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Heraklion to Chania

Heraklion to Chania - many travellers ask us their holiday questions and we are happy to help.

Allow this itinerary and ideas to inspire you in your own travels. As you create your unique plan for travelling in Crete, perhaps these tips will add to your fascination of Crete.

Trip Summary

Car Hire

Personalised Itinerary

Information for Your Trip

Your Journey in Pictures

Getting Here

Hi there,

My husband and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and planning a 10 day trip to Crete Sept 16-26. I haven't booked flights yet but it seems the best flights are to Heraklion. We love beaches, moderate hikes, and good food. Likely will look at food tours. Don't want to be rushing around the whole island but do want to see the sites at an easy pace. Any recommendations?

Gayle

Yiasas Gayle,

It is always nice to hear from our Canadian friends.

Congratulations on your 30 years of marriage; that is quite a milestone! And we are so glad to hear that you will celebrate in Crete.

Yes, we have some suggestions below and a personalised trip plan. Just some ideas, for your consideration.

Flights
Yes, there are lots of flights to and from Crete from both Heraklion and Chania airports. You could arrive by one and leave by the other. The flights are both about 1 hour duration from Athens airport and on any given day you can see at least 10 non-stop flight options.

More about Heraklion Airport here

More about Chania Airport here

On 16 Sep we can see many options for a flight from Athens ATH to Heraklion HER with Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines and Sky Express for less than CAD$70.

On 26 Sep we can see many options for a flight from Chania CHQ to Athens ATH with Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines, Ellinair and Sky Express for less than CAD$50.

For this reason, we suggest flying into Heraklion and flying out of Chania. This will prevent you from doubling back on your trip, saving you more time for relaxation, beaches, hiking, food and gourmet tours.

Trip Summary

September
This is a perfect month to visit Greece, Minimum temperatures are 18°C and maximum average is 25°C. and the water temperatures are great for swimming, yet most of the hordes of tourists have departed. More space for you and easier to explore. We would recommend booking in early, however, for your accommodation in September, especially in Athens.

Accommodation
We have suggested some practical and some romantic accommodation options. There are myriad options and you may choose to search further using the handy filters of our accommodation partners.

Good Food
We have made a few suggestions of gourmet food tours, and we suggest asking locals where the best taverna is serving traditional Cretan food, this is called paradosiako or dopio fagito. In each location you will find wonderful fresh organic food, picked on the day you eat it, at these traditional tavernas.

Insurance
Please arrange your most important travel insurance for door-to-door coverage, we have partnered with TravelInsurance.com - compare insurance prices here

Your Personalised Itinerary

Agia Pelagia with Umbrellas, Crete Greece

Heraklion to Chania - Your Anniversary Trip to Crete

Day One – 16 Sep
Arrive Heraklion Airport
Pick up your rental car
Drive to Knossos Archaeological Site 7 km
Allow 2 hours for the visit
Pre-book a Skip the Line Ticket with local interpretive guide
Drive to Agia Pelagia 25 km
Stay at Mpitzarakis Studio

Day Two – 17 Sep
Early swim at the beach
Drive from Agia Pelagia along the north coast
Visit Panormos or Bali Beaches
Visit Rethymnon Old Town
Agia Pelagia to Rethymnon 61 km
Explore the narrow lane ways and have lunch by the sea
Drive to Georgioupolis Beach 23 km
Relax at the beach
Stay at Georgioupolis
Stay at Georgioupolis Beach Hotel

Day Three – 18 Sep
Early swim at the beach
Drive to Chania Old Town 40 km
Join a gourmet food tour
Chania Walking Tour with Street Food
Lunch by the harbour
Afternoon drive to Stavros Beach 16 km
Stay at Chania Old Town
Stay at Fagotto Art Residences or Alcanea Boutique Hotel

Day Four – 19 Sep
Take a day tour from Chania town
Wine & Olive Oil day tour with Lunch
Stay at Chania Old Town
Stay at Fagotto Art Residences or Alcanea Boutique Hotel

Day Five – 20 Sep
Drive from Chania town to Kissamos 38 km
Take a boat trip to Balos Lagoon
Stay Kaliviani Village
Stay at Stamatogiannis Traditional Apartments

Day Six – 21 Sep
Early start for a hike today
Drive to Agia Irini Village 120 km round trip
Hike Agia Irini Gorge 7 or 12 km
Lunch in Sougia Village by the sea
Taxi back to your car
Stay Kaliviani Village
Stay at Stamatogiannis Traditional Apartments

Day Seven - 22 Sep
Rest day
Perhaps visit Falasarna Beach 11 km
Stay Kaliviani Village
Stay at Stamatogiannis Traditional Apartments

Day Eight – 23 Sep
Day trip to Elafonisi Beach 72 km round trip
Stay Kaliviani Village
Stay at Stamatogiannis Traditional Apartments

Day Nine – 24 Sep
Perhaps a walk with the local hiking group
Kissamos Walks
Stay Kaliviani Village
Stay at Stamatogiannis Traditional Apartments

Day Ten – 25 Sep
Rest day or revisit your favourite beach or taverna
Or join Strata Tours for a day walk from ancient Polyrinia to Kissamos
8 km easy to moderate hike with history and taverna meal
Stay Kaliviani Village
Stay at Stamatogiannis Traditional Apartments

Day Eleven – 26 Sep
Drive to the airport 60 km
Drop off your rental car
Depart from Chania Airport

Heraklion to Chania
Information Pages for this Trip

How to Choose an Airport in Crete

E4 Walking Path for Hikes

Chania Airport

Your Journey in Pictures

Heraklion to Chania - Your Anniversary Trip to Crete - your 10 days in Crete will be filled with those things that you love.

Experience the ancient Minoan Palace of Knossos, just 7 km from Heraklion Airport, find a culture that existed over 3000 years ago.

Enjoy the five bays and turquoise waters of Agia Pelagia, great for swimming, and enjoy lovely cafe bars next to the water.

From Heraklion to Chania - discover the Venetian history of Old Rethymnon Town.

Did you say you liked beaches? This is Georgioupolis Beach where you could stay for your second night.

Georgioupolis Beach starts at the river mouth, stroll over the bridge to visit the little cove of Kalyvaki Beach.

From Heraklion to Chania - visit the Old Venetian Harbour of Chania. Enjoy dining at dusk by the harbour.

Fagotto Art Residences are just about as romantic as you can get, set in the small laneways of Old Town Chania.

Enjoy the food, wine and spirits of Crete on guided tours with guides sharing local knowledge.

From Heraklion to Chania - Kaliviani Village will make a 'home away from home' for a few nights.

Balos Lagoon (image by Pom Angers). Visit here on a boat ride from Kissamos Harbour. The sandy bottom of the lagoon creates clear waters sparkling and spanning the colour spectrum from bright white to turquoise to azure and green.

Take yourself on a self-guided hike through Agia Irini Gorge. Easy to moderate hiking with a beach side taverna at the end.

Elafonisi is a protected area of lovely beaches and islets with beautiful fresh clear waters in south-east Crete.

Walk a section of the E4 European Walking Path from Kissamos to Polyrinia or reverse

Walk a section of the E4 European Walking Path from Kissamos to Polyrrinia or reverse. Contact the local walking group if you would like some local knowledge.

Heraklion to Chania
Car Rental in Crete

From Heraklion to Chania - 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. Choose from hybrid or non-hybrid vehicles.