How many days in Crete? A 7-day road trip from Heraklion to Chania
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Crete is not an island you see in a weekend. It is 260 km long, and the drive from Heraklion to Chania alone takes about two hours. Give it at least a week and split it between two bases: Heraklion or the north-east coast for the Minoan sites and Spinalonga, then Chania for the west's beaches and the Samaria Gorge. A rental car is essential; buses link the towns but not the beaches.
Short answer
Five days lets you see either the east or the west properly, with one long driving day. Seven days covers both halves, with a beach day built in.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Knossos and Heraklion
Morning. Arrive at Knossos for the 8:00 opening (about €20); it is 20 minutes by car or city bus 2 from Heraklion centre. The palace was partly reconstructed in concrete by Arthur Evans in the early 1900s, so read the signs: the throne room and the painted columns are reconstructions. Allow 2 hours.
Afternoon. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum holds the real Minoan treasures: the Phaistos Disc, the bull-leaping fresco and the snake goddesses. Allow 2 hours. Then walk the 15th-century Venetian walls and the harbour fortress of Koules.
Evening. Eat on 1866 Street market and in the lanes around the Morosini Fountain (the Lions). Order dakos (barley rusk with tomato and mizithra cheese); a raki often arrives free at the end of the meal.
Combined tickets for Knossos and the Archaeological Museum are sometimes offered. Check the official e-ticket site first.
Day 2: Spinalonga and the Lasithi coast
Morning. Drive about 1 hour east to Elounda or Plaka and take a boat (about €10-15 return, every 30 minutes in season) to Spinalonga, a Venetian fortress island that was a leper colony until 1957. The island ticket is separate. Allow 2 hours.
Afternoon. Swim at Plaka's pebble beach, then drive up to Kritsa, a mountain village with the frescoed Panagia Kera church, and Agios Nikolaos with its round lake.
Evening. Return to Heraklion or stay overnight in Elounda. Fish taverns at Plaka look straight across to Spinalonga at sunset.
The Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave, mythical birthplace of Zeus, can replace Kritsa if you prefer the mountains: allow 1h15 from Agios Nikolaos.
Day 3: Rethymno and on to Chania
Morning. Drive west along the VOAK national road, about 1h15 from Heraklion to Rethymno. Walk up to the Fortezza, the Venetian citadel, and through the old town's lanes of wooden balconies and Ottoman minarets.
Afternoon. Continue 1 hour to Chania, or detour to the Arkadi Monastery (25 minutes inland from Rethymno), symbol of the 1866 revolt against Ottoman rule.
Evening. Walk Chania's Venetian harbour to the lighthouse at sunset, then eat in the Splantzia or Topanas quarters, away from the touts on the harbour front.
Book your Chania hotel inside the old town walls or just outside it: cars cannot enter the old town, and parking is easiest at the municipal lots near the walls.
Day 4: Balos and Gramvousa
Morning. Take the boat from Kissamos port (about 45 minutes west of Chania) to Gramvousa island, with a Venetian fort on its summit, and Balos lagoon, turquoise shallow water over white sand. Boats leave around 10:00 and cost about €30-35, plus a small Balos access fee.
Afternoon. The boat gives about 2 hours at Balos. Bring shade and water; there are few facilities.
Evening. Back in Chania by 18:30. Dinner in the Nea Chora fishermen's quarter, west of the old harbour, for fresher fish at lower prices.
You can also drive to Balos on a rough 8 km dirt road and walk down 20 minutes. Many rental contracts forbid this road, so check yours.
Day 5: The Samaria Gorge
Morning. Take an early bus or organised trip to Xyloskalo at the top of the Samaria Gorge (open roughly May to October, ticket about €10). The walk is 16 km, all downhill, 5-7 hours, through the Iron Gates where the walls are 4 metres apart.
Afternoon. The gorge ends at the coastal village of Agia Roumeli, which has no road. Swim, eat, then take the afternoon ferry to Sfakia (Hora Sfakion) and the bus back to Chania.
Evening. An easy dinner in Chania. Your legs will feel the descent tomorrow.
If you are not a hiker, the shorter Imbros Gorge (8 km, about 2.5 hours) ends near Sfakia and is open all year.
Day 6: Elafonissi
Morning. Drive about 1h45 to Elafonissi in the south-west, through mountain villages and the Topolia gorge. The sand has a pink tint from crushed shells and the lagoon is knee-deep, ideal for children.
Afternoon. Walk across the shallow water to the islet, a protected area, and find quieter coves on its far side. Do not take sand or shells.
Evening. On the way back, stop at the Chrysoskalitissa monastery on its rock above the sea. Back in Chania for the last night out.
Arrive before 10:00 in July and August; the car park fills and the beach gets crowded by midday.
Day 7: Chania and the Akrotiri peninsula
Morning. Visit Chania's covered Agora (the market hall) and the leather-workers' lane, Stivanadika. Then drive 20 minutes onto the Akrotiri peninsula to the monasteries of Agia Triada and Gouverneto.
Afternoon. Swim at Seitan Limania, a narrow cove reached by a short, steep path, or at the sandy Stavros beach.
Evening. A final dinner with Cretan specialities: staka (butter cream), gamopilafo (wedding rice) and lamb with stamnagathi greens.
Fly home from Chania airport (on Akrotiri, 20 minutes from town) to avoid driving back to Heraklion.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, base yourself in Chania and do Days 3 to 7, with a day trip to Knossos (2h15 each way) only if Minoan history is a priority. Or stay in the east for Days 1, 2 and 3 and fly out of Heraklion.
Got extra days?
With 10 days, add the south coast: Plakias, Preveli palm beach, the hippie caves of Matala and the Minoan palace of Phaistos.
Where to stay in Crete
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Heraklion centre / Rethymno old town | Good value, central, near bus stations. | €60-100 |
| Mid-range | Chania old town | Venetian harbour on the doorstep, base for the west's beaches and gorges. | €110-200 |
| Mid-range | Elounda / Agios Nikolaos | Resort coast for Spinalonga and the east. | €120-220 |
| Comfort | Elounda luxury resorts | Private beaches and villas with pools. | €300-900 |
Getting around
Rent a car: rates start at about €30-50 a day in high season, cheaper if booked months ahead. The north coast's VOAK highway links Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania (about 2 hours end to end); mountain and southern roads are slow, so allow extra time. KTEL buses connect the main towns and the Samaria Gorge start, but rarely the best beaches. Crete has two airports, Heraklion and Chania, and ferries from Piraeus to both ports (about 8-9 hours overnight).
Best time to visit
May to June and September to October: highs of 24-29°C and warm sea. July and August are hot (around 30-32°C, higher in the south) and the busiest, with the meltemi wind on the north coast. The Samaria Gorge is open only from about May to October. Winter is green and mild, but many coastal hotels close.
Month-by-month weather for Crete →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €35 | €70 | €200 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights, boats & tickets | €10 | €25 | €50 |
| Car (share of rental + fuel) | €20 | €30 | €50 |
| Total per person, per day | about €85 | about €165 | about €380 |
Approximate 2026 high-season prices. Greece adds a per-room climate resilience fee each night, highest from April to October.
Before you go
Common questions
Should I stay in one place or two?
Two. A single base means 2-3 hours' driving on several days. Split the week between Heraklion or Elounda and Chania.
Is the Samaria Gorge difficult?
It is long rather than technical: 16 km downhill on loose stone. Wear proper walking shoes, carry 1.5 litres of water, and start early. It closes on days of high wind or heat warnings.
Which airport should I fly into?
Fly into Heraklion and out of Chania, or the other way round, to avoid driving the length of the island twice.
Is Crete good for families?
Very: shallow beaches like Elafonissi and Falassarna, easy archaeological sites, and tavernas that welcome children.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, by a travel-agency planner based in Greece. Prices, gorge season and boat times are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket site, the Samaria National Park and KTEL Crete websites before booking.
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