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How to spend an extra day on Crete?

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Due to airline schedules, we've ended up with an extra day for sightseeing on Crete during our Greece trip. We'll start in Athens, then visit Rhodes before staying in Heraklion from June 1-5. We have three full days for sightseeing. We'll spend one day visiting Knossos/Heraklion Museum/Heraklion town. We will spend another day on a driving tour to Chania and Rethymno. I'm mulling over how to spend our third day.

I'd love to hear suggestions from people who've spent time on Crete. We are not beach people. We've ruled out Samaria Gorge for a number of reasons. We love learning about history and culture. We will not be renting a car so we'll need to book any day trips with a guide who has a car.

One option I'm considering is a Lasithi Plateau scenic driving tour that includes a stop in Agios Nikolaos. The description of Zeus' Cave sounds pretty cheesy/touristy; can anyone share if the scenery of the plateau is worth the day trip?

Any other day trips that you love?

Thanks so much for any insights!

Posted by
2816 posts

I do think trying to see both Rethymno and Chania in one day is a bit much. Maybe do one each day, using up your free day?

There also are wineries south of Heraklion. We had a car and stopped but I am sure you can find a tour.

Posted by
5550 posts

I'm one of the few people that didn't enjoy Knossos. Extremely overcrowded, long wait times to enter and to look closely at exhibits with lots of people pushing in and trying to jump the queue. I don't like the fact that much of it has been 'restored' by Arthur Evans according to his interpretation of what the palace would have looked like, it would have been far preferable to have left it in its excavated state. I much prefer Aptera.

Posted by
1455 posts

Crete has an excellent bus system. It is called KTEL. There are hourly buses from Heraklion to Rethymnon and on to Chania. You may want to consider just taking the bus and spending a night in Rethymnon and next day in Chania. Chania has an airport so you can easily fly back to Athens before your return flight. Saves you a return all the way back to Heraklion.

Many of us here suggest you get out to your first island on day of arrival in Athens. Save Athens for the end of the trip because you need to be there for your return flight anyway.

Here are images of Rethymnon and Chania
Return to Chania 2022 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720299646015

Rethymnon https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157654700502270

Posted by
11606 posts

I would not do Chania and Rethymon the same day, shortchanging them both especially Chania, the more beautiful town.
Aren’t you visiting Napflion?

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