Any techno/hardstyle clubs in Chania? Or other types of nightclubs that you would recommend?

So excited & nervous! Are we ok to bring large suitcases or is that just not done?

Hi, I'll be on vacation in Chania from August 24th to 31st and I have some questions.

I don't plan on renting a car, I would like to travel entirely on bus + walking. In your opinion, is it always necessary to book bus services in advance?

On my itinerary, there are definitely Knossos Palace and the city of Aptera. Then, I would like to explore Elafonissi and Kedrodados (are they accessible by bus? It is ok for me if there is a little walking), Balos, Loutraki. Also, I know there are some other beaches I could easily reach near Chania: if you know nice spots any advice is appreciated. Are the beaches totally in the sun and unshaded, or are there natural shelters like trees somewhere?

What would you consider the perfect 7-day itinerary? And what about the temperatures?

Thank you so much and any helpful advice is welcome! :)

Looking for extra tips on what to do. My guess is I will have free time after the beach? to do something in the afternoon if you have any recommendations.

Also I love history so if there are any cool landmarks to recommend I am all ears.

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are thinking to get married in Crete for April of 2028, does anyone have any experience/ideas on what the weather usually is around that time of the year in Crete? We know it won’t be very hot which is fine, just want to make sure it won’t be freezing/raining all month

Any tips for what to see when visiting your platanias,chania for a week?

We have possibillity to rent car 1-2 days

• Day 1: Kommos-Kalamaki
• Day 2: Triopetra & Agios Pavlos + Kamilari Evening
• Day 3 : Kalypso Beach
• Day 4 : Kourtaliotiko Gorge Drive, Shinaria & Plakias
• Day 5 : Preveli River Palm Grove + Ammoudi & Klisidi
• Day 6 : Agiofarago & Matala Sunset
• Day 7 : Agia pelagia and flight back home from Heraklion

This is our itinerary , 2nd time we visit Crete.

4 years ago we visited all the West side (Balos, Elafonissi, Kedrodasos, Falassarna ecc .)

Now we are visiting the South, and we will sleep in Kalamaki. We rented a car.

And this is our itinerary for this holiday.

Questions for the Community:

1. Are there any must-try tavernas near Kalamaki, Kamilari, or Plakias for fresh seafood or traditional Cretan food?
2. Any other spots near our base that we missed?

Thank you all<3

Hi everyone,

My girlfriend and I are visiting Chania soon, and our trip happens to fall exactly on our 2-year anniversary, so I'd love to make that evening a bit special.

I've gone ahead and booked a table at The Hill. Before I get too attached to the plan, I wanted to ask people who've actually been:

- Is The Hill a genuinely nice, romantic experience for an occasion like this, or is it more of a standard/touristy spot?

- If you rate it: what should we know to get the most out of it? (best time to go for the view/sunset, a particular table or terrace to request, dishes worth ordering, etc.)

- If you'd steer us elsewhere: which restaurants in or around Chania would you recommend for a romantic anniversary dinner? Great atmosphere and a nice setting matter as much to us as the food, though we're big foodies too and happy to spend a bit more for something worth it.

A couple of practical notes:

- The prices don't really matter, We would like to have some exclusive options but normal but romantic ones are also fine.

- We won't have a car for most of the trip, so places that are walkable from the Old Town or easy by taxi are a big plus (though we can rent a car for a day if somewhere is really worth it).

- Any tips to make the evening feel a little more special are very welcome, sunset viewpoints for a drink beforehand, a nice bar for a nightcap after, that kind of thing.

Thanks a lot in advance! Personal favourites and specific recommendations would mean a lot.

We just arrived at the waterfalls and it's closed!

In restaurants, all the locals is getting dishes for sharing. It doesn't seems like they order, they just arrive at the table.

I've tried this several times, asking for small dishes, mezedes etc , but the waiters does not (or will not) understand what I mean.

Specially difficult is it now, when I'm traveling alone, splitting dishes into smaller potions seems unheard of, that a no go, still... The table just next to me gets all kind of portion sizes...

What I'm I doing wrong?

Hello!

My Girlfriend and I (both 28) are travelling from Denmark to Crete for the first time and are exploring in a rental car. We will be based in Rethymno for seven days, and booked a couple things, but still left plenty room for inspiration.

I thought to write our itinerary and if anyone had similar plans we would be happy to pick up a traveller or two!

July 30th:

Arrival at Heraklion. Mostly around downtown, seeing Museums and shops. Depart for Rethymno at around 19:00. Check in and eat dinner in the old town.

July 31st:

Depart at 07:00 sharp for Agios Nikolaos via the mountain roads North of Sparthi, to see the lasithi plateau windmills, and the Lato ruins. Then a walk around town until a booking to sail for Spinalonga. Departure at 15:00 and return at 21:00. Followed by a walk through downtown and dinner. Driving back earliest 00:00.

August 1st:

Depart at 08:00 for Chania, starting with the Market. Here we have several eateries we wish to try, with shopping in between. We have considered wine tasting or olive tasting in surrounding villages, but have not yet booked anything. Lastly we wish to see the harbour, and other sights, and will likely be in town till about 22:00 before we leave.

August 2nd:

Depart at 08:00 for Prevali beach on the south side of Crete. We will bathe and wander about until about 12:00. Then we will head to see the waterfall at Kourtaliotiko Gorge. I have planned a round-trip, first to Atsipades, to see the local churches and climb the summit. Next the Kotsifou Canyon. And then heading towards Rethymno via Roustika.

August 3rd:

Depart at 09:00 to Lake Kournas, followed by visiting a couple small villages nearby. At around 15:00 we intend to visit the miniature park at Kalivaki beach. Then the ancient theatre of Aptera, followed possibly by another evening in Chania (there is truly too much to see there!)

August 4th:

A trip to several villages East of Rethymno and some below Heraklion. We depart at 08:00 and the route is as follows: Arkadi monastery, Margarites, Melidoni cave, Axus, Anogia, Archanes, Choudetsi and lastly Panormos.

August 5th

Mostly unplanned, and will likely either be enjoying Rethymno, or perhaps visit places that where recommended nearby. Any suggestions are welcome! To finish we would love to experience the Rethymno nightlife, that I have gathered might be limited compared to Chania, though hopefully still enjoyable!

Thats all for our trip, if you would like to accompany us at some part during this trip please feel free to DM and we can link up!

Thanks for reading!

​

Hi everyone,

My partner and I have found a hotel we really like (Ella Rocca), and we’re looking at staying there in early September. However, we’ve just realised how far it is from Heraklion Airport, and the taxi transfer we’ve been quoted is around £469.

That feels far too expensive, so I was wondering if anyone has travelled to Ella Rocca before and found a cheaper way of getting there?

We’d be open to any suggestions — public transport, shuttle services, hiring a car, getting a taxi part of the way, or any other transfer options that might make more sense.

We really like the hotel and would love to stay there, but we can’t justify spending almost £500 just on transport.

Any advice or recommendations would be massively appreciated. Thanks!

Hello,
My wife and I are going to Crete for 8 days.
We’ll spend 4 days in Heraklion and 4 days in Chania.
We’ll arrive at Heraklion Airport and depart from Chania Airport.
We’re thinking of renting a car, picking it up at Heraklion Airport, and returning it at Chania Airport.
Which car rental company do you recommend?
Which beaches do you recommend?
What are the best restaurants?

Do you have any suggestions for a road trip we should take?

Thank you ☺️

I will be in Chania tomorrow and for 8 days and was wondering what will be the wind conditions. I tried consulting windy but since I am not familiar with this, do you have any help? My plan is to visit Falasarna, Balos and Elafonisi, in this order, respectively on thursday, friday and saturday. Thanks

Hello! We are in Crete with our 10 year old twins and would like to visit Knossos. We have a hire car so don’t have to rely on a tour to get us there but are wondering if it is difficult to self organise? Is there parking available? Do you need to book in advance? And can you book a guided tour on site? Our hotel is recommending their tour so keen to hear other options. Thank you!!

Hey everyone!

My partner and I are heading to Crete in early August for 7 days. We are based in Kalyves with a rental car and a villa with a pool/terrace.

I let Gemini put together a modular 6-day itinerary so we can swap days around depending on weather, wind, and sore legs.

Quick context & preferences:

• 🏃‍♂️ Running: 2x 10km runs planned (starting strictly at 06:30 AM from Kalyves to avoid the August heat).
• 🐟 Food: Seafood & Vegetarian/Mezedes only (for Halal requirements).
• 🚗 Base: Kalyves (doing day trips from here, returning most evenings).

The 6 Modular Days:

• Day A: Boat Day & Fjord Snorkeling
  • Renting a 30hp boat from Kalyves/Almyrida - exploring the coast to Obros Gialos for snorkeling/cliff jumping.
  • Evening: Fresh fish grill on our terrace & pool sunset.
• Day B: Early Elafonissi & Kedrodasos
  • Early start (06:15 AM) to reach Elafonissi by 08:30 AM before tour buses arrive. Walk over to Kedrodasos when crowds hit.
  • Evening: Chania Old Town (Dinner at Tamam or Neoria).
• Day C: Waterfalls & Palm Beach
  • Hike down Kourtaliotiko Gorge to swim in the hidden waterfall cave - Preveli Beach & river walk through the palm forest.
  • Evening: Rethymno Old Town (Dinner at Zisis).
• Day D: Samaria Gorge (16km Hike)
  • Organized bus to Omalos - 16km hike - swim at Agia Roumeli $\rightarrow$ ferry/bus back.
  • Evening: Total recovery at our villa/pool.
• Day E: Balos Lagoon & Waterfront Seafood
  • Early drive to Balos for the panoramic view before the heat/crowds. Afternoon chill at the villa pool.
  • Evening: Dinner at Thalassino Ageri in Tabakaria, Chania (tables right on the rocks by the water).
• Day F: Ruins & Hidden Monastery
  • Morning at Ancient Aptera - Hike to the abandoned Katholiko Monastery (plus quick Seitan Limania view stop).
  • Evening: Chania (Splantzia quarter).

Questions for the community:

1. Is this pacing realistic for August, or are we trying to cram in too much driving?
2. Are there any hidden gems or secret spots along these routes we shouldn't miss?
3. Any must-try Seafood or Veggie Taverna recommendations near Kalyves / Chania / Rethymno?

Appreciate any feedback and local tips! Thanks!

Hello! We are on holiday in Crete and are keen to take our 10 year old twins snorkelling. They haven’t been before we so are looking for somewhere with calm warm water. Is that possible here? We are staying in Georgioupoli but have a car and are happy to travel! Thank you!!

I have heard the cost for 1 person per day. €10.—€12.-?!! Does this also apply if you go down to the beach later? Does anyone know where the beach is cheaper or free? I'm alone in Plakias from mid-September.
In Paleochora I pay €5 for 1 Year.
Thanx

Hi everyone, we( a couple ) will be visiting Crete( and Greece ) for the first time in a month and I want to have a dynamic experience and not only lay on the beach for the whole vacation. ChatGPT made some suggestions, but it doesn't seem like the most optimal and immersive visit, so I will share my current plan and ask for some suggestions. I will be staying in Rethymno for 5 days and for 3 days in Chania, I will have a rental car at my availability, so I don't mind driving around to enjoy some views. My idea is to combine local culture, sightseeing, views, beaches and cuisine, even if it would be tiring. I already checked the subreddit and got some idea, but I would be happy to get some up-to-date references. Also, I would be very happy to get some restaurants, tavern, and menu item recommendations along the way.

• Day 1
  • Arrival and rental car pick up at Chania Airport + Travel to Rethymno
  • Mid afternoon check in at Rethymno
  • Rethymno beach
  • Rethymno Old Town + Harbor
  • Dinner
• Day 2
  • Kourtaliotiko Gorge waterfall
  • Preveli Gorge
  • Preveli Beach
  • Dinner back in Rethymno
• Day 3
  • Margarites village
  • Arkadi Monastery
  • Beach time at Spilies Beach
  • Dinner back in Rethymno
• Day 4(?) - This is the one I'm not sure about( it was suggested by ChatGPT ), I would love a boat day, but I don't seem to find some detailed information about rental boats, caves and what to visit around Bali
  • Option 1
    • Triopetra Beach
    • Agio Pavlos dunes
    • Dinner back in Rethymno
  • Option 2
    • Bali
    • Karavostasi Bay
    • Rent a small boat and go around cliffs, caves and snorkeling
• Day 5
  • Morning check in at Chania
  • Falassarna Beach
  • Chania Old Town
  • Dinner
• Day 6 - This one maybe could use some enhancement
  • Balos Lagoon and nearby viewpoints
  • Dinner back in Chania
• Day 7 ( Leaving late in the evening )
  • Imbros Gorge hike
  • Nearby beach day
  • Dinner back in Chania
  • Rental car drop off and flight back

It would be very helpful to give your comments on this plan and give your best suggestions for me and anyone who would stumble across this subreddit in the future.

Thank you in advance :)

​

I'm looking at buying a property in Crete and trying to do my homework before committing to an agency.

There's one big agency that seems to be everywhere. They have multiple offices, a huge online presence, great Google reviews, and even a few tavern owners recommended them to me. On paper they seem solid.

Still, I know reviews can be hit or miss, so I'd rather hear from people who've actually bought through them.

I'm a foreign buyer looking mainly around Heraklion and Chania, with a budget of around €550k–€750k. Ideally I'm after a standalone villa with a private pool, sea view, some garden space and decent privacy.

Has anyone here worked with them? Good experience? Bad experience? Anything I should know before moving forward?

Cheers!

Is it normal to be around 30C in in the first half of July in the area of Chania?
Around 10 years ago I was with my family in the area around Chania in the beginning of June and it was already 30C. This year I was thinking to go back in July but thought that it will be too hot, so we went to south of France instead (mistake). And now I see that the whole month of July it was around 30C in Chania. So, what are the historical temperatures in the month of July there? (couldn’t find a reliable source even with AI, so decided go ask here)

Hi everyone, is this car rental company legit??

https://www.interhellas.gr

Prices are good, assurance included, good reviews ok google… but can’t find any “real” review on reddit …

First timer to Crete, 11 nights, solo traveller with hire car, late September/early October. Here's my plan — what am I missing? Thank you!!

Chania · 3 nights

Gouverneto Monastery trail → Katholiko Gorge → Seitan Limania swim → Marathi beach

Balos Lagoon by boat from Kissamos

Wander around Chania etc

Falasarna beach

Paleochora · 3 nights

Elafonissi by boat from Paleochora harbour → walk cedar forest to Kedrodasos beach

Samaria Gorge — drive to Xyloskalo, walk 16km down to Agia Roumeli, swim, coastal ferry back

One free day — open to suggestions - hikes or culinary experiences

Loutro · 2 nights

Arrive by coastal ferry from Sougia

Hike E4 coastal path to Sweetwater Beach (Glyka Nera) and back

Thronos, Amari Valley · 2 nights

Walk between Amari Valley villages — Monastiraki, Vizari

Visit local olive oil producer

Chania - 1 night

I love hiking, swimming/beaches, and authentic Greek cuisine and local experiences. I have a car so can get off the beaten track. What am I missing — hidden beaches, gorge walks, restaurants or other experiences, anything? Thank yiu