Looking for a week’s vacation in Crete? Here’s a one-week program to discover the northern part of Crete, from Heraklion via Milatos to Elounda in the east.
The Crete is the largest Greek island. Impossible to see everything in a week. So choices have to be made. The proposal below is very subjective and will only allow you to visit a small part of Crete… but it is interesting because it allows you to combine authentic Crete with the discovery of the hinterland, lazing by the sea in Elounda but also culture.
A well-balanced, relaxing program, without the need to drive too far… and that’ll make you think about coming back to discover the rest of Crete. This was the program we had concocted for our own vacation. Tested and approved. Best done out of season. The Easter period is ideal, as are June and September.
Let us guide you!
1 – Arrival in Heraklion
First formality for this week’s vacation in Crete: book your flight. We recommend landing at Heraklion airport, which has the advantage of being well served, with direct international flights. Alternatively, if you need to, make a stopover in Athens. It’s only a 35-minute flight from Heraklion to the Greek capital, and there are several flights a day, all year round.
In particular, you’ll find several flights operated by Greece’s leading airline, Aegean Airlines.
Don’t forget to reserve a vehicle before you arrive. A car is essential for getting around the island easily. There are many rental companies at Heraklion airport. The site Rentalcars is ideal for comparing car rental options and rates.
Another alternative: Welcome Pickups which offers cab services and sightseeing excursions in Crete from Heraklion and Chania.
2 – First taste of vacations in Crete at Milatos Village
For the first stage of this week, we recommend spending two or three nights with Alice and Kat, two French women who have opened a pretty little establishment called Milatos Village, somewhere between a hotel and a guesthouse, amidst olive groves, near the village of Milatos. You’ll be pampered with a breakfast of home-made pastries and traditional Cretan products, a large swimming pool, and rooms with a simple, elegant decor. And above all, excellent value for money (rooms from €50). Friendly atmosphere.
Alice and Kat know the area like the back of their hand, and can recommend beautiful walks and off-the-beaten-track beaches.
From Milatos, take the opportunity to go hiking, discover gorges (Richti Gorge or Selinari Gorge, for example), climb to the Lassithi plateau, stroll through inland villages where you’ll see centuries-old olive trees and small traditional craftsmen. Alice and Kat also offer agrotourism programs, in small groups (8 pers max) to meet the people of the Cretan terroirs: wine and olive oil producers, beekeepers, shepherd-cheesemakers, botanists, bronze craftsmen….
Find out more on the website of Milatos Village, the establishment run by Alice and Kat.
3 – Second stage: Farniente in Elounda
A change of atmosphere for the second stage of your week’s vacation in Crete: Elounda. We recommend spending two or three nights here. A seaside ambience for this small port. The aim here is to relax and enjoy the sea: strolls along the water’s edge, lazing on the beach, swimming, dining on the harbor in good fish taverns facing the sea.
We recommend spending a few hours on the island of Spinalonga, an exceptionally beautiful site steeped in history. You can book the boat trip from Agios Nikolaos in advance (free cancellation, entrance to the Spinalonga site not included).
From Elounda, you can take a day trip to Agios Nikolaos (20 minutes by car). This small town, built around an enclosed lake, has a lot of charm.
Mochlos is also worth a visit, and is a little more off the beaten track than other places in the region. If you go, stop for lunch at the Dimitris tavern.
Also worth a visit from Elounda: the village of Kritsa or Voulisma beach.
And our favorite beach ♥️: Kolokitha Beach. A tiny cove with translucent waters. On the way back, a stop at the charming Kanali tavern is a must.
For dinner, try the Despina taverna in Elounda or the Giovanni fish restaurant in Plaka.
For accommodation, we haven’t tested it ourselves, but we recommend Villa Olga Ellinika, located between Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Highly rated on Booking, it offers tastefully renovated and decorated accommodation, warm and helpful hosts, a swimming pool and superb sea views.
You can also search for other rental ideas on the Airbnb website.
4 – A few days in Heraklion to round off this week’s vacation in Crete
Before you leave, we recommend that you round off your week’s vacation in Crete with a day or two in Heraklion. Don’t miss the archaeological museum. It is absolutely essential. Smaller than that of Athens and on a human scale, it conceals some real treasures. Even our kids loved it!
Also worth a visit from Heraklion: the archaeological site of Knossos, one of Greece’s major archaeological sites.
We recommend the following options for your visit:
- Day trip from Heraklion: Knossos and Lassithi Plateau for a guided tour.
- Combined tickets for Heraklion Archaeological Museum + Knossos Palace.
- This 3D Tour of Knossos palace to better understand and visualize the site in Minoan times.
Take advantage of this stopover in Heraklion to wander through the narrow streets and stroll along the seafront citadel.
Last but not least, for your accommodation, you’ll find on Booking a wide range of accommodation in the center of Heraklion, or if you prefer the beach, on the seafront towards Amoudara (to the west of Heraklion) or Episkopi (to the east). And also other rentals on Airbnb.
5 – Want more?
Then, take a look at our other articles about Crete:
Finally, now all you have to do is leave. We wish you a wonderful week’s vacation in Crete!
Laure M.
Updated January 29, 2024
