Please let me know if this sounds like an active itinerary for 6 days in Crete We are not beach, pool folks or shoppers, but I think we need to see some beaches. Question: Should we go to the West coast line?
1. Sept 6th. Fly into Heraklion (from the USA). We will arrive in the late afternoon. Spend 1 night in Heraklion.
2. Sept 7th. In the morning get up early and check out the area on foot (museum, square, wharf, etc). By noon head to Chania with a a rental car and possibly stop at Knossos.
3. Sept 7th to 12th. Stay in Chania (see the beaches, do some hiking, walk the town, and drive out to the South side of Crete)
4. Sept 12th Leave early in the morning and head to Heraklion, with 1 stop for lunch in Rethymnon and see the area. Then on to Heraklion for 1 night and see whatever we didn't see (possibly stop at Knossos) when we there earlier that week.
3. Sept 13th we take the ferry to Santorini early in the morning. Question: When should I book the ferry to Santorini?
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1441 posts
Have you booked your flights yet. There is little point in flying to Heraklion, driving to Chania and then return to Heraklion .
Logistics are important. When you arrive in Athens, fly immediately to Chania. It has an airport. Get over jet lag in Chania. Find a hotel in the old town area. It is full of Venetian era buildings. Its a great place to get over jet lag. There is a beach just east of the old town and other about a 20 minute walk to the west then three more about a half hour hike to the west.
You might want to look at an excursion to Balos and Gramvossa. You get two excellent beaches a sunken wreck and a pirate fortress plus a few hours at the famous Balos Lagoon for swimming and sunning. That can be done on an excursion with a bus. You can also drive to Kissamos in a rental car and catch the ferry from there.
If you want to do the south coast we love Sougia a small village right on the sea. Logistically though you might want to leave Chania d day or so earlier and head toward Rethymnon. It too has Venetian architecture and a large Venetian fortress. Later in the day drive 45 minutes south to the village of Plakias. It has a magnificent Blue Flag beach framed by high mountains, sheer cliffs and the sea. Spend a night or 2 there. You will find 5 different beaches with 5 KM of Plakias.
Now head to Heraklion stop at Knossos and enjoy wandering around the central area where locals have an evening promenade.
Catch the ferry next morning to Santorini.
Most local car companies will allow you to rent a car in Chania and drop off in Heraklion. They likely will want a 3 day rental to not charge drop off fees. be sure to use a locally owned company. There are several god ones. We always use Autorental Crete. Excellent service.
We always wait a couple of days before a ferry hop before we book out ticket. Any travel agent n Chania will sell the tickets and will have the latest information about the ferries. Strikes and Bad weather can happen.
Here are some images of our trips to Crete where we did exactly as I suggest.
Chania 2022. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720299646015
Gramvousa,Balos and Elafonissi https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698932695812
Rethymnon https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157654700502270
Plakias 2022 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720299863731
Heraklion https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157655935354556
Posted by
OP
46 posts
We have not booked this portion of the trip. We are debating to fly to Athens then to Chania Crete or fly directly to Heraklion. I have 2 itineraries, waiting on feedback to decide.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1441 posts
Well you have my suggestions based on 10 visits to Crete. Also I believe today or tomorrow Aegeans 50% off sale ends.
Posted by
11569 posts
Follow stanbr’s advice. And do not make Knossos “optional.”
Posted by
OP
46 posts
Thanks that helps. Athens to Chania it is. That was my original plan. I guess I better check out the special with Aegean deals. Thanks for your help! I will be booking our flights hopefully this weekend.