City: Crete
Top Things to do in Crete
Top Hotels in Crete
- 1. Candia Park Village
- 2. Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
- 3. Creta Maris Beach Resort
- 4. Mitsis Laguna Resort & Spa
- 5. Kiani Beach Resort Family All Inclusive
- 6. Stella Palace Resort & Spa
- 7. Angela Studios & Apartments
- 8. Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection
- 9. Village Heights Resort
- 10. Asterion Suites & Spa
Countries
What to do and see in Crete, Greece: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Crete (Greek: Κρήτη, Kríti ['kriti]; Ancient Greek: Κρήτη, Krḗtē) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Crete and a number of surrounding islands and islets constitute the region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), one of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece. The capital and the largest city is Heraklion. As of 2011, the region had a population of 623,065.
Restaurants in Crete
1. Aquaworld Aquarium & Reptile Rescue Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,418 reviews
Aquaworld - Crete's first Aquarium - opened in Hersonissos in 1995 - near Bus Stop 20. It features local sea life and reptiles from Crete and from all around the world. Most of the animals are rescued or are unwanted pets which have found a new home at Aquaworld. Our philosophy is simple - bring people and animals closer together and, inevitably, people will begin to respect and care more about the animals! YOU MUST WEAR MASKS TO VISIT!
Reviewed By CLAIREDERBY1 - Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Easy to find and in walking distance from my hotel the palmera hotel. Friendly and informative staff. Aquarium small but well kept. Reptile area very good and staff very helpful. Was also able to hold a snake. Well worth a visit for 8 euro. I would definitely recommend
2. Greek National Football Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 696 reviews
A unique Museum, the biggest one for a National Football Team, the Greek National Football Team, which was European Champions in 2004, located in the Old City of Chania and has over 1000 exhibits, balls from World Cup and Euro games, official shirts, photos and thw whole history of Greek football. BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC, THE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE WHOLE MARCH.
Reviewed By che_ham
So glad we made the time to visit, this little museum is excellent, and can easily be visited even if you’re short of time. I’ve never been to a museum quite like this, it really is quite unique. We were limited on time, so were shown the shirts and memorabilia related to my team first - so I got to try on the shirts and get the pictures - then were shown the vast collection of international shirts worn by the greatest players of all time, and finally the lifting the Euro 2004 trophy given to Greece when they won the tournament. The personal touch here is what really makes it special though; being meeted and greeted as a friend, by someone with a genuine love of the game, and who delights in sharing this amazing collection that you can physically touch and feel, instead of the admiring-at-distance you expect of museums. A true home of world football.
3. Minoan's World The 9D Experience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 479 reviews
Experience the Minoan History like never before! Europe’s oldest civilization meets Europe’s first 3D Museum and 9D Cinema! We are a unique combination of a 3D Museum (non archaeological) with life-like statues made out of silicon and mesmerizing 3D art that comes to life through your phone's camera, and a 9D cinema which will take you back in time with fully immersive special effects such as air blasts, rain, snow, bubbles and smoke. Our epic movie has both a historical and mythological perspective. Multilingual movie system in 10 languages!
Reviewed By bayubabe
Movie with special effects was interesting and very enjoyable. Good place to spend some time away from the Greek heat . Staff extremely friendly and helped take a lot of photos. Freebie short roller coaster movie at the end was fun!
4. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,278 reviews
A museum delineating the history of the island Crete, complete with artifacts belonging to the ancient civilizations that once populated the island.
Reviewed By crum77
Excellent museum! It provides great historical lessons and context for the items on display and lays them out in such a way that you can walk through history and see the progression of technology from the early Bronze Age up to the early Iron Age. Interesting historical contexts about the economics of the various times and how the political system was structured in early Crete. Worth the price of admission.
5. Samaria Gorge National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,241 reviews
Believed to be one of the most scenic national parks in Europe, this gorge stretches more than 10 miles to the south coastal region and offers many hiking trails.
Reviewed By KatrienS955 - Ghent, Belgium
As the guidebook stated, as well as the brochure from the travel agent, this is a medium difficult hike. Doing it the standard direction, downhill, you start with a steep decline over a mostly rocky path. A walking stick might help for those not used to walk rocky mountain paths. The part in the national park is 13 km, the last 3 km to the Libyan sea is a paved path and easy. If you do it downhill, it is not a very arduous hike. Along the route there are plenty of water fountains, resting places quite a few with benches and 5 toilets, so in that sense it is a luxurious hike. The scenery is very nice, especially the narrow parts of the gorge. Try to find a group that starts early, as it is hot at the bottom of the gorge, making the hike more difficult. Also, the earlier, the fewer people you meet. I did large parts without seeing any other hiker. Our group had 1 guide who started the hike about half an hour after us, and mopped up those in problem, which did not happen in our group. He gave very good information about the hike as well as some times by which to ideally leave the larger resting places. Note that you do not need to hurry to catch the boat, as that leaves only at 17:30. At the end of the hike you can take a refreshing swim in the sea. Just know that the dark grey pebbles are very hot, even with a towel between you and the pebbles. There are parasols and strand beds for rent. If you do it from Chania, it will be a long day, as the boat takes an hour and then there is another 1h30 drive back.
6. Archaia Poli tis Lato
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
Reviewed By 267rich - Bristol, United Kingdom
Other reviewers have commented on what the site is about, I just wanted to highlight a few things for other visitors. Sturdy footwear is essential, the paths are not flat! Loose stones, small and large can make walking tricky, so no wheelchair access You need good balance to clamber up the rocky places. The wind was up when we went, dust blowing about, but cooler! No guidebook, some boards around the site. How people ever made a home on this mountain I will never know, creating their homes around the massive rocks.
7. Spinalonga (Kalydon)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,603 reviews
Reviewed By minalaki
If you are visiting Crete, do not miss Spinaloga! It holds centuries of history on a small island - from first antic inhabitants, Venetians building fortifications, to Otoman inhabitants and the leper colony, Spinalonga bursts from different and moving stories. It's easy to get there, taking a bus from Agios Nikolaos to Plaka, which both ways is less than 6 eur. Then, at Plaka, you take a boat to the island, which is 10 eur both ways. Entrance thicket to the island is 8 eur. And when you're there - learn, explore, enjoy! We went early, we were at the island before 10 am, so it was peaceful and almost empty. We went alone, without a guide and a group, since we wanted the freedom to wonder around and explore by ourselves, but guides have so many interesting stories that it might worth going with a group. An hour is just enough for a tour around the island, there are some tables with stories and facts about Spinalonga around, and book guides inside the suvenir shop, so that can be helpful if going on your own. Also, tv series The Island, based on the book, can be a good help in understanding how people lived there, in the former leper colony. Experience is absolutely amazing.
8. Star Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,942 reviews
Reviewed By G2292DQsoniak
Beautiful beaches lots to do spotless clean loads of activities for children's water park good family entertainment everything I need in one place and excellent staff so friendly
9. Elafonissi Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,358 reviews
Reviewed By Caligaltraveler
We rented a car from Chania and took this amazing drive to the countryside. The drive was quite long but so scenic and amazing. We stopped along the way and enjoyed the roadside vendors. Bought some delicious olive oils and olives. The eateries along the way were small, authentic and affordable. Once we arrived at the beach we were stunned. The water was crystal clear with no rocks or seaweed. You could wade out quite far before it got deep so this would be a very safe beach for kids. The beach sand was soft and clear of any debris and the colors of the water turning pink as the waves crashed really was spectacular. A must see and one of the highlights of our trip!
10. Balos Lagoon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,155 reviews
Reviewed By marcotL403QV - Rome, Italy
The most beautiful beach in Creta (together with Elafonisi) and famous for its wild nature, with turquoise waters and white sands turning to amazing shades of pink in some places. Waters are shallow, perfect for kids and lovely for grownups too. A legendary lagoon is also worth stopping by. Beware the boats throwing thousands of tourists in the middle of the day, although that is a very practical way to reach the place without going by car on a bumpy road. Ferries go back and forth from Kissamos port, but there are multiple trips during summer time, so I’d recommend to take the earliest trip available and then move to the island of Gramvousa nearby when the beach gets too crowded !
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