Travelling the Chania Region, Crete

by Alizée
(Québec, Canada)

Hello, we are a young couple coming to visit Crete from the 6th to the 13th of June.

We are landing and leaving from the Chania airport. We land late at night on the 6th and are planning on going to Heraklion for the next day and sleeping in Heraklion that night.

Then we had planned visiting Rethymnon the day after that. And finally heading back to Chania area for the rest of the trip. We were thinking of renting a quad bike to travel the Chania region.

Do you think this is a good itinerary? And is it possible to get to the various sightseeing spots in the Chania region by quad?

Thank you sooooo much for answering. Your website is amazing!

Alizée + Patrick

Your Holiday in Crete

Yiasas Alizée, yes this sounds like a good itinerary, let's see it day by day below...we have made accommodation suggestions below for you to consider. We suggest you visit the site of Knossos Palace when you are in Heraklion.

Day One – 6th June
Arrive Chania Airport (late)
Taxi to Chania
Stay in Chania
Stay in the Old Town
Stay at Helena Hotel

Day Two – 7th June
Bus Chania to Heraklion 145 km (this bus goes via Rethymnon)
Visit Knossos, museum and Heraklion town
Stay in Heraklion
Stay at the Lena Hotel (budget) or at the Lato Hotel (mid range)

Day Three – 8th June
Bus Heraklion to Rethymnon 82 km
Explore Old Town of Rethymnon
Stay in the Old Town
Stay Hotel Afroditi (low to mid range) or Avli Lounge Apartments (mid range)

Day Four – 9th June
Bus Rethymnon to Chania 60 km
Explore Old Town of Chania
Stay in Chania
Stay in the Old Town
Stay at Madonna Studios

Day Five – 10 June
Stay in Chania

Day Six – 11th June
Stay in Chania

Day Seven – 12th June
Stay in Chania

Day Eight – 13th June
Depart from Chania Airport

In this way you will be able to relax in Chania on your first night there and perhaps enjoy breakfast there, then make your way over to Heraklion, see Knossos and the Museum and then relax again in Chania before flying out.

We always suggest you arrive early to Knossos to avoid the crowds and leave at least 2 hours for the visit. If possible, take a break for lunch before entering the Archaeological Museum as there is a lot of history to take in. Leave at least 2 hours for the museum as well. There is a lot to see in Heraklion, but these two are the priorities if you have only a short stay in Crete.

Information pages you may need for this itinerary are:

Chania Airport

Chania Region

Chania Town

Chania Old Town Accommodation

Heraklion Town

Heraklion Accommodation - our suggestions

Knossos Palace - our tips


Kalo Taxidi! Bon Voyage!

Chania Visit - Accommodation with Water Views

by Tania
(Australia)

Hi,

We are looking to spend 4 nights in Santorini and maybe 3 or 4 nights in Crete. We love good food and gorgeous beaches and quaint towns. I know we can't see much because of time restraints. We will probably arrive in Chania.

We would love to see Elafonisi beach. Is it worth the trip or are there any other beaches that would come close? Also if we do 4 nights should we stay in 2 places or just Chania?

We would ideally like to stay somewhere with a water view also? Interested in your feedback.

Chania, Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa

Tania, if you have a short time in Chania there is a closer beach than Elafonisi that is spectacular, with an organised day tour or boat trip. It is actually a lagoon and series of beaches. The Lagoon is called Balos and the islet is called Gramvousa.

Gramvousa info here

Balos Lagoon info here

This is one of the most beautiful, untouched beaches on Crete and much closer to Chania town. You can take a day tour from Chania town.

Day Tour Info here

You can also take the local bus to the smaller town called Kastelli Kissamos and then take the boat out to Balos Lagoon.

Kastelli Kissamos info here

Visiting Chania town is all about the old town and the quaint atmosphere by the harbour. We suggest a small hotel with harbour views, this is the essence of the character of the old town. Try Mama Nena, a small place with lovely water views.

Mama Nena Hotel - Chania

Pension Eva has beautiful coloured walls in a traditional building, with a great rooftop view. The rooms are basic and quite small. The location is perfect but rooms may not have a water view.

You can also try Hotel Helena (pictured above) which is centrally located in a beautifully restored traditional building. Be sure to ask for a room with a view as this hotel has both harbour facing rooms and those that face the lane way.

The Fagotto Rooms are lovely but not water facing, this hotel is tucked away at the western edge of the old zone, just a stroll from your morning cafe on the harbour.

Porto Del Colombo Boutique Hotel is worth consideration as it is just so beautiful, it may have some water views from the top floor rooms.

Bon Voyage! Enjoy Kriti, Kalo taxidi!

Elafonisi or Falasarna Beach in April

by AT V
(Paris)

Dear we-love-crete,

Thank you for your lovely and informative website.

We are going to Crete from 12 to 17 April, and we really want to see some Cretan beaches, especially Elafonisi and Falasarna beaches.

It seems to us that there will be no bus to those beaches in April. And we can't drive :(.

I found some day tours there, but the price differs a lot. Do you have any idea about the tours? or another way (cheaper ^^) to get there? Is it better to stay in Chania or Kissamos to have more choices?

Thank you very much for your kind answer.

Visiting West Crete in April

We are so glad you enjoy the website.


April is a lovely time to travel because it is spring and also because it is before the main busy season. For this you may have to compromise some of the services, but enjoy the space and quiet.


In regards to the local buses, they do not run to Elafonisi at that time. Remember there is no settlement at that place, just a beautiful natural beach. This is what KTEL says:

Sorry, we don't publish future timetables, because timetables are partly decided according to seasonal demand. Also we don't confirm any timetables for legal reasons.

Please note that summer timetables are not out yet (at the time of writing). There may be more buses in summer. Please revisit our site KTEL Site shortly before your departure for Crete. We are updating our site continuously from April till August.

It is unlikely that Elafonisi is served in April. Anyway there may be no direct connection Kastelli - Elafonissi. You will have to go through Tavronitis and wait there for the bus coming from Chania.

For Chania - Elafonissi please look at the relevant timetable for the relevant season.

The tours also do not run in April, they commence in May. We can suggest you stay in Kissamos and visit Falasarna Beach, which is much closer, and also contact Balos Travel on Platia Eleftheriou Venizelou in Kissamos, who will be able to help with all arrangements, and perhaps suggest a way to visit Elafonisi in April.

Alternatively you could hire a car for the day from Kissamos town.

Here is some information that may assist:

Balos Travel on Platia Eleftheriou Venizelou in Kissamos Town

Our Page about Kastelli Kissamos Town...

Kalo Taxidi! Bon Voyage!

Balos lagoon and Elafonisi Beach

by Jayne
(Portsmouth, England)

Thank you for this wonderful site.

We are coming to Crete in September for 12 nights and are staying in Stalis. On reading more about Crete, I would like to visit the Balos Lagoon and Elafonisi Beach, as I love beaches.

On doing my own research, I realise that both these beaches are quite a distance from Stalis. I have found a lovely hotel Kreta Natura in Kissamos and was thinking of hiring a car for 3 days and travelling down. I don't like mountain roads with steep drops.

How easy is it to drive from Stalis to Kissamos? And then how easy is it to visit Balos Lagoon and Elafonisi Beach from Kissamos. Or any other suggestions of how to travel and where to stay would be appreciated.

Also are there any beaches as a must see that are close to Stalis we can travel to by bus?

Thank you

Jayne and Des

Getting to Balos Lagoon, Crete

by We Love Crete

Hi, we are glad you enjoy the site, yes it is a fair distance from Stalis to both these beaches. Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Islet are in the north-west tip of Crete, 225 km from Stalis.

Elafonisi Beach is in the south-west tip of Crete, 245 km from Stalis.

To visit Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Islet the information is here.

You can hire a car from Kissamos and drive to the tip of the Cape Ligari peninsular (16 km) then walk (1 km) to the lagoon, or you can take a boat trip from Kissamos.

To visit Elafonisi Beach the information is here.

Elafonisi is 42 km from Kissamos. The road goes through the beautiful Topolia Gorge with steep sides, so you will not want to drive there. It is easy to take a day tour or the local bus from Kissamos.

Near Stalis you could visit Sisi and Boufos, Avlaki and Spiliada Beaches.

Road to Balos Lagoon

by Jess

Hi Jayne,

if you want to go to Balos Lagoon by car, you should know that the road is paved with gravels. Because of the road it's better to drive to Cape Ligari peninsula by a car than by a quad.

I would also suggest to visit lake Kourna and Falassarna beach.

Elafonisi Beach

by Petra


Hi,
Is there any body to help me with info? I am planing to go to Crete, especially for Elafonisi Beach. But I don't know which is the closer town or village to rent a room or hotel. I do not want to travel many km and lose time.
Thank you.

West Crete and Elafonisi Beach

Hi Petya,

You can stay in Kastelli Kissamos town - see our information here:

Kissamos Town Info...

This is our page all about Elafonisi Beach...

You can also stay in Paleochora and take a boat to Elafonisi Beach - these boat trips leave daily.

More info here

Kalo Taxidi! Bon Voyage!

Thank you

Thank you for your quick answer. Can you tell me please how big is the distance between Paleohora-Elafonisi beach and Kissiamos-Elafonisi beach?

Thanks one more time :-) !

Distances to Elafonisi Beach, Crete

Hi Petya,

Sure - the distance from Kissamos to Elafonisi is 40 km.

The distance from Paleochora to Elafonisi is about 33 km by land but you would not travel by land, you would travel by sea by boat which takes about one hour.

Please see the map on our Crete beaches page which shows all three locations.

There are smaller villages closer to Elafonisi Beach and they have very few options for accommodation. There are villas dotted all about, but your best idea for a small budget rent room or pension is most likely Paleochora or Kissamos.

Kalo Taxidi!