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.
The Samaria Gorge in Western Crete
Photo by Mike Gerrard
Even five days in this large area will be rushed, but it does allow time to explore Chania and Rethymnon, see some of the north and south coast beaches, hike the Samaria Gorge, and visit the historically important monasteries at Arkadi and Preveli.
Day One
Morning
Visit Arkadi Monastery then take the pleasant country road (signposted at the end of the car park) to the ancient site of Eleftherna, which should only take 10-15 minutes. After looking round there, continue on for another 15 minutes to the potters’ village of Margarites, where there are places to have lunch. We like the Taverna Giannousakis at the upper end of the village for its excellent home-cooked food.
The Arkadi Monastery in Western Crete
Afternoon
Drive northeast from Margarites to visit the Melidoni Cave, which is about a 20-minute drive away. Then continue on to the north coast, to Rethymnon. You have a choice of routes.
In the Old Town of Rethymnon
Evening
Spend the night in Rethymnon, where you can dine by the harbour. We like the Fanari, which is further away from the main harbour where people try to talk you into their restaurants. We like the Fanari’s more laid-back approach, and the food’s good too.
Our Pick of the Crete Guides
Day Two
Morning
Spend the morning exploring Rethymnon, perhaps taking in the museums and art galleries, and walking out to the Venetian fortress, the Fortezza. For a special lunch before you leave, book a table at Avli, one of the best restaurants on Crete.
Afternoon
Wander round the narrow streets of the old town, see the loggia, stroll around the harbour, and visit the public gardens.
Evening
As a change from the harbour, ask for directions to Kyria Maria, in a narrow side-street behind the Rimondi Fountain. Lamb kleftiko is a house specialty and is totally mouth-watering.
Rethymnon
Photo by 'Lappländer'
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Day Three
Morning
Time to leave Rethymnon and drive south across the island to the Preveli Monastery. It’s less than an hour’s drive, with the last stretch through dramatic gorge scenery. After touring the monastery (dress respectfully), head west to Plakias (20 minutes) and then along the narrow and winding coastal road to the Venetian fortress at Frangokástello, which is about another 40-50 minutes. Another 20 minutes will have you in Chora Sfakion, whose lovely little harbour makes the perfect lunch stop. We like the Livikon, or to give it its full grand name, Kitchen Stories from Samaria to Livikon.
The Harbour at Chora Sfakion on Crete
Afternoon
Drive north out of Chora Sfakion past the Imbros Gorge, the entrance to which is about a 25-minute drive from the town. You could stop and walk in the gorge for a while, though you’ve an hour’s drive back to the north coast for a visit to the Allied War Cemetery at Souda. If you really wanted to walk in the gorge, you could probably skip the cemetery and drive straight to Chania for the night, which is also about an hour.
Chania in Western Crete
Evening
We recommend spending the next three nights in Chania and exploring from there. Enjoy your first dinner on the Venetian harbour, where we recommend the Amphora.
Day Four
Morning
Spend the morning seeing some of Chania’s attractions. You should be able to fit in the market, the Archaeological Museum, and the excellent little Folklore Museum. Have lunch at Tamam, another wonderful Chania restaurant.
Afternoon
Visit the Byzantine Museum and the adjacent Maritime Museum of Crete. A stroll through the old town and around the harbour are also Chania highlights.
Evening
Wander through a different part of Chania, the Turkish quarter, to have dinner at the fabulous Well of the Turk.
Sample Dishes at the Semiramis Restaurant in Chania
Day Five
Morning/Afternoon
Work off some of that food by devoting the day to the Samaria Gorge. You’ll need to book an excursion, as it’s a one-way hike from the mountains to the sea, so you need planned transport. It's one reason we recommend basing yourselves in Chania for three days, as this is the best place to book a Samaria Gorge hike with organised transport. It will be a very early start but you’ll be back in Chania for dinner.
Evening
For a final dinner, try the Semiramis where there’s often live music and always a terrific atmosphere. And there you have it – you’ve seen the best of western Crete in five days!
Chania Sunset
Photo by Pedro Szekely
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Other Crete pages
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Cretan Botano herbs and spices shop near Matala in southern Crete in search of the herb man of Kouses.
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Zaros in Central Crete, including what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.
Greece Travel Secrets visits Crete and learns about making rakomelo from Jorgos Kourmoulis in Agouseliana.
Crete (Kriti) is the largest Greek island and its main attractions include the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Samarian Gorge, Chania and Rethymnon.
Hiking the Samaria Gorge on Crete, one of the best things to do on Crete, by Greece Travel Secrets.
Agios Nikolaos is a pretty and popular town on the north coast of Crete and this page on Greece Travel Secrets covers its history, museums and beaches.
Crete festivals and events include Carnival Easter, Whitsun, Christmas, many other religious feast days and public holidays.
Greece Travel Secrets chooses ten of the best beaches on Crete including the beautiful beaches at Vai and Elafonisi.
Greece Travel Secrets page on Phaistos or Faistos, the site of one of the finest Minoan palaces on Crete and is where the mysterious Phaistos Disc was found.
Visiting the Arkadi Monastery near Rethymnon is one of the best things to do on Crete.
How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.
Rethymnon is the third-largest city in Crete and has a Venetian fortress, Archaeological Museum, Old Town area and Venetian harbour,
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Crete Botanical Gardens near Chania and finds a wonderland of colourful plants, trees, and flowers filling a lovely valley.
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Irakleio, the capital of Crete, including nearby beach resort hotels and accommodation in the city centre.
Studies have shown the Cretan Diet as one of the healthiest in the world, involving lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, and moderate amounts of wine.
The best Crete hotels include 5-star luxury hotels, historic and romantic Venetian palaces, and several hotels in Hania and Iraklion.
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.
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.
Elounda on Crete's north coast is a popular holiday town with a pretty harbour, from where you can take day trips by boat to see the island of Spinalonga.
What was daily life as a Minoan like on Crete, living in palaces like the ones at Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, and Zakros, and what were their religious beliefs?
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.
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.
Lonely Planet Crete is an excellent and thorough guide of almost 300 pages to the largest of the Greek islands.
The Snails House in Plouti near Phaistos in southern Crete serves the Cretan delicacy of snails, cooked in several different ways.
The most famous Cretan writers and artists include the painter El Greco and the author of Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis.
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