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Crete (Heraklion) itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · GreeceOctober–May

Days
7
Stops
33
Per day
≈ €100
First stop
07:00

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers Crete (Heraklion) itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 33 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Heraklion and Knossos
  2. Day 2 Moving on to Chania
  3. Day 3 Balos and Gramvousa

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 3, 4, 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about €100 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 08:00–15:45

Heraklion and Knossos

  1. Culture

    Knossos Palace

    The palace of King Minos and the labyrinth legend. Arrive for the 08:00 opening, as midday brings heat and tour groups. Note that Evans's restoration is controversial. Book tickets online.

    ≈ €20 per person
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Culture

    Heraklion Archaeological Museum

    Minoan frescoes (the Prince of the Lilies, the Bull-Leaping fresco) and the Phaistos Disc. Air-conditioned.

    ≈ €12 per person

  4. Landmark

    Heraklion Venetian Harbour & Koules

    A Venetian fortress and a walk along the breakwater.

    ≈ €4 per person

  5. Food

    Peskesi Heraklion

    Cretan cuisine: dakos (barley rusk with tomato), staka (creamy dairy spread), wild greens, all farm-sourced.

    ≈ €25 per person

  6. Landmark

    Lions Square & Morosini Fountain

    The city centre. Try bougatsa (custard pastry) at Kirkor.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Kirkor Bougatsa HeraklionServing bougatsa since 1922, with cream filling.
  • Agios Minas CathedralThe largest cathedral on Crete. An alternative to the harbour.

Day 2 · 10:00–18:30

Moving on to Chania

  1. Landmark

    Rethymno Venetian Harbour

    On the way (1.5 hours by KTEL bus). Take in the Venetian lighthouse and narrow lanes.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Fortezza of Rethymno

    A 16th-century fortress with views over the Aegean.

    ≈ €4 per person

  3. Food

    Taverna Knossos Rethymno

    A family taverna by the harbour. Order the grilled fish.

    ≈ €20 per person
  4. 2 h · travel, break, free time

  5. Landmark

    Chania Venetian Harbour

    1 hour by bus. See the Egyptian lighthouse, the Mosque of the Janissaries (Yali Mosque) and the Venetian shipyards (Neoria).

    Free

  6. Landmark

    Chania Old Town Topanas & Splantzia

    The Turkish and Venetian quarters. Walk the leather street (Skridlof) and enjoy the evening lights.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Tamam ChaniaA restaurant in an old Turkish bathhouse serving Cretan-Ottoman food.
  • Arkadi MonasteryA monastery tied to the 1866 resistance. Detour onto the mountain road from Rethymno (by car).

Day 3 · 09:30–18:00Day trip

Balos and Gramvousa

  1. Landmark

    Kissamos Port Balos Boat

    No boats in winter. Go by jeep or car on the 8 km dirt road, then a 20-minute descent on foot. It is choppy but completely empty.

    ≈ €30 per person

  2. Landmark

    Gramvousa Fortress

    A Venetian fortress on the former pirate island. Expect a 137 m climb and a shipwreck.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Balos Lagoon

    The winter lagoon is for walking and wind. Swimming is for the brave.

    Free
  5. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  6. Food

    Kissamos Taverna Sunset

    On the way back, stop at a seaside taverna in Kissamos for stifado (beef and onion stew) and local wine.

    ≈ €20 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Falasarna BeachAn ancient harbour and a long beach, ideal at sunset. An alternative to Balos (by car).
  • Cellar Tavern KissamosA family taverna in central Kissamos. Lunch here if the boats are not running.

Day 4 · 07:00–18:30Day trip

Samaria Gorge

  1. Nature

    Samaria Gorge Xyloskalo Entrance

    The gorge is CLOSED in winter (flood risk). Alternatives: Imbros Gorge (8 km, open year-round) or the ancient city of Aptera.

    ≈ €5 per person
  2. 2 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Landmark

    Samaria Abandoned Village

    An old village halfway along the trail. Rest and refill your water.

    Free
  4. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  5. Nature

    Iron Gates Sideroportes

    The canyon narrows to 3 m here, its tightest point.

    Free
  6. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  7. Food

    Agia Roumeli

    The coastal village where the gorge ends. Enjoy the sea and a taverna, then take the 17:30 ferry to Sougia or Chora Sfakion, and a bus on to Chania.

    ≈ €20 per person
  8. 2 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  9. Landmark

    Chora Sfakion Ferry Return

    A ferry across the Libyan Sea, then a bus to Chania, arriving at 20:30.

    ≈ €12 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Imbros GorgeAn easy 8 km gorge walk, for when Samaria is closed or too demanding.
  • Taverna Tarra Agia RoumeliA beach taverna.

Day 5 · 09:30–21:30Day trip

Elafonisi

  1. Nature

    Elafonisi Beach

    The pink sand is empty in winter. Expect a windy walk.

    Free

  2. Food

    Elafonisi Taverna Innachorion

    A taverna just behind the beach. Try the Cretan salad.

    ≈ €18 per person

  3. Culture

    Chrysoskalitissa Monastery

    A white monastery perched on a rock, with the legend of the golden step.

    ≈ €2 per person
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Nature

    Topolia Gorge & Agia Sofia Cave

    A canyon and a cave church on the way back.

    Free
  6. 3 h · travel, break, free time

  7. Food

    Chania Dinner To Maridaki

    Seafood meze in Chania Old Town.

    ≈ €25 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Kedrodasos BeachAn empty cedar-lined beach next to Elafonisi, a 20-minute walk away.
  • Milia Mountain Retreat RestaurantOrganic food in a mountain village. A detour.

Day 6 · 10:00–19:00Day trip

East: Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos

  1. Landmark

    Plaka Spinalonga Boat

    On the way back to Heraklion, turn east (by car or KTEL). The boat takes 5 minutes from Plaka (20 minutes from Elounda).

    ≈ €12 per person

  2. Culture

    Spinalonga Island

    A Venetian fortress and a leper colony from 1903 to 1957 (the setting of the novel The Island). The walk takes 1 hour.

    ≈ €8 per person
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Food

    Elounda

    A luxury bay village. Try octopus at a harbour taverna.

    ≈ €25 per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Landmark

    Agios Nikolaos Lake Voulismeni

    The legend of the bottomless lake. Cafes and the harbour.

    Free
  7. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Ammoudara Beach Heraklion

    A winter beach walk.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Kritsa & Panagia KeraA mountain village with Byzantine frescoes. An alternative to Agios Nikolaos.
  • Ferryman Taverna EloundaOn the set of The Island, by the shore.

Day 7 · 09:00–14:00

Heraklion: a gentle farewell

  1. Shopping

    Heraklion Central Market 1866 Street

    Honey, olive oil, raki (tsikoudia), herbs and souvenirs.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Nikos Kazantzakis Tomb

    The author of Zorba the Greek. His gravestone on the walls reads 'I hope for nothing', with views over the city.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Food

    Ippokampos Heraklion

    A harbour taverna serving calamari and meze. A farewell meal.

    ≈ €20 per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Landmark

    Heraklion Airport Bus

    15 minutes by bus or taxi. Farewell.

    ≈ €2 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cretan AquariumA Mediterranean aquarium at Gournes.
  • Phyllosophies HeraklionA cafe on the square. Try the cakes.

Good to know: 6 things that make a Crete (Heraklion) trip easier

  1. Hiring a car is best (25-40 EUR/day), though KTEL buses run regularly between Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania. Three nights in Chania and two in Heraklion is ideal (the plan uses two bases).
  2. From November to March Samaria is closed, there are no Balos boats (go by jeep) and Elafonisi is deserted. Expect a sunny 15°C winter and the olive harvest; April and May bring wildflowers and Easter.
  3. Knossos costs 20 EUR (museum separate), Samaria 5, Spinalonga 8. Tavernas cost 15-25, with raki offered on the house. Round up the bill as a tip.
  4. Cretan food: dakos, staka, kalitsounia (cheese pastries), snails (chochlioi), tsikoudia. Tap water is drinkable in Chania.
  5. The Balos dirt road voids hire car insurance, so take a boat or a jeep. The ferry and bus back from Samaria arrive late.
  6. Direct flights from Türkiye to Heraklion and Chania run in summer. A Schengen visa is required.

Spending: ≈ €700 per person for 7 days

  • Food€320
  • Entry and tours€90
  • Local transport€220
  • Other€70

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Crete (Heraklion)?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 3, 4, 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in Crete (Heraklion) cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about €100 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in Crete (Heraklion)?

The first stop is at 07:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.