Crete Mini Solo Guide: Budget-FriendlyCrete is not only the largest Greek island, but also the largest island in the Mediterranean! In this guide, you will discover the best places to visit on Crete, how to get around the island, and a few things to know before you go!Authorssolowithsav
DestinationsGreeceItinerary

Stays

Vergina Beach Hotel
I stayed at this super beautiful beachfront hotel just outside of Chania, my favorite city on the island that has a lot going on! It was just outside of the city center.
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So Young Hostel
I stayed at this hostel in Heraklion for 3 weeks! The location was close to the port, great affordable restaurants, and other local attractions.
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Things to Do & See

Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The island has a huge history, with findings of tools dating back to 130,000 years ago. The first human settlement on the island began around 6500 BC, and by 3000 BC the Minoan civilization was emerging. In the 2000s BC, the Minoans began building 'palaces,' the remains of which you can still find today. These include Knossos, Phaestus, and Malia. Since that time, there have been influences from Greek mainlanders, the Dorians, the Ottoman Turks, and others. You can find very interesting ruins around the island from these timeframes, as well as artifacts in their museums. My favorite museum on the island, which is a must-see even for those who aren't the biggest museum-goers, is the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. It is so fascinating learning more about the peoples of the island throughout the years.
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Heraklion Venetian Port
Right in downtown Heraklion, you can find this beautiful port area that is wonderful at sunset!
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Secret Beach
Located on the southern part of the island, Matala is a gorgeous town known for its unique history and stunning beaches. You can easily get here via the public buses! There's also a hidden beach (tagged here)—be sure to grab a mojito from the Mojito Master while you're there!
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Preveli beach
This is a gem of the island that is absolutely breathtaking. There are no roads to Preveli Beach, so it can only be accessed by boat or by foot. Preveli Beach is very busy during peak season, so get there early to escape the crowds. The closest towns to Preveli Beach are Plakias and Rethymno.
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Kourtaliótiko Farángi
The Kourtaliotiko Gorge, also known as the Asomatos Gorge, is a gorge on the southern side of the western part of the island of Crete. It's one of the most beautiful places to visit and is very different from other parts of the island. It’s easy to get to Kourtaliotiko Gorge by public bus, and I recommend taking the early morning bus (06:00 on weekdays). I recommend going here from Rethymno. To get to the start of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge hike, you’ll need to take the public bus (KTEL) from Rethymno to Plakias. Get off at Asomatos, the closest bus stop to the gorge. From there, you’ll need to walk 30 to 40 minutes (3 km) to get to the start of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge hike.
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River Trekking at Kourtaliotiko Gorge Waterfalls to Preveli Beach
Book a guided trekking experience of the gorge here!
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Seitan Limania
This is a beautiful, remote swimming spot in a cove surrounded by rock formations. To get to Seitan Limania, you have to drive toward the airport of Chania, turn left right before the airport toward the village of Chordaki, and then follow the signs to Rizoskloko. At some point, you will start seeing small signs that will lead you to the beach. The easiest way to get here is to rent a car from Chania.
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Samaria Gorge
Samaria Gorge is a beautiful area in southwestern Crete. It is a 9.0-mile point-to-point trail near Lakki, Crete, and is generally considered a challenging route. It takes an average of 13 hours and 57 minutes to complete, but of course, you don't have to do the entire route. There are daily buses starting from Chania to the start of the gorge called Xyloskalo. The buses depart from Chania's Central Bus Station at 06:45 and 08:15. The fare for a single trip is 7.50 euros, or the round trip is 14.80 euros.
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Elafonissi Beach
Elafonissi Beach is a pink sand beach located on the southwestern point of the island. There is no entrance fee, but the easiest way to get here is to rent a car. The journey takes about 1.5 hours from Chania, and free parking is available. Another option is to join a guided tour or take the Elafonissi Express Bus, which arrives in the morning and goes back at 4:30 pm.
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Elafonisi Beach Private Full Day Tour From Chania
Book a guided tour that's a day trip from Chania with this experience!
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Balos Beach
This is known as the most beautiful beach on Crete. It's located on the very western end of the island and there are a few ways to get here. I recommend booking a day trip from the Kissamos Port which you can easily get to via the public bus from Chania.
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