Crete Travel Guide - Things To Do

Take a tour on a pirate ship: pirate ship tours are a popular and fun thing to do here with the Barbarossa and Captain Hook providing the entertainment. The ships are designed to look like pirate ships and the crew are appropriately dressed in full pirate gear. The ships generally sail out to Marathi or Bali.

Marathi has some great secluded beaches where you can really get away from it all. The small Cretan village of Bali has its own beach and is a pleasant place to while away a few hours. Each boat stops on the way for photographs and some pirate related games, a good day out for families with kids.

Enjoy the views from the Lassithi Plateau: situated 800 metres above sea level in the Dictean Mountains, the Lassithi Plateau offers some of the most beautiful views of Crete. The Dictean Cave (the birthplace of Zeus according to legend) also offers some stunning views of the plateau, where olive trees thrive.

Shop and enjoy an evening at Hersonissos Port: Hersonissos harbour is famous for its nightlife, with many bars, tavernas and restaurants close to the water’s edge making it a lovely place to enjoy an evening meal.

Go hiking: for many people, hiking is the best way to really discover Crete. You’ll also find the mountainous island a great way to get some good exercise. There are many trekking paths here, although not all are well signed, so be careful not to get lost.

Samaria Gorge is one of the most popular trekking areas and is easy to cross; although some of the island’s other gorges are suitable only for hikers and climbers with specialist skills. If you go trekking in the summer be sure to wear a hat and take plenty of water.