Western Crete in Five Days
Western Crete in five days allows time to visit Chania and Rethymnon, enjoy the beaches, hike the Samaria Gorge and see the monasteries at Arkadi and Preveli.
Even five days in this large area will be rushed, but it does allow time to explore Chania and Rethymnon, see some of the north and south coast beaches, hike the Samaria Gorge, and visit the historically important monasteries at Arkadi and Preveli.
Day One
Morning
Visit Arkadi Monastery then take the pleasant country road (signposted at the end of the car park) to the ancient site of Eleftherna, which should only take 10-15 minutes. After looking round there, continue on for another 15 minutes to the potters’ village of Margarites, where there are places to have lunch. We like the Taverna Giannousakis at the upper end of the village for its excellent home-cooked food.
Afternoon
Drive northeast from Margarites to visit the Melidoni Cave, which is about a 20-minute drive away. Then continue on to the north coast, to Rethymnon. You have a choice of routes.
Evening
Spend the night in Rethymnon, where you can dine by the harbour. We like the Fanari, which is further away from the main harbour where people try to talk you into their restaurants. We like the Fanari’s more laid-back approach, and the food’s good too.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Day Two
Morning
Spend the morning exploring Rethymnon, perhaps taking in the museums and art galleries, and walking out to the Venetian fortress, the Fortezza. For a special lunch before you leave, book a table at Avli, one of the best restaurants on Crete.
Afternoon
Wander round the narrow streets of the old town, see the loggia, stroll around the harbour, and visit the public gardens.
Evening
As a change from the harbour, ask for directions to Kyria Maria, in a narrow side-street behind the Rimondi Fountain. Lamb kleftiko is a house specialty and is totally mouth-watering.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Day Three
Morning
Time to leave Rethymnon and drive south across the island to the Preveli Monastery. It’s less than an hour’s drive, with the last stretch through dramatic gorge scenery. After touring the monastery (dress respectfully), head west to Plakias (20 minutes) and then along the narrow and winding coastal road to the Venetian fortress at Frangokástello, which is about another 40-50 minutes. Another 20 minutes will have you in Chora Sfakion, whose lovely little harbour makes the perfect lunch stop. We like the Livikon, or to give it its full grand name, Kitchen Stories from Samaria to Livikon.
Afternoon
Drive north out of Chora Sfakion past the Imbros Gorge, the entrance to which is about a 25-minute drive from the town. You could stop and walk in the gorge for a while, though you’ve an hour’s drive back to the north coast for a visit to the Allied War Cemetery at Souda. If you really wanted to walk in the gorge, you could probably skip the cemetery and drive straight to Chania for the night, which is also about an hour.
Evening
We recommend spending the next three nights in Chania and exploring from there. Enjoy your first dinner on the Venetian harbour, where we recommend the Amphora.
Day Four
Morning
Spend the morning seeing some of Chania’s attractions. You should be able to fit in the market, the Archaeological Museum, and the excellent little Folklore Museum. Have lunch at Tamam, another wonderful Chania restaurant.
Afternoon
Visit the Byzantine Museum and the adjacent Maritime Museum of Crete. A stroll through the old town and around the harbour are also Chania highlights.
Evening
Wander through a different part of Chania, the Turkish quarter, to have dinner at the fabulous Well of the Turk.
Day Five
Morning/Afternoon
Work off some of that food by devoting the day to the Samaria Gorge. You’ll need to book an excursion, as it’s a one-way hike from the mountains to the sea, so you need planned transport. It's one reason we recommend basing yourselves in Chania for three days, as this is the best place to book a Samaria Gorge hike with organised transport. It will be a very early start but you’ll be back in Chania for dinner.
Evening
For a final dinner, try the Semiramis where there’s often live music and always a terrific atmosphere. And there you have it – you’ve seen the best of western Crete in five days!
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Other Crete pages
Hiking in Southwest Crete
Greece Travel Secrets goes hiking in southwest Crete with Ramblers Walking Holidays based in Paleohora and hiking the E4 footpath and to Anidri and Azogires.
Where to Stay in Irakleio
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Irakleio, the capital of Crete, including nearby beach resort hotels and accommodation in the city centre.
Gortina ancient archaeological site in southern Crete
Ancient Gortina is an archaeological site in southern Crete famous for the church of Ayios Titos and for the Law Code inscribed here, the first in Europe.
Maleme and the German War Cemetery on Crete
Maleme near Chania is where the people who died during the battle of Crete are buried, in the German War Cemetery with the Commonwealth War Cemetery nearby.
Samaria Gorge
The Samaria Gorge is one the longest gorges in Europe and doing the hike is one of the best and most popular things to do on Crete.
Diktean Cave, the Birthplace of Zeus near Psychro on Crete
The Diktean or Diktaean Cave, also known as the Psychro Cave, near the village of Psychro in eastern Crete, is said to be the birthplace of Zeus.
Rethymnon in Western Crete
Rethymnon is the third-largest city in Crete and has a Venetian fortress, Archaeological Museum, Old Town area and Venetian harbour,
Central Crete in Three Days
Driving central Crete in three days gives you time to see the highlights including the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the beaches and the Diktean Cave.
Goules Taverna Crete
The Goules Taverna in Goulediana, south of Rethymnon, has been called one of the best tavernas on Crete and Greece Travel Secrets recently visited them.
Matala Beach
Matala Beach on Crete is a guest blog for Greece Travel Secrets from the We Love Crete website, inviting you to Awaken Your Inner Hippy in Matala, Crete.
Irakleio
Crete's capital and largest city is Irakleio, also called Iraklion or Heraklion, a large and busy place with good restaurants, museums and historical buildings.
Zacharioudakis Winery
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Zacharioudakis Winery near Ancient Gortina in southern Crete, and does a vineyard tour arranged by our guide from Go Crete.
How to Make Petimezi
How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.
Lonely Planet Crete
Lonely Planet Crete is an excellent and thorough guide of almost 300 pages to the largest of the Greek islands.
Margarites
Margarites is known on Crete for its pottery, with ceramics shops and workshops lining the streets of this charming small town not far from Rethymnon.
Crete Botanical Gardens
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Crete Botanical Gardens near Chania and finds a wonderland of colourful plants, trees, and flowers filling a lovely valley.
Best Crete Hotels
The best Crete hotels include 5-star luxury hotels, historic and romantic Venetian palaces, and several hotels in Hania and Iraklion.
The Herb Man of Kouses
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Cretan Botano herbs and spices shop near Matala in southern Crete in search of the herb man of Kouses.
Airbnb near Chania
This Airbnb in the quiet village of Malaxa, a 30-minute drive into the hills above Chania, is a peaceful retreat with a delightful and thoughtful artist owner, with wonderful views and amenities.
Paleohora and the South-West Coast
The area east from Paleohora along the south-west coast of Crete includes resorts like Agia Galini, gorges like the Imbros Gorge and quieter towns like Sfakia.
The Snails House on Crete
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Ancient Gournia Minoan Site in Eastern Crete
Ancient Gournia is a Minoan archaeological site between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia in Eastern Crete where the visitor can see evidence of a maze of back streets.
Zaros
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
Life as a Minoan
What was daily life as a Minoan like on Crete, living in palaces like the ones at Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros, and what were their religious beliefs?
Latest Posts
-
The Lesser-Known Traditions of Greek Easter
Step off the beaten path this spring and discover the enchanting — and often surprising — Easter traditions found across Greece. -
Easter in the Mystical Castle of Monemvasia
In the castle town of Monemvasia, with its dramatic medieval backdrop and sea views, Easter is a deeply spiritual and atmospheric experience. -
Sifnos: Greece’s Hidden Culinary Star on the Rise
Sifnos, a Cycladic island, is gaining fame for its rich culinary heritage, especially the beloved melopita honey-cheese tart. -
Easter in Leonidio: A Tapestry of Light, Culture and Cliffs
In Leonidio, Easter comes alive with handmade hot air balloons in the sky and lanterns made from bitter oranges in the streets. -
April 9 Strike in Greece to Impact Public Transport, Ferries and Air Travel
Transportation and travel across Greece will face disruptions on Wednesday, April 9, as public transport, ferry and aviation workers join a nationwide strike called by Greek labor unions. -
Ancient Theater of Lefkada Brought Fully to Light Following Systematic Excavation
The Greek Culture Ministry has announced that the first ancient theater ever identified in the Ionian Islands has recently been brought fully to light on Lefkada, revealing an impressive monument that… -
Seven Greek Traditions Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage
From traditional barrel-making to age-old folk dances, seven new entries on Greece’s National Inventory preserve the country’s living heritage for future generations. -
Greek Air Traffic Controllers to Hold 24-hour Strike, Disrupting Flights on April 9
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers Union have announced a 24-hour strike for Wednesday, April 9, in response to the protest called by the Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY). The strike is being h… -
Ten Best Budget Hotels on Santorini
Greece Travel Secrets picks the ten best budget hotels on Santorini, some with caldera views, some near beaches and some close to the heart of Fira. -
No Ferries in Greece on April 9 as Seamen Join Nationwide Strike
The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced its participation in the 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) on Wednesday, April 9. The strike, which will…
Why not sign up for our Greece Travel Secrets newsletter? Each week you'll get emailed our regular Greece Travel Secrets Magazine for news, information, and inspiration for planning your travels in Greece.
As a welcome gift you'll also get a free e-book, Heaven on Earth. This contains 19 of Mike's favourite stories that he's written about travelling in Greece for newspapers and magazines over the years.
You'll find it over at Substack. Check out one of the Archive issues to find the Subscribe button.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, but at no cost to you.
BUY A JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR OWN GREECE TRAVEL SECRETS!
LEARN A LITTLE GREEK BEFORE YOU GO!
FOLLOW OUR GREECE VIDEOS
ON YOUTUBE
No words or images to be used without prior permission.
We do not sell personal information: see our Privacy Policy.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
Greece Travel Secrets does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
This website was built using Site Build It!
