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Crete on a Budget

Budget Options for Independent Travellers

Crete on a Budget - choose your best budget accommodation and travel options, yet still enjoy the real Crete with her beaches, villages, music and nightlife.

Below we show you how to find a cheap flight to Crete, ferry options, camping and low-cost accommodation in Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lasithi, and how to get around on low-cost local buses.

This is the budget symbol on We Love Crete.

Cheap Flights

Ferries to Crete

Camping Accommodation

Budget Accommodation

Local Buses

Getting Here

Cheap Flights

Crete on a Budget - find flights into two airports in Crete from all over Europe. Or fly in via Athens, with a connecting flight with duration of 1 hour to Chania or Heraklion.

Find your cheapest flights to Crete here

Check flights from Athens ATH to Chania CHQ here

Check flights from Athens ATH to Heraklion HER here

Ferries to Crete

Crete on a Budget - take an overnight ferry from Pireaus, the port of Athens, with a duration of 9 hours, take a ferry to Chania or Heraklion from Athens.

Ferries run from Santorini (Thira) to Crete into Heraklion port with duration less than 2 hours from May to September. At other times the year the crossing takes 6 hours.

Check here for cheap ferries from Pireaus to Chania

Check here for ferry prices from Pireaus to Heraklion

Or take a ferry from Santorini to Crete (Heraklion)

Camping in Crete

There are quite a few camp grounds in Crete including:

Camping Palaichora
Grammeno Camping - near Palaiochora
Camping Nopigia - near Kissamos
Camping Mithimna - near Kissamos
Matala Camping - on Matala Beach
Camping Elizabeth - near Rethymno
Camping Koutsounari - eastern Crete near Ierapetra

You can find tent sites, existing tents, glamping tents, camper sites, wooden cabins or bungalows and many other variations of budget accommodation at these sites. They are open for the warm weather - generally from spring until autumn - May to October. Most have their own taverna and many have pool facilities. Note that free camping is not allowed in Greece. Prices for camping are very low. See below.

Camping in Crete
Chania

Camping Chania - tucked under the olive trees just back from Agioi Apostoli Beach and in walking distance to 4 beaches. Bus to Chania town is 10 minutes.

Camp here with your own tent, or on-site tents, mobile home or bungalow.

Has a beautiful big pool, restaurant and pool bar and all facilities you need for a super comfortable camping holiday.

"I had an amazing stay at the campsite! The staff were super friendly. The facilities were clean and well-maintained, and the location was perfect for exploring Chania. I would definitely come back. Highly recommend."

Check Rates & Availability at Camping Chania

Budget Accommodation

This is the budget symbol on We Love Crete

Cocoon City Hostel is close to the bus stop in Chania with budget rates suitable for all the family, and great for solo travellers. Close to the old town, cafes and tavernas.

“It’s brand new and clean. Big kitchens (2), comfy chairs, nice lounge to relax, nice outdoor space with garden furniture and small swimming pools. Large dorms, comfy bunks. The best hostel I’ve ever stayed at.”

Check Rates & Availability at Cocoon City Hostel

Pal Beach Hotel - right on Palaiochora Beach in western Crete. A simple budget affair within slouching distance of main beach. Palaiochora beaches are popular in summer. Palaiohora Town Παλαιόχωα is 75 km from Chania on the south coast of Crete.

"The hotel was just opposite to the beach. Our rooms were recently renovated and spacious! It was very clean and better than shown in the pictures."

Check Rates & Availability at Pal Beach Hotel

Haris Studios are a small set of rooms run by a local family with the Water's Edge Cafe in Palaiochora. Self catering rooms with sea views. Central to everything with a warm welcome. Less than 1 km to the beach.

"Location close to 'center' but away from the noise, lovely terrace overlooking the sea, cafe nearby where to have breakfast, nice staff, comfy beds. Would have stayed longer and would come back any time!"

Check Rates & Availability at Haris Studios

Rooms at Agia Fotia Taverna - real and simple, comfortable double rooms with sea views and just a few footsteps to your breakfast, lunch, dinner and beach. Fall asleep with the sound of the sea. Relax in a tiny hamlet away from everything. Let the blue and white get into your soul.

Here you will find the kindness of the Perakis family, a warm welcome, great food, peace and quiet and free WiFi. 4 km from Preveli Beach. This location is good for hiking and swimming, snorkelling and being alive.

The El Greco Hotel in Agios Nikolaos is located 50 metres from Kitroplateia beach, and is very central to the whole town. Enjoy a magnificent sea view with the modern sculpture on the point very close. Magnificent yet affordable.

"The location is just perfect at the Horn of Almathea in Agios Nikolaos. The staff was nice and gave us a free room upgrade to sea view room. It was cleaned every day and we had tea and coffee making facilities. Really close to center and to port and beach."

Check Rates & Availability at El Greco Hotel

Crete on a Budget
Get Around on the Local Buses

Save money on transport by using the very reliable and comfortable local buses. Taking the KTEL buses on Crete will enable you to keep costs down and travel all over the island.