After spending 10 days in Crete we came to a realization… it wasn’t nearly enough time! We went off the typical tourist track and ended up circling all of Crete island, finding a side of Greece that we weren’t expecting. The ever-changing landscapes of lush olive fields and massive canyons are just part of what makes the island so diverse. This 10 day Crete itinerary will help you find all the most unique places for your first visit.
8 Quick Tips For Driving Around Crete Island
1. Make sure to drive on the right side of the road!
2. Standard and automatic cars are readily available. We always use DiscoverCars on the Greek Islands. You can find great weekly deals and compare all the different companies.
3. Gas is expensive, but a full tank will get you around the entire island. Here’s 6 more reasons why renting a car in Crete is such a great idea.
4. Most of the roads are in decent condition. Some of them turn to dirt if you get too far off the beaten path, but that’s to be expected.
5. Even with 10 days in Crete, you’ll be rushing to take in all the most amazing spots. Plan wisely.
6. With how massive Crete is, it’s easy to forget that you’re on an island. We’ve conveniently linked our favorite hotels so you know where to stay in Crete.
7. Please take this Crete itinerary as a guide and potentially only focus on only one area. In 10 days we wanted to see as much as possible, which is the perfect way to travel for us. However, it might not lead to a very relaxing vacation for you!
8. It is possible to travel Crete by bus. Just know that you will be missing out on some of the best places around the island.
The Best 10 Day Crete Itinerary
Day 1 – Heraklion Airport to Malia Beach
Distance: 32 km
Driving Time: 30 min
Estimated Time with Stops: 30 min
Welcome to Crete! Time to get your rental car and head straight for the smaller (but just as exciting) town of Malia. We don’t recommend spending the night in Heraklion, just because we prefer a smaller town than a large port city.
After settling into your hotel, walk the main street to take in the bars, restaurants, and endless party scene. Relax at the pool or on the beach to finish up the first day on your 10 day Crete itinerary.
Pyrgos Beach Hotel Apartments – This might have been our favorite hotel in Crete. It’s located just outside the party hub of Malia, but still close enough to all the action. This is one of the best places to stay in Crete and we could have easily stayed here for a week!
Day 2 – Malia Beach to Agios Nikolaos
Distance: 30 km
Driving Time: 30 min
Estimated Time with Stops: 30 min
No need to rush out in the morning as you have a quick drive to your next stop on our Crete itinerary. Stroll along the beach, take in the views, and have a relaxing morning in Malia.
The coastal drive will be short and beautiful as you make your way to Agios Nikolaos. After checking into your new hotel visit the lake, swim at Kitroplateia Beach, day trip to the island of Spinalonga (book your cruise tickets), and enjoy a meal at one of the many seaside cafes.
Sgouros Hotel – Located right on the beach and within the heart of the town, you won’t find a better location to explore Agios Nikolaos.
Day 3 – Agios Nikolaos to Vai Beach to Kato Zakros
Distance: 92 km Agios Nikolaos to Vai Beach – 35 km Vai Beach to Kato Zakros
Driving Time: 2 hour Agios Nikolaos to Vai Beach – 1 hour Vai Beach to Kato Zakros
Estimated Time with Stops: 8 Hours with Stops
Get ready for a full day of adventure, but we promise that it’s worth the fun! Starting in the morning from Agios Nikolaos, make your way into the steep mountains of Crete and toward the northeast corner of the island. Make sure to stop at the lookouts along the way for stunning views.
Spend the afternoon swimming at Vai Beach. Not only does this sandy beach look like it’s straight out of the Caribbean, but it’s home to one of the largest palm tree forests in all of Europe! Grab lunch at the cafe overlooking the beach and dive into the magical forest.
After swimming, sightseeing and exploring Vai’s palm tree forest, jump back in the car for your next stop at Kato Zakros. Along the drive from Via Beach to Kato Zakros, you’ll pass small villages and large fields of olive trees.
Kato Zakros is a tiny beach with only a handful of restaurants and a couple of hotels. It’s the perfect place to take in the best of Crete and relax after a long day of adventure. If you have an extra day and want to break up the drive, consider staying in Sitia for the night.
Katerina Apartments – Spend the night in the hills just above the town of Kato Zakros. Sweeping views from the Katerina Apartments show the beach, town, and hills, where you can relax and enjoy one of the best places to stay in Crete.
Day 4 – Kato Zakros With Stop in Ierapetra to Myrtos
Distance: 77 km Kato Zakros to Ierapetra – 15 km Ierapetra to Myros
Driving Time: 2 Hours Kato Zakros to Ierapetra – 20 min Ierapetra to Myros
Estimated Time with Stops: 5 Hours with Stops
Traveling from the small town of Kato Zakros, Ierapetra will feel like a completely different world in this large seaside city.
We highly recommend planning to be in Ierapetra for lunch. We ate at special restaurant and the greek salad and gyros were some of the best food in Crete we ate. After lunch, walk to the left of town and go for a swim at Ierapetra beach.
Continue on to the small town of Myrtos. This is exactly what we imagined when we thought of the small seaside town in Crete! Grab dinner at one of the many oceanfront cafes, hike into the hills beyond Myrtos, and soak in the clear blue water.
Mirtos Hotel – This small hotel is right in the center of Myrtos town and just a block from the beach. When you’re hungry, you can sit at the small cafe that spills onto the street and relax.
Day 5 – Myrtos to Matala (Hippie Caves)
Distance: 105 Km
Driving Time: 2 Hours
Estimated Time with Stops: 2-5 Hours
The drive to Matala cut from high in the mountains down to the beach, and it turned out to be one of the best days we had on the entire island. I am not sure exactly where we went, but please take this part of our 10 day Crete itinerary into your own hands to discover new places.
We had lunch in a small seaside town, drove through thousands of olive trees, and had some of the most stunning views of Creete island! Yes, it added about 3 hours to our drive, but it was 100% worth it for the experience.
Arriving in Matala can be a little of a shock. This will be by far one of the most touristy places you visit, but still definitely worth seeing. If you didn’t know, the Matala Caves were a hippie enclave in the 1960’s. You can read more about artist Joni Mitchell and Matala Crete here before your visit.
Swim in the ocean, explore the hippie caves, and eat at one of the many cute Greek cafes. Just try to arrive later in the day to avoid the crowds. We also recommend visiting the caves first thing when they open in the morning.
Filia Rooms – Just outside the hustle and bustle of Matala, this is the perfect family hotel to spend the night. This is the ideal place to hang in the room or sit outside in nature to break up your 10 days in Crete.
Day 6 – Matala to Agia Galini
Distance: 27 km
Driving Time: 40 min
As we mentioned above, you should explore the hippie caves of Matala right before leaving town! It will be wild to see where the free love crowd of the 1960’s lived overlooking the beach. Afterwards, the drive to Agia Galini will be short so you can have a full day of sun and relaxing on your 10 day Crete itinerary.
This village built into the hillside was one of the best surprises we had during our time in Crete. To the left of town, you will find a long beach with a few bars and cafes to relax. The buildings tower high into the mountainside,and offer jaw dropping views of the small port.
Antigoni – This was one of our favorite stays in all of Crete. The owner was so kind and went out of her way to make us feel welcome. The rooms were spacious and clean with a cute balcony, too!
Day 7 – Agia Galini to Elafonisi
Distance: 187 Km
Driving Time: 3 hours 30 min
Estimated Time with Stops: 4 hours
Get ready for another long day of driving! Hit the road early so you can have as much time at the pink sand beach as possible.
You will literally have to go up to the north coast and around because of the massive canyon that cuts through the center of Crete Island. Be warned, the drive as you near Elafonisi is not for the faint of heart.
Spend all day soaking in the sun at Elafonisi beach. Yes, the sand is actually pink colored towards the edges of the water!
Day 8 – Elafonisi to Chania
Distance: 76 Km
Driving Time: 2 Hours
Estimated Time with Stops: 2 Hours
If you’re up for it, you can actually pink sand hop now during your 10 days in Crete. After a morning of taking in Elafonisi, head to Balos Beach.
Now this is a little more difficult to get to. We don’t recommend driving because the roads are unpaved. and many consider them dangerous. The best option is to book a boat day trip from Kissamos.
If you’re not up for this detour, then you can easily head straight to Chania from Elafonisi. Walk along the harbor, get lost in the small streets of old town, and make sure to stop at the Chania market. Take in the history of the town as one of Greece’s most historic ports.
Day 9 – Chania to Rethymno Town
Distance: 65 km
Driving Time: 1 Hour 30 Min
Estimated Time with Stops: 1 Hour 30 Min
After a morning of soaking in more of Chania, it’s time to head to the smaller coastal town of Rethymno.
Relax on the long sandy beach at one of the many upscale hotels. Wander the back streets of Rethymno and get some souvenirs from the famous shopping street.
We LOVED Rethymno, and found it to be a smaller charming version of Chania! Don’t miss out on this gem during your 10 day Crete itinerary.
Day 10 – Rethymno back to Heraklion to Fly Out
Distance: 86 km
Driving Time: 2 Hours
Estimated Time with Stops: 2 Hours
Depending on when your flight takes off hang out in the morning, you could spend some time in Heraklion. It wasn’t our favorite place in Crete as it’s the big capital city.
However, you might end up spending a night our two here as part of your 10 days in Crete. If so, definitely take a tour of the famous Knossos Palace. If you have more time before the airport, you can even stop in the small seaside town of Bali.
→ 20 Wild & Fun Facts About Crete Greece
10 Day Crete Itinerary Cost Breakdown
Car: 200-250 Euros
Gas: 100 Euros
Hotels: 40-70 Euros Per Night
Food: 30-40 Euros Per Day Not Including Alcohol
Rough Budget: 1,200 to 1,600 Euros
*Prices reflect offseason rates on Crete Island during October for two people. Hotel and rental car prices can sometimes double during the peak summer months.
Have any questions or want to share your own 10 day Crete itinerary? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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Reading about your trip just now and it srtruck me that you didn’t go to Elounda which I can confidently say is the nicest place on Crets having been around the island several times. You mention that you didn’t want the hustle and bustle of a large town like Heraklion and I’m very much the same. You really did miss the gem.
Hey David,
You’re absolutely right! There are a few places we missed and we’re so excited to go back and see more of Crete. It is the largest island in Greece after all! Elounda looks amazing. Thanks for the tip 🙂
Hi, we are travelling to Aghios Nikolas in Crete on Monday and wish to stay at the hotel you recommend ( Sgouros Hotel), but note there is no parking. Where did you park your car? Thanks
Hi Richard. It says on their website that free public parking is available nearby. Maybe give them a call or just ask when you get there. Good luck and enjoy!
We are planning a trip to Crete next summer. I do not want to change hotels every night. What two places would you suggest?
It really depends on what kind of vacation you’re looking for. Our favorite places were the quiet secluded villages, but they might not be somewhere you’d want to spend more than one night. Many travelers stay near Chania and take day trips especially to the pink sand beaches. Agios Nikolaos is also a very central place to stay with many shops and restaurants. Either way I’m sure you’ll have a blast! Hope this helps a little bit.