We fell in love with Crete already during our first visit to the western part of the island. Back then, the starting point was Chania Airport. For central and eastern Crete, the best starting point is Heraklion Airport. We will explore from the Red Beach, through the historic Knossos Palace, to the largest palm forest on Vai Beach. We recommend renting a car as the roads in Crete are in very good condition.
Detailed Google map with attractions
1. Vai Beach and Surroundings
Vai Beach is located at the eastern tip of Crete and is unique for its palm tree forest, which is the largest in Europe with over 6000 palm trees. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag and offers ideal conditions for sunbathing under the palms and swimming in the beautiful bay. On our Google map, we have marked a viewpoint from where you will have the palm grove in the palm of your hand. Since the entire forest is fenced off, the only official way to access it is through here. The wider area around this beach is also interesting. Walking over the hill towards the south, you can reach the sandy beach of Psili Ammos. On the contrary, to the north of Vai lies the beach of Itanos, where the ruins of the ancient city of Itanos are located. Itanos used to be one of the most developed and powerful places in ancient Crete, had its own coin, and dominated the area of eastern Crete. We will drive to these northern beaches and at the end of the day, we will take a ride to the very end of the island. That is, until there are no concrete blocks and a sign about a military base 🙂
2. Red Beach
A 20-minute hike over a hill of white limestone cliffs leads to Red Beach. You can park in the valley below the hill, but the climb from the end of the parking lot is quite steep. A much better way is along the ridge, starting on the right side of the slope. At the top of the hill, you’ll have a beautiful view of the beach. And is it really red? We’d say the color hint is more toward burgundy 🙂 Then, you descend to the beach, where you first have to pass through an iron gate, which is part of the fencing probably due to goats or sheep. There is a snack bar on the beach, as well as paid sunbeds, or you can just lay down in the sand. The scenery with limestone cliffs and a smooth entry into the sea is perfect. Snorkeling conditions were also very good. Perhaps it’s worth noting that naturists and non-naturists mix here. The question then arises: which part of this beach is officially naturist, since it has another section further away.
3. Palace of Knossos
Knossos is the most famous archaeological site on Crete, where the best-preserved Minoan palace is located. The palace covered an area of about 10,000 m² and is known from mythology as the seat of King Minos with the famous Minotaur’s labyrinth, where Ariadne’s thread was needed for orientation. The entrance fee is €15 per person, but it is definitely worth it. The highlights include the throne room, where you have to wait in line to enter, and a preserved part of the palace’s exterior with three columns and a fresco featuring bulls. The authenticity is enhanced by ancient pottery everywhere, and if there were any magicians around, I would expect them to conjure a snake out of one of them 🙂
4. Matala Beach
Matala Beach was a popular spot for hippies in the 60s and 70s. It is characterized by dark sand and a large rocky cliff with dozens of stone-carved windows. Surprisingly, there is an entrance fee to enter these caves. Another option is to swim and climb to the free left side above the water. The caves have stone tablets carved into them, suggesting they may have served as tombs in the past. This magical beach is ideal for relaxation, swimming, and snorkeling, with excellent opportunities around the rocks.
5. Kolokytha Beach
Kolokytha is a small island connected to the mainland by a thin road, along which you will pass lovely windmills. The narrow off-road track leading to Kolokytha Beach requires maneuvering past oncoming vehicles in wider sections. The final section involves a short walk. Kolokytha Beach is a small bay with white sand and beautiful views of the opposite island. In addition to relaxing swimming, snorkeling was also enjoyable. Excursion boats often visit the bay as part of a trip to Spinalonga.
6. Town of Agios Nikolaos
The city of Agios Nikolaos captivated us with several places along the coast as well as in the hinterland. After parking the car at the harbor, take a walk along the coast where you will find small cozy beaches, various landmarks such as the Abduction of Europe statue, the Horn of Amalthea, or the church of Panagia Vrefotrofos. In the hinterland, a pleasant stop is the freshwater Lake Voulismeni, where you can have lunch or hike up to the viewpoint. Last but not least, Agios Nikolaos is also great for shopping.
7. Triopetra Beach
Triopetra Beach is located west of Matala. It is a large open beach with calm swimming or snorkeling around the rocks. At the end of the beach, there are picturesque rocks stacked like a hamburger. On the way back, we recommend a stop at Agios Pavlos Sandhills’ beach with a large sand dune that you literally have to slide down to reach the beach. In this area, the Lion Fountain in the town of Spili is also worth a visit.
8. Spinalonga Fortress
Spinalonga is a small island with a fortress from the 15th century north of the town of Agios Nikolaos. The Turks besieged the fortress for forty years, but it was never conquered. In the first half of the 20th century, the island was one of the last leper colonies in Europe. The town inside the fortress walls is very beautiful, and you can reach it by boat from the harbor in the village of Plaka. In addition to the transfer (10€ round trip) also includes entrance fee to the fortress amounting to 8€. If you’d like to swim, there is a tiny stone beach called Spinalonga near the harbor.
9. Panagia Kera Church
Panagia Kera Church is a Byzantine church located near the town of Kritsa. It offers the best-preserved frescoes from the Byzantine era in Crete, making it one of the most significant churches on the island. The entrance fee was 3€ and you can also take photos of the frescoes. After visiting the church, make sure not to miss the town of Kritsa, which has a beautiful maze of streets. If they had the money for renovation, it would look like Santorini or Mykonos there.
10. Amnissos Beach
Amnissos Beach is a beautiful white beach near Heraklion airport. You can easily swim here and watch the planes landing. We spent the remaining time here until returning the car.
