The Journal/Crete editorial

West Crete 7-Day Itinerary 2026: Chania, Balos, Samaria & Elafonissi.

A 7-day west Crete road trip based in Chania: Old Town, Balos, Elafonissi, Samaria Gorge, Falassarna and Sfakia — with driving times and hotel tips.

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·10 min read

Read the cover story

The issue

Editors' picks

Worth the crossing.

Hand-selected

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·9 min read

East Crete 7-Day Itinerary 2026: Heraklion, Elounda, Vai & Sitia.

Read the story

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·8 min read

Day Trips from Chania 2026: Beaches, Gorges & Villages

Food & Dining·Jun 30, 2026·5 min read

Rethymno Walk & Taste: The Ultimate Cretan Food Tour (2026)

Activities·Jun 30, 2026·6 min read

Hiking in Rethymno: Imbros Gorge and Pachnes Summit Guide (2026)

Contents

The archive.

Entries: 31

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·8 min read

Crete Without a Car 2026: Buses, Tours & Where It Works.

Can you visit Crete without a car? Compare Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion bases, then check buses, tour departures and return journeys.

Read the full story

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·8 min read

Crete Honeymoon Guide 2026: Best Areas for Couples

Plan a Crete honeymoon: Chania Old Town romance, Elounda luxury, south-coast hideaways and a sample 7-night couples itinerary for 2026.

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·7 min read

Crete in Winter 2026–2027: Weather, Open Hotels & What to Do

Visiting Crete in winter: temperatures, rainfall, which towns stay open, hiking, food and why shoulder November/March can be excellent.

Transportation·Aug 7, 2026·7 min read

Flights to Crete 2026: HER vs CHQ Airports Explained

Which Crete airport should you fly into? Heraklion (HER) vs Chania (CHQ), airlines, transfer times and when to fly open-jaw.

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·7 min read

Day Trips from Rethymno 2026: Preveli, Spili & More

Best day trips from Rethymno: Preveli palm beach, Plakias, Spili, Arkadi Monastery and easy west/east hops.

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·9 min read

Crete Road Trip 2026: The Classic West-to-East Drive

Plan a Crete road trip from Chania to Sitia: overnight bases, route checks, ferry alternatives and rental questions for your trip.

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·7 min read

Crete in April, May & October 2026: Shoulder Season Guide

Why April, May and October are the best months for Crete: weather, sea temperature, crowds, Samaria opening and hotel prices.

Travel Planning·Aug 7, 2026·7 min read

Best Family Beach Bases in Crete 2026.

Where to base a Crete family holiday: shallow beaches near Chania, Rethymno and Agios Nikolaos with practical hotel and car tips.

Read the full story

Beaches·Jun 25, 2026·9 min read

Preveli Beach Guide 2026: Palm Forest, How to Get There & Tips

Preveli Beach (Finikodasos): Europe’s palm-forest cove in Rethymno. Boat from Plakias, cliff walk times, monastery, parking fees and best months for 2026.

Activities·Jun 25, 2026·8 min read

Imbros Gorge: The Best Alternative to Samaria (2026)

Imbros Gorge in Sfakia, Crete: 8 km, 3-4 hours, open all year, and far less crowded than Samaria. Complete guide to the route, transport and what to expect.

Beaches·Jun 25, 2026·9 min read

Matala: Crete's Most Legendary Beach Village (2026)

Matala in southern Crete: the hippie cave village of the 1970s, today a laid-back beach town with red sandstone cliffs, crystal-clear water and a fascinating history.

Food & Dining·Jun 25, 2026·10 min read

Cretan Wine Guide: PDO Wines, Estates & Tasting Routes (2026)

Crete is one of the oldest wine-producing regions on earth. A guide to Cretan PDO wines, the main grape varieties (Vidiano, Kotsifali, Mandilari), and the best wineries to visit near Heraklion.

Culture & History·Jun 25, 2026·11 min read

Best Monasteries in Crete: Arkadi, Toplou, Gouverneto & Preveli (2026)

The four most important monasteries in Crete: Arkadi (1866 siege), Toplou (Byzantine icons), Gouverneto & Katholiko (cave monastery), and Preveli (WWII history).

Culture & History·Jun 25, 2026·12 min read

Best Villages in Crete: A Local's Guide to the 8 Must-Visit Settlements (2026)

Crete's most beautiful and distinctive villages: Archanes (wine & Minoan ruins), Anogia (music & weaving), Loutro (car-free), Kritsa (Byzantine art), Spili and more.

Itineraries·Jun 25, 2026·11 min read

Best Day Trips from Heraklion: 9 Destinations Within 90 Minutes (2026).

The best day trips from Heraklion, Crete in 2026: Knossos, Phaistos, Matala, Lasithi Plateau, Archanes, Elounda & Spinalonga, Gortyn, Agios Nikolaos and the Peza wine route.

Read the full story

Food & Dining·Jun 25, 2026·13 min read

Cretan Food Culture: The Diet, the Ingredients & What to Eat (2026)

The Cretan diet is one of the world's most studied and celebrated food cultures: olive oil, wild greens, legumes, cheese, honey and seasonal vegetables — a Mediterranean way of eating with 4,000 years of history.

Food & Dining·Jun 24, 2026·10 min read

Chania Food Guide: Where to Eat, What to Try (2026)

The complete guide to eating in Chania: the Agora market, the best tavernas in the old town, traditional Cretan dishes and local olive oil, cheese and raki.

Activities·Jun 22, 2026·11 min read

Samaria Gorge Hiking Guide 2026: Opening Dates, Route & Tips

Is Samaria Gorge open in 2026? Opening season (May–Oct), closure rules, 18 km route, packing list, Chania buses and Agia Roumeli ferry return.

Culture & History·Jun 20, 2026·12 min read

Knossos Palace: The Complete Visitor Guide (2026)

Everything you need to know before visiting Knossos: tickets, opening hours, what to see, the history of the Minoans and practical tips for your visit.

Travel Tips·May 26, 2026·11 min read

First Time in Crete: Everything You Need to Know (2026)

A first-timer guide to Crete: how to get there, which region to base in, how long to stay, getting around, the must-sees, and practical tips on money, weather and food.

Transportation·May 25, 2026·9 min read

Ferries to Crete: The Complete 2026 Guide

Everything about getting to Crete by ferry in 2026: overnight routes from Piraeus to Heraklion and Chania (Souda), high-speed summer links, operators, prices and booking tips.

Transportation·May 24, 2026·6 min read

Crete Ferry Map 2026: Every Route at a Glance.

A simple map-style overview of every ferry route serving Crete in 2026 — the Piraeus links to Heraklion and Chania, the western port of Kissamos, and seasonal Aegean connections.

Read the full story

Where to Stay·May 21, 2026·9 min read

Where to Stay in Crete: Best Areas & Hotels (2026)

Where to stay in Crete in 2026: the best areas for beaches, old-town charm, families and luxury — from Chania and Rethymno to Elounda — plus how to choose your base.

Itineraries·May 20, 2026·12 min read

Crete 7-Day Itinerary: West to East in One Week (2026)

A practical 7-day Crete itinerary by rental car: Chania old town, Balos and Elafonisi, the Samaria Gorge, Rethymno, Heraklion and Knossos, finishing in Lasithi with Elounda and Spinalonga.

Itineraries·May 18, 2026·13 min read

Crete 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 (Sfakia, Preveli, Matala), Rethymno, Heraklion, Knossos and eastern Lasithi.

Transportation·May 17, 2026·7 min read

Crete Airport Transfers 2026: Heraklion & Chania

Getting from Heraklion (HER) and Chania (CHQ) airports to your hotel in 2026: private transfers, taxis, buses and car rental — with typical times and costs.

Itineraries·May 16, 2026·9 min read

Crete With Kids: A Family-Friendly Itinerary (2026)

A family-friendly Crete itinerary: shallow safe beaches, easy gorge walks, Knossos and Spinalonga, water parks and short drives — with practical tips for travelling with children.

Itineraries·May 15, 2026·7 min read

Crete in 3 Days: A Short Break Done Right (2026)

Only have a long weekend on Crete? This focused 3-day plan covers either the west (Chania, Balos, Samaria) or the centre (Heraklion, Knossos, a south-coast beach) without rushing.

Activities·May 14, 2026·10 min read

Hiking in Crete: Gorges, Trails & the Samaria (2026).

A guide to hiking in Crete: the legendary Samaria Gorge, gentler Imbros and Agia Irini, the E4 path, and when to go — with difficulty, season and safety notes.

Read the full story

Activities·May 13, 2026·8 min read

Water Sports in Crete: Where to Surf, Dive & Paddle (2026)

Where to enjoy water sports in Crete: scuba diving off the north coast, windsurfing and kitesurfing in the Meltemi, sea kayaking, SUP and boat trips — by region and season.

Beaches·May 12, 2026·8 min read

Hidden Beaches in Crete: Quiet Coves Away From the Crowds

Skip the crowds at Balos and Elafonisi. These lesser-known Crete beaches — Glyka Nera, Loutro, Agiofarango, Kedrodasos and more — reward a short walk or boat ride with peace and clear water.

Plan while you read

Use these free tools to book smarter.

Touristas AI

Your full itinerary in one chat.

Island Quiz

Find your island in 60 seconds.

Best Time to Visit

Month-by-month weather and prices.

Budget Calculator

Plan a trip to a daily budget.

Ferry tickets Hotels & villas Rent a car

For operators and hotels

Tell your story in front of high-intent travellers.

Dedicated partner pages, AI discovery, editorial guides, and live ferry and hotel links. We only promote what we would recommend to a friend.

Become a partner Talk to us