Crete Tours & Day Trips: The 15 Worth the Drive

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa - Gramvousa: castle, church, shipwreck, and clear water

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 6,755 reviews · 7 hours · from $47Our pick

Cruise from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa for emerald water, a Venetian castle, swimming, scenic views, and seven hours of Crete.

“We had SUCH a fun day on this trip, the boat crew were super nice & the beaches we visited were stunning. I took my 3year old & we did take a pram for her, but just be aware, you can't really take the prams onto the beaches as they're really stony. We left ours near the boat which was totally fine. Also make sure you have your ticket barcode ready for the boat beforehand as there is no wifi & queues can be long to get them at the ticket office. This was the best day of our trip by far & I got a fantastic tan ;)”

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Crete: Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island

2.Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,416 reviews · 8 - 11 hours · from $44

Explore Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, and Spinalonga on an affordable Crete day trip with boat rides, free time, history, and a sea swim.

“everything was superb can not fault thanks very much”

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From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion & Guide

3.Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,191 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $41

Trek Crete’s Samaria Gorge from Chania with transport, an English guide, a ferry ride, and free time at Agia Roumeli.

“Sara was an excellent host and very thoroughly explained everything we needed to know prior to arriving at the gorge. The bus does stop at a cafe before entering the gorge so you will have an opportunity to get a sando or snack bars. Sara’s instructions were very clear and easy to follow & she was extremely knowledgeable. She gave us recommended times to hit each major checkpoint to ensure everyone kept pace within a manageable timeframe. The hike is almost entirely downhill and there are some extremely steep and slippery slopes. It is manageable if you are prepared.m: you absolutely need hiking boots w ankle support or sneakers with…”

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Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

4.Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,031 reviews · 4h 30m · from $29

Cruise from Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga, swim in Kolokitha Bay, hear its leprosy-colony story, and explore a Venetian fortress for $29.

“We had a wonderful time! Worth the money and time.”

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Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

5.Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,579 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $95

Sail from Heraklion to protected Dia Island for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, a Greek meal, unlimited drinks, and sunset sea views.

“Amazing experience!! The food and staff were amazing, the location is stunning, we had the most beautiful day”

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Crete: Knossos Palace Entry Ticket with Optional Audio Guide

6.Knossos Palace Entry Ticket with Optional Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 2,251 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Visit Knossos Palace in Crete with a timed phone ticket, optional audio guide, and freedom to explore the Minoan site at your own pace.

“Great experience for history lovers. The palace is bigger than what I was expecting so was pleasantly surprised. As an advice: go early to avoid crowds before 12 and bring a hat”

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Crete Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

7.Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,055 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Explore Crete’s marine life at CRETAquarium, with sharks, turtles, jellyfish, tropical fish, 60 habitats, and easy one-day entry.

“wasn’t too busy at all, for 2 students it was only £10, spent ages in here, so much to see and learn”

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From Chania: Day Trip to Elafonisi Island Pink Sand Beach

8.Day Trip to Elafonisi Island Pink Sand Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,014 reviews · 450 minutes - 12 hours · from $38

Travel from Chania to Elafonisi’s pink-sand beach with hotel pickup, a Topolia Gorge stop, free beach time, and lunch in Elos.

“It was a really nice day! We started with a walk to a cave and some refreshments. We then went to Elafonissi, which was beautiful! It was hot, so bring sunscreen, hats, etc. however we were given more than enough time to enjoy and there are some snack shops as well. On the way back we went to a nice little restaurant for lunch and the staff were very hospitable. Overall very happy with the experience and would highly recommend!”

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Crete: Rethimno, Chania, and Kournas Lake Day Trip

9.Rethimno, Chania, and Kournas Lake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,694 reviews · 10 - 14 hours · from $45

See Rethymno, Chania, and Lake Kournas in one long Crete day, with hotel pickup, a multilingual guide, and comfortable transport.

“This trip was fantastic the driver was amazing and the guide was wonderful”

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From Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek, Pickup & Guide

10.Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek, Pickup & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,610 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $37

Review of the Samaria Gorge trek from Rethymno, with honest advice on fitness, footwear, transport, costs, scenery, and Agia Roumeli.

“Our guide, Alexandra, went above and beyond. She’s funny, witty and an incredibly caring and talented lady. I highly recommend this epic adventure”

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Crete: Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Audio Guide

11.Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 1,540 reviews · 1 - 5 hours · from $34

Explore Knossos with a phone audio guide, skip the ticket line, see Minoan frescoes, and learn what makes Crete’s top ancient site worth your time.

“This was a fun activity. Loved the history. So glad we booked online in advance, the queue/line was 45 minutes long to get tickets. I would strongly advise getting your tickets before your trip. Have fun!!!!”

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From Rethymno: Half-Day Quad Bike Safari

12.Half-Day Quad Bike Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,444 reviews · 4 hours · from $70

Ride from Rethymno into Crete’s mountains on a four-hour quad safari with off-road trails, riverbeds, village stops, views, and hotel transfers.

“We LOVED our experience from every aspect! The guides, the ride, the views and our daughter’s SURPRISE engagement on a mountain top! I would recommend this activity without a doubt. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

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