Eastern Crete in Five Days
How to see eastern Crete in five days, with its beaches, Minoan palaces, timeless villages, unique churches, and mountain and coastal scenery.
Day One
Morning
Get an early start from somewhere like Malia or Neapoli and follow our recommended drive around the Lasithi Plateau, including a visit to the Diktean Cave. There are several places to choose for lunch in the village of Psychro near the Diktean Cave, and the village of Krasi is another lunch option, a 25-minute drive north of Psychro.
Afternoon
From Psychro it’s a 40-minute drive north to the coast at Malia, where you can spend an hour or so visiting the Malia archaeological site and still have time for a swim.
Evening
Where you stay depends on what kind of place you like. Stay in Malia if you want rowdy nightlife, but our preference would be to make the 20-minute drive into the hills and spend the night in Neapoli at the excellent Neapolis Hotel. There are some great places to eat, too, better than in Malia, including the Finikas Raki Taverna.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Day Two
Morning
From Neapoli it’s a half-hour’s drive south to Kritsa to see the remarkable church of Panagia Kera, or if you’re in Malia allow 40-45 minutes. You can then make the easy 15-minute drive down to Agios Nikolaos to have lunch. We suggest La Casa, right by the lake.
Afternoon
After lunch, make the 20-minute drive north from Agios Nikolaos to Elounda, from where you can take a boat trip out to Spinalonga island, the one made famous in Victoria Hislop’s best-selling book, The Island.
Evening
There are numerous choices of places to stay in both Elounda and Agios Nikolaos, for all budgets, so choose whatever you fancy. In Elounda we recommend dinner at the Ferryman overlooking the water, or if you’re in Agios Nikolaos, one of our favourites is Pelagos, a seafood specialist.
Day Three
Morning
Spend the morning looking around Agios Nikolaos, and don’t miss its Archaeological Museum. We like the Patriko Taverna at Minoos 11, which we think has some of the best traditional food in Agios Nikolaos.
Afternoon
After lunch make the 20-minute drive east to the archaeological site at Gournia. The superbly-preserved ruins here will keep you occupied for an hour or two, after which head to the south coast. It’s only 20 minutes from Gournia to the main south coast town of Ierapetra, and we recommend driving a further 20 minutes west to the fun little town of Myrtos, and checking-in at the central Hotel Myrtos.
Evening
We recommend having dinner at La Sera, just around the corner from the hotel, although the hotel’s own restaurant is also very good.
Day Four
Morning
From Myrtos retrace your route to Ierapetra and continue east along the south coast to a lovely little place called Makriyialos (or Makri Gialos), which is almost an hour’s drive from Myrtos. We once spent a delightful week here, so stop to stretch your legs and walk around. Beyond here the main road turns to the north to take you to the lovely town of Sitia. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Makriyialos and you can have lunch at one of the waterfront tavernas.
Afternoon
After a good lunch head for Sitia’s Archaeological Museum, a 5-minute walk back from the waterfront. We recommend spending the rest of the afternoon walking around the town and/or cooling off with a swim from one of the town’s several beaches right in the centre.
Evening
Spend the next two nights in Sitia, at either the Itanos Hotel or the Elysee Hotel. Both are on the waterfront and both are very pleasant and inexpensive. Enjoy dinner at The Balcony Restaurant, where the food is definitely a cut above the average.
Day Five
Morning
From Sitia it’s an hour’s drive east and then south to see the small but absolutely fascinating and atmospheric remains of Zakros Palace. Tiny Zakros is a place we love, and it’s great to chill out here and have an excellent lunch at the Kato Zakros Bay Restaurant, right by the sea and with lots of the produce coming from the owner’s farm.
Read about Life as a Minoan
Afternoon
From Zakros it’s just under an hour’s drive north to the remarkable and popular Vai Beach, where you’ll see Cretan date palms. Don’t linger too long if you also want to visit the monastery at Toplou, a 20-minute drive inland from the beach and where you can sample (and buy, of course) some of the monastery’s own wines.
Evening
It’s a 20-minute drive from the monastery back to Sitia where you can enjoy a final dinner at one of the waterfront tavernas like the excellent Limani, happy that you’ve seen the best of eastern Crete in five days!
Other Crete pages
Zacharioudakis Winery
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Zacharioudakis Winery near Ancient Gortina in southern Crete, and does a vineyard tour arranged by our guide from Go Crete.
Western Crete in Five Days
Western Crete in five days allows time to visit Chania and Rethymnon, enjoy the beaches, hike the Samaria Gorge and see the monasteries at Arkadi and Preveli.
Malia and its Minoan Palace on Crete
Malia on the north coast of Crete is renowned for its nightlife and beaches but also has the Minoan Palace of Malia, one of Crete's many archaeological sites.
Hiking in Southwest Crete
Greece Travel Secrets goes hiking in southwest Crete with Ramblers Walking Holidays based in Paleohora and hiking the E4 footpath and to Anidri and Azogires.
Knossos
Visiting Knossos near Iraklion is one of the best things to do on Crete, and this page has a history of the site with visitor information.
The Snails House on Crete
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
Shopping Tips for Crete
These shopping tips for Crete include advice on buying souvenirs like ceramics, icons, jewellery, leather, weavings, wood carvings, and food and drink.
Zaros
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
Where to Stay in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets suggests where to stay in Eastern Crete with our favourite hotels in Zakros, Elounds, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Istron Bay, Myrtos, Neapolis.
Keramos Studios in Zaros
Keramos Studios in Zaros on Crete is an inexpensive two-star hotel/guesthouse with one of the best breakfasts on the island using food from the family’s farm.
Central Crete in Three Days
Driving central Crete in three days gives you time to see the highlights including the Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaistos, the beaches and the Diktean Cave.
Lonely Planet Crete
Lonely Planet Crete is an excellent and thorough guide of almost 300 pages to the largest of the Greek islands.
Where to Eat in Eastern Crete
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Eastern Crete including restaurants and tavernas in Elounda, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, and Kato Zakros.
Lasithi Plateau Drive
This Lasithi Plateau drive on Crete starts in Neapoli and ends in Malia, covering a distance of 80 km (50 miles) and taking two to three hours.
Diktean Cave, the Birthplace of Zeus near Psychro on Crete
The Diktean or Diktaean Cave, also known as the Psychro Cave, near the village of Psychro in eastern Crete, is said to be the birthplace of Zeus.
Rouvas Gorge Walk
This Rouvas Gorge walk starts and ends in Zaros in southern Crete and should take three to four hours with a distance of eight kilometres or five miles.
Touring the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets tours the Lyrarakis Winery on Crete and learns about Crete grape varieties such as plyto, dafni, vidiano, vilana, mandilari and kotsifali.
Kritsá, Lato, and Panagía Kerá
The Byzantine Church of Panagía Kerá near Kritsa and not far from Ayios Nikolaos is one of the most famous in Crete, and close by is the site of Ancient Lato.
Hiking the Samaria Gorge
Hiking the Samaria Gorge on Crete, one of the best things to do on Crete, by Greece Travel Secrets.
Cretan Writers and Artists
The most famous Cretan writers and artists include the painter El Greco and the author of Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis.
Margarites
Margarites is known on Crete for its pottery, with ceramics shops and workshops lining the streets of this charming small town not far from Rethymnon.
Airbnb near Chania
This Airbnb in the quiet village of Malaxa, a 30-minute drive into the hills above Chania, is a peaceful retreat with a delightful and thoughtful artist owner, with wonderful views and amenities.
Our Hire Car in Crete
The travel tale Our Hire Car in Crete describes what it’s like when you go driving in Greece and get off the beaten track, resulting in kindnesses.
Crete’s Wildlife and Landscape
Crete’s wildlife and landscape are two of the island’s attractions, including gorges for hiking, rare raptors like the lammergeier, wildcats and ancient trees.
Chania, in Western Crete
Chania is the main city in Western Crete with a lovely setting and a beautiful harbour as well as several museums.
Latest Posts
-
Zakynthos’ Navagio Beach Viewing Platform Safety Overhaul Funding Approved
The green light was given for significant safety and aesthetic improvements to the famous Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach viewing platform on Zakynthos, following the approval of a €500,000 budget by the Mi… -
Athens Airport Passenger Traffic Soars Over 21 Million in January-August
Athens International Airport (AIA) set a new record during January-August, welcoming 21,260,634 travelers, a 13.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Based on data of the airport, du… -
KOUZINA 2024 Festival Honors Florina’s Gastronomy in Three-day Event
The unique culinary traditions of Florina take center stage at KOUZINA 2024, a gastronomy festival showcasing a three-day program filled with local recipes and cultural events. The KOUZINA festival is… -
Thessaloniki’s New ‘ThessTicket’ and ‘ThessCard’ to Cover Both Bus and Metro Services
Efforts to redesign Thessaloniki’s transportation network, including the introduction of a new ticketing system, were commended by Greek Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras d… -
Santorini’s Caldera Zone to Face Construction Freeze Under New Legislation
The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy is poised to implement a freeze on all construction activities in the Caldera zone of Santorini and on the island of Therassia, according to a draft law cu… -
Angsana Corfu Resort Shines as Romantic Backdrop in Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind: UK’
The idyllic Greek island of Corfu has once again captured international attention, this time as the stunning location for Netflix’s hit series “Love is Blind: UK”. The show’s producers have chosen the… -
Corinth Moves Forward with Plans for Scuba Diving Park to Boost Tourism
The Municipality of Corinth in the Peloponnese is exploring ways to develop a scuba diving park in an aim to attract more visitors to the city. -
Exploring the Roman Agora at Athens: A Visitor’s Guide
Nestled in the historic heart of Athens, the Roman Agora is an often-overlooked gem, where ancient cultures and architecture meet in a lively urban setting. -
Discover Sifnos: A Perfect 3-Day Island Getaway
Beaches, historical sites, and local cuisine: discover the best of the Cycladic island of Sifnos in just three days. -
Thessaloniki to Get Second Museum for Metro Artifacts, Says Culture Minister
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni on Monday provided an update on various projects overseen by the Ministry of Culture, with a focus on northern Greece. Notably, one of the highlighted projects i…
Why not sign up for our Greece Travel Secrets newsletter? Each week you'll get emailed our regular Greece Travel Secrets Magazine for news, information, and inspiration for planning your travels in Greece.
As a welcome gift you'll also get a free e-book, Heaven on Earth. This contains 19 of Mike's favourite stories that he's written about travelling in Greece for newspapers and magazines over the years.
You'll find it over at Substack. Check out one of the Archive issues to find the Subscribe button.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, but at no cost to you.
BUY A JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR OWN GREECE TRAVEL SECRETS!
LEARN A LITTLE GREEK BEFORE YOU GO!
LATEST NEWS
Latest Posts
-
Zakynthos’ Navagio Beach Viewing Platform Safety Overhaul Funding Approved
Sep 12, 24 05:20 AM
The green light was given for significant safety and aesthetic improvements to the famous Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach viewing platform on Zakynthos, following the approval of a €500,000 budget by the Mi… -
Athens Airport Passenger Traffic Soars Over 21 Million in January-August
Sep 12, 24 05:20 AM
Athens International Airport (AIA) set a new record during January-August, welcoming 21,260,634 travelers, a 13.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Based on data of the airport, du… -
KOUZINA 2024 Festival Honors Florina’s Gastronomy in Three-day Event
Sep 05, 24 04:07 AM
The unique culinary traditions of Florina take center stage at KOUZINA 2024, a gastronomy festival showcasing a three-day program filled with local recipes and cultural events. The KOUZINA festival is… -
Thessaloniki’s New ‘ThessTicket’ and ‘ThessCard’ to Cover Both Bus and Metro Services
Sep 04, 24 05:36 AM
Efforts to redesign Thessaloniki’s transportation network, including the introduction of a new ticketing system, were commended by Greek Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras d… -
Santorini’s Caldera Zone to Face Construction Freeze Under New Legislation
Sep 03, 24 04:10 AM
The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy is poised to implement a freeze on all construction activities in the Caldera zone of Santorini and on the island of Therassia, according to a draft law cu… -
Angsana Corfu Resort Shines as Romantic Backdrop in Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind: UK’
Sep 03, 24 04:10 AM
The idyllic Greek island of Corfu has once again captured international attention, this time as the stunning location for Netflix’s hit series “Love is Blind: UK”. The show’s producers have chosen the… -
Corinth Moves Forward with Plans for Scuba Diving Park to Boost Tourism
Sep 03, 24 04:10 AM
The Municipality of Corinth in the Peloponnese is exploring ways to develop a scuba diving park in an aim to attract more visitors to the city. -
Exploring the Roman Agora at Athens: A Visitor’s Guide
Aug 31, 24 04:34 AM
Nestled in the historic heart of Athens, the Roman Agora is an often-overlooked gem, where ancient cultures and architecture meet in a lively urban setting. -
Discover Sifnos: A Perfect 3-Day Island Getaway
Aug 31, 24 04:34 AM
Beaches, historical sites, and local cuisine: discover the best of the Cycladic island of Sifnos in just three days.
FOLLOW OUR GREECE VIDEOS
ON YOUTUBE
No words or images to be used without prior permission.
We do not sell personal information: see our Privacy Policy.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
Greece Travel Secrets does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
This website was built using Site Build It!
