13 nights in Crete with family: itinerary, tips, and questions before departure

Here’s the new version of our itinerary (by the way, I got the month wrong before… so it’ll be hotter ):

10/08 - 13/08 (3 nights) → Heraklion

Visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos: I’m keeping it because the site is really close to Heraklion, and it’d be a shame to miss. The visit is pretty short (1 to 1.5 hours max). I’m keeping Phaistos as a backup, just in case. Exploring the city: archaeological museum, Venetian port, Koules Fortress. Possible day trip to Matala (depending on motivation, especially if we decide to go to Phaistos too).

13/08 - 16/08 (3 nights) → Rethymno

Exploring Rethymno’s old town. Walk around the village of Argiroupoli (natural springs, waterfalls). Relaxing on the region’s beaches.

16/08 - 19/08 (3 nights) → Chania

Visit to Chania’s historic center. Day trip to Seitan Limania (a stunning wild beach). Hike in Samaria Gorge: we’re thinking of doing just part of the trail, starting from Agia Roumeli (by boat from Sfakia/Chora Sfakion), since the full hike would probably be too tough for a 5-year-old (and we’d rather not carry them after 3 km).

19/08 - 22/08 (3 nights) → Platanos

Relaxing days at Elafonissi Beach. Also relaxing at Balos Beach. All topped off with a little road trip along the coast.

22/08 - 23/08 (1 night) → Heraklion Returning the day before our flight to avoid stress and enjoy one last quiet moment.

A few tips: In Heraklion for your accommodation, I recommend the Gazi (Amoudara) area to the west to avoid air traffic noise. Knossos: it’s best to visit in the late afternoon to avoid the peak heat; the site closes at 8 PM. City exploration: fun for kids (and adults): Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Seitan Limania: this beach (which is quite small) has become super popular. Best regards,

For the Samaria Gorge, it’s safer with a kid to do it the "lazy way." You go up as far as you can and then turn back. The ground is really uneven, so make sure you’ve got the right shoes!

Some info: In Heraklion for your accommodation, I recommend the Gazi (Amoudara) area to the west to avoid air traffic noise. Knossos: best visited in the late afternoon to avoid the peak heat; the site closes at 8 PM. City discovery: fun for kids (and adults): Museum of Ancient Technologies Seitan Limania: this beach (which is quite small) has become super popular. Best regards

Thanks for the accommodation tip, and especially for suggesting the Museum of Ancient Technologies—it didn’t come up in my searches. I think most of our visits will be early in the morning and late in the afternoon to avoid the heat and crowds.

For the Samaria Gorge, it’s safer with a kid to do it the "lazy way." You go up as far as you can and then turn back. The ground is very uneven, so wear proper shoes

yeah, I’ve heard a lot about the route—it’ll be less of a workout this way ;)

Hello,

For Samaria, I definitely agree with what was said above. Make sure to bring really good shoes for the whole family—the terrain is quite rugged, and some parts of the trail can be pretty tough for young kids.

A little note about Balos. The place is stunning, no doubt about it, but be aware that the site is very small, and in the summer, it gets packed—even overcrowded. Since most people arrive by boat, all the excursion boats show up at nearly the same time. Plus, there’s no shade at all, so in the middle of summer, it’s like a frying pan. And since you’re stuck there until your boat leaves, I personally found the time dragged on because of the unbearable heat, even though we could swim to cool off. A great alternative to Balos that I prefer (though it’s a matter of taste) is Elafonissi. You’ll find the same turquoise waters and pink sand there. The advantage is that you can get there on your own with your rental car. If you go in the morning (not too late, though!), you can enjoy the place before the big crowds arrive, and most importantly, you can leave whenever you want—when it gets too busy or when the heat becomes too much.

PS: I just realized you already included Elafonissi in your plans. My bad! [:P] That said, my point still stands—if you’re short on time or anything else, prioritize Elafonissi.

Have a great trip!

Just so you know: When heading upstream, be aware that you’ll start with the least pleasant section, located at the river mouth. There’s no shade for about 2 km (between Agia Roumeli and the control hut at the park entrance). After that, you’ll need to hike at least another 2 km into the gorge to reach the first "Iron Gate." The elevation gain up to that point is pretty minimal—only around 100 m. The total round-trip distance is about 8 km. During certain times, usually in peak season, a private paid minibus shuttles between Agia Roumeli and the downstream access to Samaria.

Hi everyone! We're planning a vacation very similar to yours soon. But for now, we're stuck on choosing car rental companies because we've read so many scam stories. Can you recommend a reliable rental company? Thanks

Good evening, I used this company: https://www.automattis.com It was recommended to me. The price is slightly higher, but everything is included. Sure, I had insurance with my credit card, but I opted for a quick solution.

Hi, From experience, never go through an intermediary because it’s a source of difficulties in case of an incident or accident; the rental company blames the intermediary and vice versa for any shortcomings and responsibilities. The "good" rental companies (usually the local ones in Crete) offer all-risk insurance with no excess. When booking online, they trust you, only ask for your details, and some require a small amount to confirm the reservation. I don’t know Automattis, which seems to be newer on the market. As for me, I’ve trusted Autoway, Autopapas, Européocars, Minoan Tour, etc. in the past. Autoway (and Automattis) have higher prices but newer vehicles.

However, if there’s a change of ownership or "business practices"? Terms and services can evolve over time, but rarely in the customer’s favor. So, it’s best to check recent reviews before booking.

A little recap of my trip: To keep it simple: For the big cities we visited, my favorite was Chania—between the streets of the old town, the hidden restaurants, and the port. Next came Rethymnon, then Heraklion, which I’d actually enjoyed on my first visit. Was it because I’d already seen the other two by then, or because the vacation was coming to an end?

For the smaller towns: Archanes, really charming and far from the crowds, which we visited after the Minoan palace of Knossos. Argiroupoli, to see the little church at the end of the jetty. Georgioupoli, where we found a lovely restaurant with waterfalls.

For the beach resorts: Amoudara was the one I liked least during the stay—between the tourist complexes and a not-so-great beach. Matala, though very touristy, won me over with its colorful vibe and cliffs. My only regret is not doing the short hike to Red Beach.

Culturally: The Minoan palace of Knossos was really nice in the late afternoon since it was almost empty, with beautiful colors. The ruins of Aptera, simple but interesting.

The beaches—that’s where the island really shines. They’re stunning. Big favorites for us: Preveli and its palm grove (our little one felt like an adventurer), Balos, truly breathtaking, Seitan Limani, a real aquarium, and the beaches of Falassarna, where we found some nice, quiet spots perfect for kids and for watching beautiful sunsets.

It’s not a beach, but we also visited Lake Kournas, just as turquoise. The only downside? The swarm of pedal boats disturbing the turtles.

As for crowds, some spots did get busy fast. Seitan Limani, from midday onward, was packed. Preveli was the same—people coming from everywhere: stairs, boats. But if you walk further into the palm grove, you’ll find little freshwater pools with no one around. At Balos, we were relatively undisturbed by heading to the far end of the beach.

Overall, I was expecting worse. I think outside of peak season, you can really feel that sense of solitude we only experienced early in the morning or late in the day.

The food is an absolute delight, and the portions are huge. The only downside of the trip was the GPS tracker in the car, which kept me from going off the beaten path.

Otherwise, it’s a beautiful destination that makes me want to keep exploring Greece—but off-season, far from July and August.

Hi, Thanks for your feedback. Just a small correction for those who might be inspired by your trip: The little church at the end of the pier is in Georgioupoli. Argyroupoli isn’t by the sea but is where the waterfalls are. Best regards

True, too bad I can't edit my message. Thanks for catching the mistake