on the island. Each one links to a longer guide when you want the detail.
When is the best time to visit Crete?
Late May to June and September to early October. The sea is warm, the main beaches are not yet packed, and hotel prices sit below the July and August peak. July and August are the hottest and busiest months. Winter is mild, but many beach resorts close from November to March.
How many days do you need in Crete?
Seven days is enough for one side of the island, for example Chania and the west-coast beaches. Ten to fourteen days lets you cross from Chania to Heraklion and Elounda without long driving days. Three days works for a city break in Chania or Heraklion.
Which part of Crete is best to stay in?
Chania for the old town and the west-coast beaches. Rethymno for a central base with a Venetian old town. Heraklion for Knossos, the museums and the main airport. Elounda and Agios Nikolaos for calm bays and luxury resorts in the east. The south coast, with Matala, Sfakia and Paleochora, suits slower trips.
Do I need a car in Crete?
For most trips, yes. KTEL buses connect the main towns along the north coast, but Balos, Elafonissi, Preveli and the mountain villages are hard to reach without a car. Booking a rental for at least part of your stay is the usual choice.
How do you get to Crete?
Fly into Heraklion (HER) or Chania (CHQ), or take an overnight ferry from Piraeus in Athens to Heraklion or Chania. The ferry takes roughly nine hours and runs every day of the year. In summer, fast ferries also connect Heraklion with Santorini.
What are the best beaches in Crete?
Balos lagoon and Elafonissi in the west, Falassarna for sunsets, Preveli with its palm forest on the south coast, Vai in the far east and Matala with its cliff caves. In July and August, arrive before 10am for parking and shade.
Is Crete expensive?
Crete is cheaper than Santorini or Mykonos. In high season expect mid-range hotels from about 80 to 150 euros a night, a taverna meal for 12 to 20 euros per person and a small rental car from about 35 euros a day. Prices drop by a third in May and October.
Can you go island hopping from Crete?
Yes, in summer. Fast ferries link Heraklion with Santorini in around two hours, with onward services to Ios, Naxos, Paros and Mykonos. From October to April the connections drop to a few sailings a week or stop altogether, so check the timetable before you plan.
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