Two weeks in Crete

Hi there, We’re planning to visit Crete during the second half of May and rent a car. A knee issue means we can’t do any hiking anymore, just leisurely walks. Is it realistic to explore the whole island by basing ourselves in two spots—one in the east and one in the west? Could you recommend some nice places to stay that aren’t tourist factories? Thanks in advance for your help with my questions. Best regards.

By choosing two spots like you’re planning, you already get a great overview of Crete. In the west, around Chania, and in the east, near Agios Nikolaos. But keep in mind, these are two major tourist hotspots!

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. I’m not planning to stay in those cities but in the surrounding area, in a nice little village. In May, even though these are tourist spots, it shouldn’t be as crowded as in the summer.

Hi Edith,

I think the best way to visit the island is how we did it in May 2024.

In Chania, we stayed in the historic center—it wasn’t too crowded (Elena apartment on Booking).

Our main base was Asterias Village Resort in Hersonissos. A small-scale resort that rented apartments without extra services and away from the crowds. There were plenty of local restaurants nearby—we loved it!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kvN2zVvXpCckG19EA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Just a heads-up: in May, bring a light jacket for the evenings—it can get windy.

Hi Bruno,

Thanks for your reply. Is it better to start on the west or east side of the island?

I’m planning to arrive and leave from Chania, spending one day on arrival and the day of departure visiting the city—is that enough?

Doesn’t traveling around waste too much time? The distances aren’t huge, but the road conditions probably slow things down.

We’ve been to the mainland and the Sporades (a long time ago), and I remember the wind. That’s definitely the only thing that hasn’t changed!

Have a good evening.

Hello Bruno,

Thanks for your reply. Is it better to start with the west or the east of the island?

I don’t really have an opinion on that—we liked both sides!

I’m planning to arrive and leave from Chania, spending one day on arrival and the day of departure visiting the city. Is that enough?

For the city itself, that’s enough, but there are plenty of nice spots around Chania to visit, even inland. But why arrive in Chania? Flights to Heraklion are probably cheaper, and if you plan to explore the island...

Doesn’t traveling around waste too much time? The distances aren’t huge, but the road conditions probably slow things down.

True, you didn’t mention how long your stay is. We were there for 10 days and had plenty of time to get around. Though I’m not much of a beach person...

There aren’t many roads in Crete, and the ones along the coast are in pretty good condition. Sometimes it gets a bit winding (a lot, actually) inland... Traffic must be terrible in August, but in May, it’s fine.

Hi, Two weeks is both long and short, but if you make it to Chania, focus on the western part of the island—there’s plenty to do. Otherwise, you’ll spend a lot of time in the car. I was in Crete again last May, and it wasn’t crowded at that time except in the bigger cities, which are increasingly hosting cruise ship passengers. For info and recommendations, you can check out the links in my profile. Happy planning!

We’re spending two weeks in Crete.

Transavia flights to Chania are cheaper than to Heraklion, and the schedules work better for us. Plus, if we’re doing a loop, it doesn’t make any difference.

As for the beach, I need the water to be warm, so the Mediterranean in May won’t cut it for me—maybe my husband, and even then... So we’ll have plenty of time for sightseeing.

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the links—I’ll check them out.