Family Hoildays in Crete-A Guide to Visiting
Crete is the largest and most southern Greek island. It has a wide range of activities and points of interest, making it a great destination for families. There are two major airports on Crete as well as ferry ports, giving it easy access from other Greek islands and European countries. When I asked for recommendations for our first family trip to Greece, Crete was the most popular suggestion. I can see why so many people suggested it after visiting. It’s laid-back feeling combined with beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and an abundance of activities. Read on for our guide to family holidays in Crete including everything to know to plan your perfect Crete holiday.
Where is Crete?
Crete is an island located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of the Greek mainland. It is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands. The island is situated just north of the African coastline. Its southern location gives it warm weather and great snorkeling opportunities.
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Looking for ideas on how to spend a week on Crete? Read this 7-Day Crete Itinerary!
How to Get to Crete
By Air
There are two international airports on Crete, Heraklion airport and Chania airport. Both airports have direct flights from many major European cities, as well as domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. During the summer season, there are also charter flights from many other destinations. From the airport, you can take a taxi, rent a car, or take a bus to your destination.
By Sea
Crete is also accessible by ferry from Athens (Piraeus port) and other Greek islands, Santorini is probably the closest major island. There are two main ports on Crete, Heraklion port and Chania port, with regular ferry connections to the mainland and other islands. The ferries range from high-speed catamarans to slower, more traditional vessels.
Once you arrive on the island, there are also buses, taxis, and rental cars available to help you get around and explore all that Crete has to offer.
Car Rental Crete
Since Crete is such a large island, I would suggest you to rent a car when you arrive. Renting a car on Crete will give you the most flexibility and will let you explore at your own pace and according to your family’s needs. I love renting a car because it allows us to be on our own timeline, stop longer if we want to, detour if we want to, and gives us freedom to explore.
Make sure to secure an international driving license before your trip. Most car rental companies on Crete will require you to show it when you pick up your rental.
Read this Guide to Another Favorite European Beach Destination: Istrian Riviera Travel Guide
Best place to Stay on Crete
There are many hotel and rental options on Crete. There is everything from high-end, all-inclusive resorts to budget apartment rentals.
If you have one week in Crete, I would recommend staying half the week near Chania and half the week in another part of the island. We chose to stay in Hersonissos for one part of our trip, but if I could do it over, I would pick a place closer to Agios Nikolaos or Eloundra.
Some of the most recommended resorts on Crete are:
We stayed at this hotel near Chania and it was great for us. It wasn’t a huge resort but a smaller hotel with a nice room big enough to fit our family of 5. We didn’t love the other hotel we stayed at, so I won’t recommend it here.
How Many Days to Stay in Crete
As many as you can! At minimum I would suggest 3 nights but you could easily spend 2 weeks on the island with plenty to do. We stayed a week and there were plenty of other things we would have liked to be able to do but it was a good amount of time to let us relax and also explore.
What to Pack for Crete
It’s likely that you’ll visit Crete in the summer months to take advantage of all the beaches. Here are some things to remember when packing your bags for Crete.
Water Shoes: not all the beaches are sandy, and even if they are there are often rocks to climb over. We bring water shoes every time we go to any European beach.
Comfortable walking shoes: you’ll also be doing a lot of walking to explore the cities and ancient Greek ruins.
Hats: especially in the warmer months. Many places are not shaded and you’ll want some sun protection.
Snorkels: the snorkeling around Crete was great! We saw an eel and colorful fish. If you can make room to pack your own snorkel, you should!
Light Layers: depending on the time of year, but we found we needed light jackets/sweatshirts during the nights and on a couple cloudy days.
Sunscreen: try to bring some sunscreen with you so you’re not scrambling to find it when you arrive. If you forget, go to a grocery store to buy some. Try to avoid buying it at the beach where it will be more expensive.
Basic Medicine: I always suggest traveling with a few basic medicines, just in case. I normally pack ibuprofen and dramamine. We’ve had to use some kids’ ibuprofen a couple of times on trips, it comes in handy.
International Driver’s License: most car rental companies will want to see your International Driver’s License if you rent a car. You can get one easily from AAA in the U.S.
Best Time to Visit Crete
The best time to visit Crete depends on your preferences and what you want to do during your trip. Generally, the best time to visit Crete is during the shoulder seasons of May to June and September when the weather is mild, and the crowds are smaller. If snorkeling and swimming in the ocean is a priority for you, I would recommend coming in the late summer/early fall. In April/May, the water will still be cool and it may not be completely beach weather yet.
Some locals said they swim all year long, but as a person who needs warm water to swim, I think that would be a stretch. We visited in mid September and the water was swimmable most days, but we did have a couple days that were chilly.
July and August are the peak tourist season in Crete, and the island can become crowded and more expensive. However, this is also when many of the popular festivals and events take place, and the nightlife is at its liveliest.
During the winter months of November to March, the island experiences some rain and cooler temperatures. It may be more of a challenge to find restaurants because some may close during the winter when there’s not many tourists there. Also the island ferries may not be running, or will run on a much more limited schedule.
Tips for Crete
Crete is BIG. You won’t see it all in a week. Pick the most important priorities and do what you can.
While there are some white washed villages, don’t come here expecting the white and blue pictures you see of Greece. That’s Santorini and Mykonos.
Get to popular sites EARLY! Knossos, Balos Beach, and Elafonisi. Beat the crowds whenever possible and it will greatly improve your experience.
Get off the beaten path. Try to stop in some smaller villages and explore more.
Most of the restaurants serve traditional Greek food. If you’re looking for international food options, they will be fewer and far between.
Save room for dessert when traveling here with kids. I think our kids were given free desserts at almost every restaurant we went to.
Don’t flush the toilet paper. The plumbing system isn’t built to handle it, so you’ll see a little trash can beside the toilet to dispose of paper.
What other questions do you have about visiting Crete? Let me know in the comments!
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