15 Things To Do in Crete
Crete rewards every kind of traveler. This list covers 15 things to do on the island, spanning adventure sports, wildlife watching, mountain hiking, and food and wine experiences, spread across the coast, the mountains, and the countryside.
Daredevils looking for thrills and nature lovers looking for a quiet spot to sit and relax both find a match here. The list below covers the island's outdoor adventures first, then its culture, food, and local traditions, so travelers can build a Crete itinerary around whichever side of the island calls to them.
Outdoor Adventure and Nature in Crete
Crete's coastline, mountains, and cave systems give adventure travelers 8 distinct ways to get outdoors, such as scuba diving, bird watching, and rock climbing.
1. Scuba diving
Scuba diving in Crete reveals a gorgeous underwater world full of life, once a diver goes past what snorkeling alone can show. Many companies around the island specialize in scuba diving lessons for beginners and also offer rental equipment. More experienced or skilled divers can book a wider range of excursions, including night diving and cave diving.
2. Bird watching
Bird watching draws visitors to Crete's many observation towers and hides, especially during the spring and fall migration seasons. Crete is also home to striking birds of prey, including eagles, falcons, and vultures. Ornithologists rank the bearded vulture (_Gypaetus barbatus_) among Europe's rarest raptors; the island supports 7 breeding pairs, which produce roughly 5 juveniles per year.
3. Hiking and the Samaria Gorge
Hiking in Crete means mountain views in every direction; climb high enough and the Aegean Sea to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south are both visible. The rugged tracks are lined with fragrant herbs, and hikers may spot goats jumping about near the cliffs. The Psiloritis range and the White Mountains rank as Crete's most famous mountain ranges, and locals sometimes call the island "the land of the gorges" for how many it holds. The Samaria Gorge, set in the sierra of the White Mountains in Chania, stands out as the most famous of them all. It runs 18 kilometers, the longest gorge in both Crete and Europe, and shelters the rare Cretan wild goat, the kri-kri.
4. Rock climbing at Kapetaniana
Rock climbing in Crete suits mainly those with previous experience and their own equipment. Many visitors travel to Crete solely to climb, pulled in by rock faces, cliff lines, and views that deliver a strong adrenaline rush for anyone chasing one. Kapetaniana, 75 km south of Heraklion, is said to be the island's best rock-climbing area. It is a small, peaceful village for climbers, with more than 130 different routes across a wide range of grades.
5. Horseback riding
Horseback riding remains part of everyday life in Crete, and many Cretans still keep their own horses today. Many horse riding clubs and stables offer riding courses or excursions around the island. The Horse Riding Center at the Country Velani Hotel, in central Crete, for example, offers rides through the Cretan countryside.
6. Caving
Caving in Crete covers approximately 4,500 mapped caves and sinkholes available for exploration. Gourgouthakas, tucked in the Lefka Ori mountains, ranks among the deepest, plunging to 1,208 meters. The Geoparks of Sitia and Psiloritis, plus Mount Stroumboulas in Heraklion, draw speleologists from around the world who come to study the island's rock formations and flora. Readers who want a closer look at one specific site can see our guide to the Elephant Cave.
7. Windsurfing at Kouremenos Bay
Windsurfing has become highly popular in Crete, and Kouremenos Bay, next to Palekastro, is a must-go spot for it. The bay offers rental equipment on hand and strong winds throughout the day, and it suits both beginners and more experienced surfers. May through October forms the best windsurfing season on the island, since wind speeds peak while the sea stays warm enough to enjoy.
8. Cycling and the Tour of Crete
Cycling is another rewarding way to explore Crete, whether off-road or on paved roads. Visitors can choose rugged dirt tracks, roads along the seaside, or narrow streets through small villages, and rental companies offer bikes by the hour, day, or week. Amateur cyclists know the island's biggest cycling event as the Tour of Crete, a multi-stage cyclosportive held annually.
Culture, Food and Local Traditions
Crete's food, wine, and festival calendar give visitors 7 more ways to fill a trip beyond the outdoors, concentrated mainly around Chania and Rethymnon.
9. Wine tasting near Chania
Wine tasting near Chania centers on some of Crete's best-known wineries, which welcome visitors to taste their products. The Manousakis Winery, in the village of Vatolakkos, is about 15 minutes from Chania and offers a choice of 5 different tour options; it is worth booking in advance. Readers planning a wider wine trip can also see our guide to wine tourism near Heraklion, the island's other main wine route.
10. Olive oil experience near Chania
Crete's olive oil experience runs alongside its wine tourism, since the island is known for its olive trees and everything they produce. Many producers welcome visitors to their farms, and some run tasting sessions. Terra Creta, in Kolymvari, offers a guided tour of its olive farm that shows how the olives are harvested, introduces its olive mill, and finishes inside the bottling unit, where visitors get to taste 3 different kinds of extra virgin olive oil.
11. Lasinthos Eco Park, Lassithi Plateau
Lasinthos Eco Park, 43 kilometers from Agios Nikolaos in the Lassithi Plateau, introduces visitors to the old traditions and customs of Cretan life. Surrounded by Crete's natural beauty, the park's activities on offer include wood carving, pottery work, and weaving demonstrations. A herb garden and an animal farm, home to horses, donkeys, and various birds, round out the visit. It suits a day trip, and accommodation is also available on-site.
12. Rethymnon Carnival
Rethymnon Carnival began in 1914 and has grown over the decades into one of the biggest annual carnivals in Greece. Each March, the town turns into one large celebration, with locals and visitors marking the weeks before the 40-day Lenten fast starts. The carnival's theme changes every year, and the main event is a large parade through the center of Rethymnon.
13. Live traditional music
Live traditional music fills many tavernas for free, especially in summer and mostly on weekends. Traditional Cretan music is distinctive, and the tradition remains strongly preserved today. Instruments on the island include the laouto, a lute-like stringed instrument, and the lyra, a three-stringed instrument played like a violin. Both count as symbols of Crete, and locals often describe Cretan music as a fusion of artist and instrument.
14. Ancient Eleftherna, near Rethymnon
Ancient Eleftherna, 25 km southeast of Rethymnon, is one of the archaeological sites in Crete that has not yet been fully excavated. The Dorians founded the town in the 9th century BC, and the location placed the settlement on a crossroads route linking the ancient city of Cydonia with the Palace of Knossos. Finds from this ancient town are on display in a museum close to the site.
15. Artisan cheese workshop near Chania
The artisan cheese workshop near Chania draws cheese lovers, since Crete produces many traditional varieties, including mizithra, anthotiro, and kefalograviera. Visitors can book a spot in advance on a hands-on workshop in Litsarda Village, where instructors teach artisan cheesemaking using fresh, pasteurized local goat milk. The workshop covers the class itself plus lunch and wine.
Getting Around: Reaching These Spots by Car
Several of these 15 activities sit well outside the main resort towns: Kapetaniana is 75 km south of Heraklion, Lasinthos Eco Park is 43 km from Agios Nikolaos, and Ancient Eleftherna is 25 km southeast of Rethymnon, while the wineries and olive farms near Chania cluster together but still need a car to link up in one day. A rental car is the practical way to string several of these stops together without relying on tour buses or fixed schedules. Compare the available options on our fleet page, or rent a car in Crete directly from the homepage booking widget. Ready to lock in dates? Book your rental car below.
Source: adapted from a report originally published by The National Herald.