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Crete Route Guides

Hand‑picked routes to explore Crete by car or bus

Crete Route Guides - Mini Guides

Here at We Love Crete we have had many questions from independent  travellers about what to do in a short time in the west or east of the island - these e-books have evolved out of the questions from travellers who love Crete.

Written by the We Love Crete team - Katia, Anastasios & Apostolis

After exploring Crete by road and by bus - from mountain passes and coastal drives to tiny village lanes and remote hidden spots - we created our own series of route guides to help travellers experience the island the way we do. These guides are built from real journeys, personal notes, and experience on the road.

They’re not generic travel books. They’re written by us, the team behind We Love Crete, and these  routes reflects our local knowledge, favourite stops, and the kind of insights you only gain from living and travelling here.

If you want to explore Crete with confidence, discover authentic places, and enjoy the island beyond the usual tourist paths, our route guides are the perfect companion.

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Authentic Route Guides by People Who Live Crete

If you want to experience Crete beyond the tourist trail - its back roads, tiny mountain villages, hidden beaches, organic-food tavernas, and centuries of history - these guides are designed for you.

Each digital route guide was created by Katia, Anastasi, and Apostoli , long‑time Cretans who have spent years helping independent travellers explore the island’s most beautiful, uncrowded, and culturally rich areas. Each guide originated from real questions asked by visitors planning short trips to the west or east of the island.

Whether you're travelling by car, motorcycle, or local bus, these guides make navigation easy and your trip far more rewarding.

Why Our Crete Route Guides Are Different

Local Knowledge You Can Trust

Each itinerary includes recommended back‑road routes, hidden viewpoints, local tavernas, and authentic spots that aren’t found in mass‑market travel books.

Live‑Link Maps

Every guide includes live‑link maps that open instantly, including Greek‑script place names to help you read road signs and avoid wrong turns.

Authentic, Crowd‑Free Crete

These guides emphasise pristine beaches, remote villages, archaeological points of interest, and lesser‑known mountain or coastal routes favoured by locals.

Flexible Itineraries

Each guide provides a structured 5‑day route with optional extensions and additional activities so you can customise your trip.

Discover Crete Like a Local

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West Crete by Car

Crete Route Guides - this guide has suggestions from Anastasi, Apostoli and Katia and includes wine-tasting, visits to archaeological sites, organic fresh food at local tavernas, visits to historic sites, tiny mountain villages, country roads, old Venetian townships, great beaches and plenty of space away from crowds, to discover the real Crete.

5 Days in the West of Crete – by Car or Motorcycle includes a live-link map, accommodation suggestions, details about the whole island and Greek names for those pesky road signs (written in Greek)!

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East Crete by Car

Crete Route Guides - this travel guide with contributions from Anastasi, Apostoli and Katia includes visits to archaeological sites, traditional Cretan cuisine at local tavernas, visits to historic sites, tiny mountain villages, country roads, isolated beaches, the only palm forest in Europe and again, provides route choices away from the madding crowd, to explore authentic Cretan life.

5 Days in the East of Crete by Car or Motorcycle includes a live-link map, detailed history of the regions, accommodation suggestions, and the names of all the towns and villages in Greek script.

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2 in a Bundle for Less

Car Travel Bundle

Includes both West Crete by Car and East Crete by Car.
This bundle lets you plan a complete island loop, with 10 days of curated itineraries.

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Crete Island Greece
West Crete by Bus

Crete Route Guides

Travel for 5 or 7 or 10 Days in the West of Crete by Bus with these handy tips making it easier to enjoy your independence and keep your budget low.

See Knossos, Heraklion, Rethymnon and the historic Arkadi Monastery. Visit the long wide beach of Georgioupolis and the narrow laneways of Chania Old Town, then decide with our guidance how you want to visit the south coast of Chania and see the remote beaches, including Elafonisi Beach in the protected natural zone.

Links to bus information, tips on buses in Crete, all you need to get on your way tomorrow for your unforgettable holidays on Crete...

This e-book includes a live-link map, detailed options on how to visit Samaria Gorge, accommodation suggestions, and the names of the towns and villages in Greek script.

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Crete Route Guides
East Crete by Bus

Crete Route Guides

Travel for 5 or 7 or 10 Days in the East of Crete by Bus with these handy tips making it easier to enjoy your independence and keep your budget low.

See Knossos, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and the historic Spinalonga Island. Travel east to the humming town of Sitia and then visit the stunning and unique Vai Beach and Palm Forest and the haunted caves of Zakros Gorge, relax at Kato Zakros, miles from anywhere. Then travel on untrodden paths across the centre of the east to Makrigialos and then visit crystalline waters at Chrissi Island in protected natural bliss.

Links to bus information, tips on buses in Crete, all you need to get on your way tomorrow for your unforgettable holidays on Crete.

This ebook includes a live-link map, options on how to visit Zakros Gorge, accommodation suggestions, and the names of the towns and villages in Greek script.

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2 in a Bundle for Less

Bus Travel Bundle

Includes both West Crete by Bus and East Crete by Bus.
Offers the most efficient, reliable way to travel Crete using only public transport.

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Crete Route Guides
eBook Feedback

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Traveller Testimonials

‘The best travel purchase we made for our trip.’
‘These guides helped us find smaller villages and quiet beaches we never would have discovered alone. The live link maps made everything simple.’
- Maria and Tom, UK

‘Clear, organised, and incredibly helpful.’
‘We used the West Crete guide and every recommendation was spot on. The suggested tavernas were highlights of our trip.’
- John R., USA

‘Made bus travel stress free.’
‘I travelled alone without a car and the bus guide gave me all the confidence I needed. I visited places I thought were impossible to reach.’
- Elena K., Germany

‘Authentic Crete at its best.’
‘The routes took us to real family‑run tavernas, secluded beaches, and historic sites without the crowds.’
- The Wilson Family, Australia

‘The authors’ love for Crete shows in every detail.’
‘I used the East Crete guide and learned so much about the region’s history and hidden corners.’
- Javier M., Spain

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Getting Here

Take a 1 hour flight from Athens to Heraklion with Aegean Airlines or Olympic Air, with many flights available per day.

Or take a 9.5 hour overnight ferry from Pireaus port of Athens to Heraklion port.

More on flights and ferries below.

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Car Rental in Crete

When you book with our car rental partners - Rental Centre Crete - you are supporting a local company with excellent service and an easy online booking procedure. We are sure you will be well looked after by Harry and his team.

Crete Travel Books - Kriti is a large island 260 by 60 km with hundreds of miles of roads, it really makes sense to hire a car. There are large mountain ranges, wide valleys and farming land, hundreds of beaches and four major towns to visit. Self-drive explorations off-the-beaten-track are rewarding, with something new to discover at every turn...

• More information and self-drive itineraries here
• Tips for car rental in Chania
• Car rental in Rethymnon
• Car rental in Heraklion

Bus Travel - if you do not want to drive or want to extend your travel budget by taking local transport, the good news is that Crete has a fantastic regional bus service, and you can explore the island easily and cheaply by bus, just with a little more time up your sleeve.

• More information about buses in Crete here
• Crete bus services
• Getting from Heraklion to Chania
  
• Getting to Matala by bus

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What People Say

“ Thank you so much for your response.  We took your advice and switched our stay around, making it easier for getting ferries and flights.  Once again, thank you so much for all the information you sent me, I'm still going through it all and we purchased your mini-guides on visiting Crete east and west.  They are GREAT! ”  

Jo-ann, Montreal, Canada

About the Team

Yiásas!
Anastasi, Apostoli & Katia are the
We Love Crete team
We just love sharing our passion for Crete, Greece and travel
About us

In Central Crete - drive from Rethymnon to Meronas in the Amari Valley 32 km, explore the valley then stay at Meronas Eco House