Alexandre RobertIn 2026, Crete is and will remain one of the most popular vacation destinations for French and European tourists. There are many reasons for this: a cheap holiday, the charm of the Greek islands, simplicity, sunshine, heavenly beaches and, above all, lots of things to see!
What to see in Crete in 2026 Find out EVERYTHING there is to know!
- Your cheap flight to Greece: Transavia good deals
- The best vacation of your life: Top activities in Greece
- Sleep in paradise : Your cheap hotel in Greece
- With or without skipper : Your private cruise in Greece
- With family or friends : Your villa with pool in Greece
- Go from island to island : Your ferry in Greece
- Heymondo: Your travel insurance
What to do in Crete? 13 essential
Let’s get down to business now and discover with us all there is to do on the island of the Gods!
1. 7 must-see cities
To make things easier for you, we’ve put together 7 must-see destinations for 2026: just take a look at the guides below!
Click on the destinations below to discover our guides
Crete is hot, so pack summer clothes like shorts and tank tops. If you plan to do a lot of walking, be sure to pack comfortable sandals or sneakers.
Wherever you decide to spend your island vacation among these 7 destinations, you won’t be bored. You’ll find :
- beautiful Caribbean-style beaches,
- crystal-clear water,
- majestic mountains,
- traces of ancient Greek culture,
- the best olive oil,
- aromatic thyme honey,
- the most delicious oranges
- and an excellent Greek wine!
2. Rent a boat with friends!
Or with the family, of course – let’s not be jealous!
Crete, like Greece in general, is a mecca for boat trips. Motor, sailboat, catamaran… You absolutely must see the island from the sea, its clear, pure blue waters, its coves, its heavenly beaches…
For a day or a longer cruise. With or without skipper…
It’s one of the must-do activities on the Greek island! So book now:
3. Visit Heraklion, the island’s capital!
The island’s capital, Heraklion, is located in the north of the island. It’s a lively town with many bars, restaurants and cafés.
There are many historic sites to visit, including Knossos Palace, the Archaeological Museum and Koules Castle.
Heraklion’s beaches are the most popular on the island. They are ideal for relaxing, sunbathing and scuba diving. The most popular beaches are :
- Amoudara,
- Matala
- and Kokkini Hani.
For other activities in Heraklion :
4. Discover the seaside resort of Agia Pelagia
Agia Pelagia is a small seaside resort about 20 kilometers northwest of Heraklion. It’s a quiet place with a beautiful sandy beach.
Here you can enjoy magnificent sunsets, especially at Psaromoura and Ligaria Beach!
For other activities in Agia Pelagia :
5. Spend a day in Rethymnon
Rethymnon is a small town in the center of the island. It’s a charming town with many restaurants, bars and cafés.
The old town is particularly attractive, with its narrow streets and colorful houses.
You can visit many historical sites, such as :
- Fortezza castle,
- the archaeological museum
- and the Arkadi monastery.
Rethymnon’s beaches are less crowded than Heraklion’s, making them ideal for those looking for a quiet place to relax. The most popular beaches are :
- Rethymnon beach
- Missiria (5km away)
- Perivolia (2km away)
For other activities in Rethymnon:
6. Crete and its great history: unavoidable
Crete is a beautiful island in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Greece. It’s famous for its sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and numerous caves. Crete is also known for its many archaeological and historical sites.
Crete is an island rich in history and culture. Numerous archaeological sites have been discovered here, bearing witness to the presence of numerous civilizations throughout history. Crete was occupied by Minoans, Dorians, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans and Greeks. Each of these civilizations has left its mark on the island.
Knossos (pictured above), in the south of the island, is one of Crete’s most famous archaeological sites. It is famous for its numerous vestiges of Minoan civilization. The site of Phaistos, located in the south of the island, is also known for its numerous vestiges of the Minoan civilization.
To book your visit to Knossos Palace :
And don’t forget to learn about the myths associated with the Greek island once you’re there:
- Zeus
- The Minotaur
- Icare
- Minos…
7. Crete and its caves!
There are still many hidden treasures to be discovered on the island of Crete. The island’s caves and caverns are home to many natural and historical wonders.
The Grotto of Psychro, or Grotto of Zeus (photo above), on the west side of the island, is one of Crete’s most famous caves. It is famous for its numerous stalactites and stalagmites.
The Melidoni cave, located in the north of the island, is also a famous cave. It is famous for its numerous frescoes and statues.
To visit the grotto of Zeus :
8. A cruise to Santorini from Heraklion
There are at least 2 daily ferry crossings from Santorini to Heraklion during the summer months, with an average sailing time of 2 hours.
However, the shortest crossing between Santorini and Crete is in Heraklion with Sea Jets, taking around 1 hour 40 minutes, while the longest crossing is in Heraklion with Aegeon Pelagos, taking around 6 hours.
Don’t worry, it’s totally doable. It’ll be a long day, but you’ll get to see one of the most unique places in the world.
The distance between Crete and Santorini is 148 km.
What to do in Crete as a couple
4 places to see as a couple!
The best romantic destinations in Crete for couples are for us :
- The old town of Chania – Crete’s most romantic and popular spot.
- The fishing village of Loutro – One of Crete’s most romantic and hidden destinations.
- Falassarna – The beach with the best sunset views in Chania.
- The old town of Réthymnon – The romantic Renaissance setting for your love story.
What to do in Crete in 7 days
This is our ultimate week-long itinerary in Crete:
- Beautiful boat trip to the Balos lagoon.
- Full-day hike in the Samaria Gorge from Chania (photo above).
- Day trip to Elafonisi beach from Chania.
- Day trip to Santorini from Heraklion.
- Knossos Palace with priority access and guided walking tour.
- Spinalonga Discovery Day
Why visit Crete? 6 reasons
Crete is known for :
- Its bewitching beaches: starting with Balos Beach, this pink sandy beach and incredibly photogenic, with the appearance of a lagoon.
- Its enchanting villages. Clinging to the Dikti Mountains, Kritsa offers fine stores, a lively old town and a church with beautiful Byzantine frescoes.
- Its Greek gastronomy with 1000 flavors
- Its ancient sites such as the Palace of Knossos obviously
- Its archaeological museums
- Its many outdoor adventures: hiking in the Samaria Gorge, hiking in the west of the island, skiing in winter, sailing cruises…
The island of Crete is the largest in Greece and has a truly magical atmosphere of its own. Big enough that you can easily spend a full vacation exploring its hidden corners, tasting the best of Greek cuisine and basking in the magical Mediterranean light.
With cities like Chania, the colorful old town, Hersonissos, Agia Galini or Agios Nikolaos(pictured above), Crete proves that it is worth visiting even if you are not looking for a typical sunny vacation.
Crete is generally a safe, friendly and hospitable place. No theft or insecurity on site!
Getting around Crete
Bus
Crete is a huge island, with excellent bus connections, but a car is the best solution in my opinion. It gives you the freedom to be independent of bus schedules, and you can also visit places where bus connections aren’t so frequent.
Crete is easy to explore by bus – they’re reliable, cheap, comfortable and in most cases have air-conditioning. The main towns on the north coast of Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos all have bus stations where you can then access many of the island’s rural areas.
Uber
Uber Cab fares in Crete are set by the Uber Mobile application. The fare takes into account the distance traveled and the time required to complete the transport in Crete.
Cab
Are cabs expensive in Crete?
Cabs in Crete use a distance-based taximeter to calculate the cost of your journey. These rates are highly regulated by the Greek government. You can expect to pay :
- a basic rate of €1.20,
- then a rate per km of €0.74 during the day (from 05:00 to 24:00)
- and €1.29 per night (from 24:00 to 05:00).
When to visit Crete during the year?
As with many popular tourist destinations, we obviously recommend visiting Crete around the months of July and August:
- or May-June
- or September-October
These are the perfect times to take advantage of sunshine that’s not too harsh, and crowds that aren’t too big.
Crete is a large island with so much to offer. You’re surrounded by beautiful beaches, archaeological sites, small islands, gorges and historic towns. To see all the “best sites”, it will take a minimum of 10 days – 2 weeks, however, you could easily spend 4 weeks and still have more to see.
July is generally the hottest month, with an average temperature of 30°C, and receives the least amount of rain during the summer.
Southern Crete is generally a few degrees warmer (but water temperatures are roughly similar). The east of the island has less rain than the north and especially the northwest.
What’s the best part of Crete?
Heraklion or Chania for the beaches
If you like beaches, Heraklion is not the place for you, as there are basically no beautiful beaches in the town. You’ll need to go to Ammoudara beach or, even better, Paleokastro beach, but you’ll need to hire a car or scooter. Chania is a better option, not least because of the very Venetian charm of its port, as you can see in the photo above.
Western Crete
Generally speaking, western Crete is often considered the most beautiful part of the island. Why is that?
Probably because of its landscapes.
Starting with the multicolored Balos Beach lagoon, which we’ve already mentioned. A wonderful place with crystal-clear water similar to that of the Caribbean. Or the island of Gramvoussa, not far from Balos.
Another heavenly lagoon in western Crete: Elafonisi. One of the most beautiful spots on the island, without a doubt (photo below)!
Last but not least, the west of the island also boasts some very beautiful towns, including Kissamos, Chania and Paleochora!
How long can I stay in Crete?
The best time to visit Crete is from mid-May to June or from September to October. May brings warmer waters and beautiful wild flowers that can be spotted at all the island’s natural attractions.
Two weeks is a great length of time for a Greek vacation. You’ll have plenty of time to see many of the mainland’s islands and historic sites, taking part in cultural and outdoor activities along the way.
