Published 16 March 2026 · 8 min read
Chania
Chania's Venetian harbour, lighthouse and old town lanes make it Crete's most beautiful town. Fly into Chania Airport (CHQ), just 20 minutes away.
Rethymno
Halfway between Chania and Heraklion, Rethymno has a huge Venetian fortress and a long sandy beach. It's reachable from both airports in about an hour.
Elounda and Agios Nikolaos
East Crete's luxury hotspot. Elounda is the departure point for boats to Spinalonga, the island fortress made famous by 'The Island'.
Balos and Elafonisi
Crete's two most famous beaches lie in the far west. Balos is a turquoise lagoon reached by boat from Kissamos; Elafonisi has pink sand and shallow water perfect for children.
Knossos
The Minoan palace of Knossos is just 20 minutes from Heraklion and is best visited early morning.