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Ile de Crete - A Trip in Crete - We Answer our Visitor’s Questions
Bonjour, I am looking to spend about a week in in Crete in the first week of June. Je cherche à passer environ une semaine en Crète dans la première semaine de juin. I wish to visit mainly war museums, je souhaite visiter principalement des musées de guerre, Askifou museum, Spinalonga, Elounda, Agios Nikolas plus other sites, so I assume I either need a car or to travel by bus & spend nights in different places.
Below are the places I would like to visit. Voici les endroits que je voudrais visiter. I can extend the holiday up to about 10-12 days if you think that would be easier: Je peux prolonger les vacances jusqu'à environ 10-12 jours si vous pensez que ce serait plus facile:
Karina
Yiasas & Bonjour Karina,
Your
itinerary sounds wonderful and you can certainly achieve it within the
timeframe, however we always suggest more time! This is so that you are not
rushed and can experience the true Greek way of life, and of course, be open to
serendipity along the journey.
When visitors want to see both the west and east of the island, we generally say it is best to set aside 10 days. Then you could have 2 days in Santorini. Of course it is flexible and you can amend the itinerary below, which is just a suggestion.
We suggest you arrive into Chania and depart from Heraklion to Santorini. In this way, you will see the west of the island, then move over to the east then come back to Heraklion, ready to depart on the morning ferry to Santorini.
This can all be better with a car, especially for Askifou, or you could choose a car for just one day, and take the buses, which are very good, frequent and reliable. We have prepared your itinerary with a hire car in mind. Please let us know if you need more information about the buses.
As we are not sure what style of accommodation you prefer, we have suggested mid-range small hotels and guesthouses, full of local character.
June is a good time of year to visit Crete, with temperatures not too hot and not too many crowds. Spring weather and lots of flowers. If you have any further questions please let us know.
L'île de Crète - un itinéraire personnalisé
Day One
Arrive
Chania (Le Canée) port or airport
Pick up your hire car
Stay in Chania Old Town
Visit Maritime Museum
Visit Folklore Museum
Stay at Pension Eva
Day
Two
Day trip to Askifou
Plateau 100 km return
Visit War Museum in Kares, see towers & caves
Perhaps visit Georgioupolis Beach or Lake
Kournas on return journey
Stay in Chania Old Town
Stay at Pension Eva
Day Three
Rest day from history
Visit Balos
Lagoon, Falasarna Beach or Elafonisi
Beach
Relax at beach or explore the Old Town
Stay in Chania Old Town
Stay at Pension Eva
Day Four
Visit the Allied Cemetery at Souda
Bay 10 km return
Visit Platanias war shelter 22 km return
Visit beaches at Maleme, Platanias and Agia
Marina
Maleme also has a war museum
Stay in Chania Old Town
Stay at Pension Eva
Day Five
Drive from Chania to Rethymnon 65 km
Explore Old Town of Rethymnon
Stay for lunch
Drive from Rethymnon to Archanes Village near Heraklion 94 km
Stay in Archanes
Stay at Arhontiko Studios
Or drive from Rethymnon to Agia
Pelagia Beach 60 km
Stay in Agia Pelagia
Stay at Aquarius Apartments
Day Six
Early
visit to Knossos Palace
(Le Palais de Knossos) archaeological site (10 km from Archanes, 25 km from Agia Pelagia)
Allow 2 hours for the visit
Drive from Knossos to Agios Nikolaos and Elounda 66 km
Stay in Elounda or Plaka
Stay at the Island Seaview Apartment
Day Seven
Rest day by the beach
Stay at the Seaside Suite
Day Eight
Visit Agios
Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island
Stay at the Seaside Suite
Day Nine
Visit Spinalonga Island or beaches
In the afternoon drive to Heraklion 66 km
Drop off your hire car
Stay in Heraklion town near the port
Stay at the Hotel Lato (very convenient to the port)
Day Ten
Ferry to Santorini – depart Heraklion port 8.40am
Arrive 10.25am
Stay in Firostephani
Stay at the Ellinon Thea Hotel
Day Eleven
Enjoy Santorini
Stay at the Ellinon Thea Hotel
Day Twelve
Take a ferry or flight from Santorini to Athens
Flight information here
Ferry information here
Ile de Crete - information pages for this itinerary:
Car Hire Crete
Ile de Crete - aujourd'hui, certains quartiers datant de la période vénitienne sont encore intacts, ainsi que des quartiers juifs ou turcs très bien conservés.
En longeant de l’intérieur les murs de la ville, vous pourrez apercevoir de charmantes ruelles.
Ile de Crete - stroll through the old town to the Venetian Fortezza on the point which provides a wonderful view back over the town to the mountains, then stroll to the tiny Old Harbour for a seafood lunch amongst the hubbub. Try Zefyros there or En Plo on the seaside next to the Fortezza, for a bit more space with a seaside view.
Ile de Crete - Spinalonga Island holds such a fascination for modern travellers who like to delve into its secrets since the times of pirates, to Venetian and Turkish conquerers and to the unimaginable suffering of those isolated here in the leper colony between the years of1903 to 1957.
A modern novel outlining this dramatic history entitled simply "The Island" caught so much attention worldwide that it was made into a tele-drama, made in Greece and Crete "To Nisi - Το νησί".
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.
Car hire in Crete is a really good idea as it is a large island 60 km by 260 km. There is so much to explore.
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 the team. Choose from hybrid or non-hybrid vehicles.
"We trust you have enjoyed these tips from the team at We Love Crete. Evíva!"
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Yiásas!
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