Shopping · Crete · Greece
Shopping in Crete
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Venetia84, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Crete is good for food products and crafts: olive oil, honey, herbs and cheese, plus leather goods and handmade knives in Chania. Best souvenirs: Cretan olive oil, Thyme honey and Cretan knives.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Cretan olive oil
Where to shop
Chania Old Town
Skridlof street's leather shops, knife makers and craft stores in the old lanes.
Rethymno Old Town
Craft shops, ceramics and food products in the lanes below the Fortezza.
Heraklion centre
Daedalou street and the area around Lions Square for shopping and cafés.
Markets
1866 Street market, Heraklion
A long market street of herbs, cheese, olives, honey and raki.
Weekly laiki markets
Street markets in each town selling seasonal produce, olives and cheese.
What to buy
Cretan olive oil
Extra virgin oil from local producers, some with protected-origin labels.
Thyme honey
Aromatic honey from the island's mountain herbs.
Cretan knives
Handmade knives, sometimes engraved with mantinades, from Chania's knife makers.
Leather sandals and boots
Handmade leather goods from Chania's leather lane.
Dittany and mountain herbs
Dried dittany (diktamo), sage and oregano for tea and cooking.
Raki
A bottle of tsikoudia from a village distiller or specialist shop.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Kalitsounia, Sfakian pie, Graviera and Apaki. Bakeries and tavernas across Crete, especially around Easter. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Chania Old Town | $$$ | Venetian harbour, lighthouse and lanes of restored mansions in the west |
| Kissamos | $$ | Small, unhurried town in the far west, close to Balos and Falasarna |
| Heraklion | $$ | Crete's capital and transport hub, with the Minoan museum and Knossos nearby |
| Hersonissos and Malia | $$ | Package-holiday resorts east of Heraklion, with beaches and nightlife |
| Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | $$$$ | Harbour town on a lake and the luxury resorts of Mirabello Bay |
| Plakias | $$ | South-coast village with a long beach, hiking and quiet evenings |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Service is usually not included. Leaving about 5–10% in restaurants is customary, and rounding up for taxis and cafés is common.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in November–March; the busiest months are July–August.
- July: Village wine and food festivals (summer weekends)
- August: Dormition of the Virgin — village festivals across the island (15 August)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Crete?
Cretan olive oil, Thyme honey, Cretan knives and Leather sandals and boots.
+Where is the best shopping in Crete?
Chania Old Town: Skridlof street's leather shops, knife makers and craft stores in the old lanes.
+What are the best markets in Crete?
1866 Street market, Heraklion and Weekly laiki markets.