Solo travel · Crete · Greece
Solo travel in Crete
How to enjoy Crete at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lourakis, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Crete is welcoming for solo travellers: KTEL buses link the main towns, hiking routes are well used and tavernas are relaxed about single diners. Chania and Rethymno have hostels and lively old towns. Many solo travellers base themselves in Kissamos.
Key facts
- Base
- Kissamos
- Getting around
- Car
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Language
- Greek
Solo travel tips
- Base yourself in Chania or Rethymno for bus links and old-town evenings.
- Join organised Samaria Gorge or Balos day trips if you don't want to drive.
- Tell someone your plans when hiking alone, and carry water and a charged phone.
- Eat at raki bars, where small plates come with each drink.
- Travel in May, June or September for better-value single rooms.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and beach
Kissamos
Kissamos is a low-key town on a wide bay, with a port for boats to Balos and Gramvousa and easy drives to Falasarna and Elafonisi. Guesthouses and apartments are better value than in Chania, and the town has an everyday Cretan feel.
- Good
- Base for the western beaches; Good value; Local atmosphere
- Watch out
- Few sights in town; Long drive to central and eastern Crete
- Nearby
- Balos, Falasarna, Gramvousa
Great on your own
Historic site · Heraklion
Knossos
Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid the heat and tour groups, and see the museum in Heraklion the same day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Museum · Heraklion
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Visit after Knossos so the frescoes and objects connect to what you have just seen.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Beach · Kissamos
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
Island · Agios Nikolaos and Elounda
Spinalonga
Take the short boat from Plaka, and allow time for a swim and lunch in Plaka afterwards.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Views
Castle · Rethymno
Rethymno Old Town and Fortezza
Visit the Fortezza late in the afternoon for the sunset view over the sea.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Historic site · Messara plain
Phaistos and Gortyn
Combine both sites in a morning and finish with a swim and lunch at Matala.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Meeting people
- Village taverna lunch — Drive up into the hills for a long lunch of local cheese, meat and greens at a family taverna, often with produce from their own land.
- Raki and meze — Rakadika serve small plates with each round of raki, a sociable way to eat in Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion.
- Malia — A strip of bars and clubs popular with young groups in summer.
- Hersonissos — Seafront bars and clubs with a mixed resort crowd.
Sensible precautions
Crete is generally relaxed for visitors. Take care on narrow, winding mountain roads, carry plenty of water and sun protection on gorge hikes, and respect warning flags on windy west- and north-coast beaches, where currents can be strong.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Staying connected
- EU roaming applies to European SIMs; coverage is good in towns but patchy in deep gorges and remote south-coast areas.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Crete good for solo travellers?
Crete is welcoming for solo travellers: KTEL buses link the main towns, hiking routes are well used and tavernas are relaxed about single diners. Chania and Rethymno have hostels and lively old towns.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Crete?
Kissamos: Small, unhurried town in the far west, close to Balos and Falasarna.