Is Crete worth visiting? The quick answer is- absolutely. Crete is the biggest island in Greece, and there are limitless ways to explore its extremely diverse landscape.
Some of the best things to do in Crete include: relaxing on pink sand beaches, experiencing city life in Chania, Rethymno, or Agios Nikolaos, and visiting the infamous Knossos Palace.
It is close enough to neighboring islands like Santorini for a day trip or to extend your Greece getaway.
But this only begins to scratch the surface. I had the opportunity to spend ten, amazing days on this island this year and already cannot wait to go back!
Let’s explore 7 reasons, in detail, why Crete is worth visiting.
7 Reasons to Visit Crete
1. Beaches
Crete is highly acclaimed for its beaches, especially its pink sand beaches. Elafonisi is the most notable pink sand beach.
Keep in mind that the glimmers of pink sand are closest to the shoreline, and the entire beach is no longer pink.
This phenomenon created by coral is dwindling, so it is even more important for us tourists to do our part and leave no trace.
Falasarna Beach, most popular among locals, features glimmers of pink sand, too.
Some of the best beaches in Crete include:
- Zorbas
- Elafonisi
- Falasarna
Click here for pink beaches in Crete.
2. Cities
Two of the largest cities in Crete are home to the island’s two international airports: Chania and Heraklion. We spent most of the trip based in Chania so those are the details I will cover most in depth.
Chania is a charming, small city located on the Venetian Harbor. The neighborhoods feature everything from quaint cobblestone roads to historic Minoan Ruins.
Not to mention, delicious Taverna restaurants with local Cretan food, local shopping, and colorful architecture.
You can get beautiful, white-capped mountain views over the colorful city and turquoise shoreline of Chania without ever leaving the city.
Some of the best cities to explore in Crete include:
- Chania
- Rethymno
- Heraklion
- Agios Nikolaos
Click here for the best things to do in Agios Nikolaos.
3. Gorges
Most people do not picture mountains when they think of Greece! But seriously, Crete tops the cake when it comes to beautiful, mountainous terrain.
It’s super popular to visit a gorge or two while on the island. The Samaria Gorge is one of the most popular things to do in Crete. However, it’s also a very touristy thing to do.
My friends and I were not so interested in any 9-mile hiking trail in the blazing heat of June… so this hike was a skip, at least this time around!
Our tour with Sea By Bus stopped at a viewpoint of Tapolia Gorge on the way to Elafonisi Beach. It is one of my favorite viewpoints I experienced during my entire Crete trip.
Noteworthy hikes include:
Click here for some of the best day trips from Chania.
4. Food
The food in Crete is just simply outstanding. Food is a huge part of the local culture like anywhere you would go.
When you think of Greek food, you might think of Mediterranean delicacies like dolmades or sweet baklava.
Of course, you can find all of this on Crete (and more!), but the island is also known for its own local dishes. And they are oh, so yum.
Some of the following foods are unique to Crete Island:
- Chaniotiko Boureki
- Staka
- Dakos
Tip: As with any town, the restaurants will be more pricey the closer you are to the water anywhere in the country (although splurging on food with a view isn’t a bad thing, if you have the means!)
Click here for some of the best restaurants in Chania, Crete.
5. Olive Oil
Crete is the largest producer of olive oil in all of Greece!
And it is also home to the oldest producing olive tree in the world. In addition to purchasing some authentic, local olive oil at a supermarket, you can take an olive oil mill tour (which typically includes a free tasting) or a cooking class to learn more about pairing the flavors of olive oil.
My tour with Sea By Bus included a stop at an olive oil farm in between visiting Elafonisi and Falasarna beaches.
My favorite part of this experience was learning about Crete’s traditional method of removing the olives from the tree- with a hand crank. This keeps the olives in better condition.
Experiencing what tender love and care went into each batch of olive oil was a treasure in itself.
6. Culture
Let’s be real- food and olive oil are a huge part of the island’s culture. But let’s dig beyond Crete’s culinary treasures for a moment!
No guides we read before our trip mentioned the cultural treasures we would experience right in the middle of Old Town Chania. Over 5 days, we experienced 4 live cultural events ranging from dance performances, live music, and traditional singing.
Sustainable Tourism Note: Do NOT gawk at performers. People wear traditional costumes as part of cultural performances honoring tradition. Tourists should not be approaching performers and taking pictures in their faces.
7. Architecture
We’re talking about Greece, after all! There is iconic, Greek architecture all around you.
Knossos Palace is perhaps one of the most famous architectural wonders of the island and one of the main reasons visitors plan a trip to Crete. But there is so much more!
Minoan ruins can be found all throughout the island, even throughout the neighborhoods of Old Town Chania.
The beautiful coral Kusuk Hassan Mosque next to Chania’s Venetian Harbor is one of my favorite architectural wonders on the island. Constructed in 1645, it is the oldest Ottoman building in Crete today.
Conclusion
If you love beaches, culture, and exploring new cities, Crete is an ultimate vacation destination for you. I highly recommend visiting its iconic beaches like Elafonisi, eating at local Taverna restaurants, and exploring local village life.
Make sure to catch some amazing mountainous views from Old Town Chania or overlooking a beautiful gorge.
I could not recommend Crete enough and I cannot wait for a return trip to Greece!
