Best day trips from Rethymno: Preveli palm beach, Plakias, Spili, Arkadi Monastery and easy west/east hops.
About 50 minutes’ drive plus a steep walk, or boat from Plakias.
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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.
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A practical 7-day Crete itinerary by rental car: Chania, Balos and Elafonisi, the Samaria Gorge, Rethymno, Heraklion and Knossos, finishing in Lasithi.
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.
Only have a long weekend on Crete? A focused 3-day plan for either the west (Chania) or the centre (Heraklion) without rushing.
A guide to the best beaches in Crete — Balos, Elafonisi, Falassarna, Preveli and Vai — with access, parking and the best time to visit each.
Skip the crowds at Balos and Elafonisi. Lesser-known Crete beaches — Glyka Nera, Loutro, Agiofarango, Kedrodasos — that reward a short walk or boat ride.
Everything about getting to Crete by ferry in 2026: overnight routes from Piraeus to Heraklion and Chania, operators, prices and booking tips.
