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Crete (Heraklion) itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · GreeceJune–September

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 June–September. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Heraklion and Knossos
  2. Day 2 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 Minos and the labyrinth legend. Arrive at the 08:00 opening, as midday is hot and tour groups arrive. Expect Evans's restorations, and 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 and cheese), staka (cream-based dish), wild greens and farm produce.

    ≈ €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 HeraklionBougatsa since 1922, with cream filling.
  • Agios Minas CathedralThe largest cathedral in Crete. An alternative to the harbour.

Day 2 · 10:00–18:30

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 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 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 MonasteryThe monastery of the 1866 resistance. A detour from Rethymno along a mountain road (by car).

Day 3 · 09:30–18:00Day trip

Balos and Gramvousa

  1. Landmark

    Kissamos Port Balos Boat

    40 minutes from Chania. Daily boat to Gramvousa island (May to October, about 30 EUR).

    ≈ €30 per person

  2. Landmark

    Gramvousa Fortress

    A Venetian fortress on the pirate island. A 137 m climb, plus a shipwreck.

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

  4. Nature

    Balos Lagoon

    Pink sand and a shallow turquoise lagoon with world-famous views. The boat waits 3 hours, and there is no shade.

    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 stew) and local wine.

    ≈ €20 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Falasarna BeachAn ancient harbour and a long beach, good for sunset. An alternative to Balos (by car).
  • Cellar Tavern KissamosA family taverna in central Kissamos. Lunch option if you skip the boat.

Day 4 · 07:00–18:30Day trip

Samaria Gorge

  1. Nature

    Samaria Gorge Xyloskalo Entrance

    Take the 06:15 bus from Chania, 1 hour to Omalos. The descent is 16 km and takes 5 to 7 hours (open May to October). Bring water and trainers, and look out for kri-kri goats.

    ≈ €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 water.

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

  5. Nature

    Iron Gates Sideroportes

    The canyon narrows to 3 m. The tightest point.

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

  7. Food

    Agia Roumeli

    The coastal village at the gorge exit. Swim and eat at a taverna, then take the 17:30 ferry to Sougia or Chora Sfakion, and a bus from there to Chania.

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

  9. Landmark

    Chora Sfakion Ferry Return

    A ferry ride on 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. Choose it if Samaria is closed or too hard.
  • Taverna Tarra Agia RoumeliA beach taverna.

Day 5 · 09:30–21:30Day trip

Elafonisi

  1. Nature

    Elafonisi Beach

    1.5 hours from Chania (bus at 09:00 or by car). A pink-sand shallow lagoon: walk out to the island and rent a sunshade. It gets crowded at midday.

    Free

  2. Food

    Elafonisi Taverna Innachorion

    A taverna behind the beach. Try the Cretan salad.

    ≈ €18 per person

  3. Culture

    Chrysoskalitissa Monastery

    A white monastery 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's 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.
  • 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

    The way back to Heraklion runs east (by car or KTEL). From Plaka the boat takes 5 minutes (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 Voulismeni Lake

    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 long beach near Heraklion, good for sunset.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Kritsa & Panagia KeraA mountain village and Byzantine frescoes. An alternative to Agios Nikolaos.
  • Ferryman Taverna EloundaUsed as a location for The Island. On the shore.

Day 7 · 09:00–14:00

Heraklion: a gentle farewell

  1. Shopping

    Heraklion Central Market 1866 Street

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

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Nikos Kazantzakis Tomb

    The author of Zorba. His gravestone on the walls reads "I hope for nothing", and the view over the city is superb.

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

  4. Food

    Ippokampos Heraklion

    A harbour meyhane (tavern). Squid and meze for 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 in Gournes.
  • Phyllosophies HeraklionA cafe on the square. Try the pastries.

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

  1. Hiring a car is best (25-40 EUR per day). KTEL buses run regularly between Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania. Three nights in Chania and two in Heraklion is ideal (a two-base plan).
  2. Summer temperatures reach 30-35°C. Samaria, the Balos boat and Elafonisi are in full season. Stay in the shade between 12:00 and 16:00. August is the busiest month, and the sea stays around 25°C until September.
  3. Knossos costs 20 EUR (museum separate), Samaria 5 and Spinalonga 8. A taverna meal costs 15-25 EUR, raki is often offered free, and for tips you round up the bill.
  4. Cretan cuisine: dakos, staka, kalitsounia (small cheese pastries), snails (chochlioi) and tsikoudia. Tap water is drinkable in Chania.
  5. Driving the Balos dirt road voids rental car insurance, so take the boat or a jeep. After Samaria, the ferry and bus run late in the day.
  6. In summer there are direct flights from Türkiye to Heraklion and Chania. 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 June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.