Outdoors · Crete · Greece
8 best outdoor things to do in Crete
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Parisdent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Samaria Gorge, Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa and Elafonisi. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 33–44 hours across 7 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 33–44 hours
- Areas
- White Mountains, Kissamos and Southwest Crete
Outdoors in Crete
Nature · White Mountains
1.Samaria Gorge
Start early, wear proper hiking shoes and carry water and snacks; the descent is hard on knees and takes most people 5–7 hours.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Beach · Kissamos
2.Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa
Take the first boat or go by car early to see the lagoon from the viewpoint path before the crowds arrive.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Southwest Crete
3.Elafonisi
Visit early or late in the day; avoid taking sand or shells, as the area is a protected nature reserve.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Lasithi Plateau
4.Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave
Wear shoes with grip for the cave path and bring a layer; the plateau is cooler than the coast.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- History
Beach · Plakias
5.Preveli Beach and palm forest
The path down from the car park is steep and takes about 15 minutes; boats from Plakias or Agia Galini are an alternative in summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Free
Neighbourhood · Sfakia
6.Loutro
Stay a night or two to enjoy the silence after the day-trippers leave.
- Time needed
- Full day or overnight
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Nature
Nature · Sfakia
7.Imbros Gorge
Arrange a taxi back up to Imbros from Komitades, or walk it as part of a day trip to Chora Sfakion.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Sitia
8.Vai Palm Beach
Combine it with Toplou Monastery and the Minoan site at Zakros on a day in the east.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| White Mountains | Samaria Gorge | Full day |
| Kissamos | Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa | Full day |
| Southwest Crete | Elafonisi | Half a day |
| Lasithi Plateau | Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave | Half a day |
| Plakias | Preveli Beach and palm forest | Half a day |
| Sfakia | Loutro and Imbros Gorge | Full day or overnight + Half a day |
| Sitia | Vai Palm Beach | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 5 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Samaria Gorge; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 8 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (White Mountains): Samaria Gorge, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Kissamos): Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Southwest Crete): Elafonisi, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Lasithi Plateau): Lasithi Plateau and the Dikteon Cave, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Plakias): Preveli Beach and palm forest, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Sfakia): Loutro, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Sfakia): Imbros Gorge, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 8 (Sitia): Vai Palm Beach, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 2 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm, sunny and green, with the Samaria Gorge usually opening; the sea warms through the month.
- July: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season: hot and busy, with strong meltemi winds at times; beaches like Balos and Elafonisi are crowded by late morning.
- September: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm sea, fewer crowds and the grape harvest; one of the best months for beaches and hiking.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Kissamos — Small, unhurried town in the far west, close to Balos and Falasarna
- Plakias — South-coast village with a long beach, hiking and quiet evenings
More of Crete
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Crete?
Samaria Gorge. One of Europe's best-known gorge hikes runs about 16 km from the Omalos plateau down to the sea at Agia Roumeli, through pine forest and the Iron Gates, where the walls close to a few metres apart.
+Which of these are free in Crete?
Elafonisi and Preveli Beach and palm forest.