Heraklion or Chania? It’s an Easy Choice (PLUS: the Perfect 5 Day Crete Itinerary)

Greece’s largest island has airports in both Heraklion and Chania so which is better? Here’s our pick, plus how to spend 5 epic days on Crete.

“Decision time. What’s it going to be, Heraklion or Chania?” I queried my favorite travel accomplice, Shannon, as we waited to board our flight from Riga, Latvia to Vilnius, Lithuania.

“Or Rethymno or Agios Nikolaos?” she countered, with an exasperated sigh.

This exchange mirrored all previous deliberations over where to call home on our upcoming visit to Crete Greece – the country’s largest island.

We were smack in the middle of a 30-day, 15-stop European summer adventure and if we didn’t end this dance of procrastination soon, we’d be landing in Crete homeless.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle).  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

Our cheap-o Ryan Air flight from Sardinia (via Rome) landed in Chania, on the western end of the island. Logic dictated spending (at least) the first night there.

But our outbound flight 5 days later would depart from the eastern city of Heraklion.

Further complicating our decision? There is plenty to see in between.

Thus, the Cretan Dilemma…Heraklion or Chania?

Usually, picking the right hotel is one of my biggest hurdles in travel planning.

But with Crete, you must first choose between beachy resort areas (Agios Nikolaos, Elounda), charming harbor towns (Chania, Rethymno), or a history-rich city port (Heraklion).

East or West. Big or small. Beach, history, or nightlife?

Finally, while searching Chania hotels on Booking.com, we found a great rate on a small, basic hotel in a terrific location near the harbor. It seemed like a sign, so we booked it for the first two nights.

We decided to throw caution to the wind and figure out the rest when we arrived.

Here’s how it went…

How we spent our 5 days on Crete

Don’t have time to read the full post (you should, it’s great!) here’s our 5-day Crete itinerary in a nutshell:

1. Arrival in Chania (swoon), decide to spend all 5 nights there.
2. Day Trip to Elafonisi Beach from Chania.
3. Day Trip to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon from Chania.
4. Explore Chania and take a glass-bottom boat trip.
5. Early bus to Heraklion and an afternoon exploring Knossos.

But read on for all the juicy details and whether spending all 5 nights in Chania turned out to be the right decision.

What Makes Crete Unique?

For centuries the natural beauty of Crete was at the mercy of pirate fleets and the conquests of formidable Mediterranean powers. The Greeks, Romans, Venetians, and Turks each left their cultural mark on the island.

As a result of this confluence of cultures, Crete evolved a national identity that is entirely unique from the rest of Greece.

Even today, when the locals refer to their traditional dishes or local products like olive oil or honey, it’s always as “Cretan,” never Greek. In fact, it wasn’t until 1913 that Crete formally joined with Greece.

Today, it’s one of Greece’s most popular islands to visit and makes my list as one of The 7 Best Greek Islands to Visit This Summer (2024).

How to get to Crete – flight or ferry?

If you’re coming from Athens, there are plenty of options for both ferries and flights.

If you’re coming from mainland Europe, you’ll find a number of direct flight options (like we did) into Crete.

From Athens, a quick flight makes the most sense due to Crete’s distance from the mainland. But if you prefer a ferry, the ride will take you anywhere from 6-9 hours with several stops along the way.

Tip: The absolute best site for booking ferries in Greece is FerryHopper.com.

With the basics covered, let’s get back to how we allocated our 5 day itinerary for Crete.

Day 1. Love at First Sight in Chania

After landing at the Chania airport, we grab a taxi to our hotel.

Our bargain hotel pick in Chania turns out to be a genius decision. Shannon and I immediately fall in love with the quaint harbor town of Chania the minute we see it (ultimately deciding to spend our entire 5 days in Crete there).

I didn’t think anything could top my previous Greek Islands favorite, Mykonos, but Chania just might come close.

Our room at Nikolas Rooms is small and very basic. However, the location is superb, with a lovely view of the town square and church and just steps away from the harbor…all for about $100 a night.

Chania is our base for the first two nights of our 5 days in Crete, but the question remains. Where to stay for our last three nights?

And more importantly, what are the best things to do in Crete to fill our days? We spend the rest of Day 1 investigating the best things to do near Chania.

The Top 2 Things To Do Near Chania

For a little professional guidance, we head straight to the local travel office for a map and some local advice. The office is extremely helpful and we quickly nail down the two main things we want to do while on the western end of the island:

1. Visit the pink sands of Elafonisi Beach
2. Take a day trip to Gramvousa and Balos islands

The bus to Elafonissi departs and returns at two set times each day. Judging the morning time a bit aggressive for a proper Greek island holiday, we opt to rent a car for tomorrow to drive ourselves.

Tip: When it comes to booking rental cars in Europe, DiscoverCars.com is my go-to site:

Then, we book the standard ferry boat trip to Gramvousa and Balos for the following day.

The Balos day trip means we’ll be gone all of our third day, so it makes sense to stay put at Nikolas Rooms for a third night.

Three nights down, two more to go.

Sidebar: We were also interested in taking a day trip over to the island of Santorini but quickly learned that one is much easier to tackle from Heraklion (one point for staying in Heraklion over Chania).

We’ll save that for another time, there’s plenty to see on this side of the island.

Read More: 3 Things to Know About a Crete to Santorini Day Trip

New Ferry Service to Milos!

Though a Santorini day trip is tough if you’re staying in Chania, I have some good news. SeaJets will soon launch a new fast ferry service from Chania to the delightful island of Milos. The ferry leaves in the morning and returns in the evening so, in theory, it is possible to do it as a day trip (this route begins June 21, 2024).

But there’s plenty to do on Crete to keep you busy for weeks, so let’s get back to it!

Day 2. A Day Trip to Elafonisi Beach

The plan for our first full day in Crete:

1 – Make the 90-minute drive across the mountainous center of the island to Elafonisi Beach on the southwest corner

2 – Maximize our 1-day car rental by checking out the picturesque harbor of Rethymno to see if it is any better than Chania (which doesn’t seem possible).

Driving on the Island of Crete

We pick up our rental car at Car Rental Crete by Rental Center Crete at a respectable 9:00am to begin our day of island adventure.

Once on the road, the drive involves several white-knuckle, winding roads through the mountains. It takes nearly two hours to get to Elafonisi, instead of the estimated 90 minutes.

Pink Beach Paradise at Elafonisi Beach

But it is definitely worth the ambitious drive, Elafonisi is absolutely stunning.

More than just a simple beach, Elafonisi actually a peninsula of several beaches. At various tides, it even becomes its own island. The shallow, sparkling turquoise sea extends at knee-high depth for what seems like miles.

It brings to mind some of my favorite endless lagoons in the South Pacific, like Aitutaki and Moorea. It is just fantastic.

Though it isn’t a bold shade of pink, the pink crystals of sand in the shoreline are easy to see. I’ve never seen a pink beach before, so I thought Elafonisi was amazing.

Posted signs warn visitors not to damage the natural environment by taking any of the pink sand (this is apparently a problem).

We explore the various coves of Elafonisi and spend some quality time lounging on the pink sands. But by mid-afternoon, it’s time to hit the road if we’re going to squeeze in a trip to Reythmno.

A quick stop in Reythmno

Three hours later, we arrive in the harbor of Reythmno. It is lovely, but it’s no match for Chania. We definitely made the right choice between Chania and Reythmno.

We get some ice cream and stroll the port’s shop-lined, cobbled lanes. An hour later, we’re back in the car bound for Chania.

Stick with Chania or Move On?

That night, over dinner in the harbor, we make the easy decision to spend our final two nights in Chania as well.

However, it’s time to upgrade our hotel situation and splurge on a room with a view. We’ve been secretly coveting several hotels around the harbor with terraces and (what must be) incredible views.

A Room with a View in Chania

As we eat, we search rates for our top picks. We identify a few favorites and then narrow it down to three:

1. The Plaza Apartment, which has a spacious terrace and sweeping views of the harbor. Sadly, a quick check reveals it is fully booked for the week.

2. Captain Vasilis Hotel – Also boasting a striking terrace and pristine location in the harbor.

3. Erietta Suites Hotel – Great views of the harbor, reasonable rates…but also fully booked for the next two nights.

So we go straight to the source and walk right into the lobby at Captain Vasilis to ask if we can see a room. The helpful manager shows us around the small B&B and up to the terrace we’ve spotted from the harbor.

The view is simply incredible. SOLD!

The rate is nearly twice what we were paying at Nikolas Rooms, but it is a considerable upgrade for a very reasonable price.

We book it on the spot for our last two nights.

Day 3. Gramvousa and Balos Islands

For our third day on Crete, we have another full day planned. First up, we catch the 8:00am bus to the port of Kissamos.

From there, we’ll hook up with our boat for the day.

We arrive at the port around 9:30am and are mildly alarmed at the size of the ship. There are easily 400 people aboard the large ferry boat.

We immediately fear this might be one of those obnoxious group tours, elbow to elbow on the beach with everyone else.

But we shouldn’t have worried.

Despite the large number of people aboard, both islands are huge. There is plenty of room for us to carve out our own little bit of serenity at each stop, away from the crowds.

After a one-hour sail from Kissamos, we arrive at our first stop, the more ambitious of the two, Gramvousa Island.

First stop, Gramvousa

Gramvousa features a perfect stretch of white sand beach, complete with an awesome shipwreck peeking up from the emerald sea just offshore.

However, the island’s top sight is easily the Venetian castle towering atop a steep rock, 500ft above sea level. It’s considered one of the most impressive castles in Crete, so like most of our fellow passengers, we make the climb to the top instead of lounging around on the beach.

The climb is tough in the mid-day heat, but we are rewarded with incredible views of the sea from every corner of the castle.

The island itself explodes with colorful flora and fauna and has tremendous views of our next stop, Balos Island. By the time we climb back down, the ship is blasting its departure horn.

So much for beach time!

The Spectacular Balos Lagoon

Our next stop at the Balos Lagoon is all about relaxation.

Like Elafonissi yesterday, the beach is actually a vast lagoon with several different beach areas. Deciding to forgo the more crowded umbrella and beach chair area, we find a quiet area off to the side of the main beach and spread out our towels to relax for a while.

It is a splendid way to spend an afternoon.

We enjoy nearly three hours of relaxation time on Balos before it’s time to head back to Kissamos for the drive back to Chania.

Day 4. A Vacation from our Crete Vacation

For our fourth day on Crete, there are lots of things we could do.

The other major day trip on this end of the island is hiking the Samaria Gorge, a rugged 6-hour hike that’s supposed to be fabulous. We could also take the local bus to any number of beaches along the coast.

What we actually do is take a vacation from our (so far) exhausting vacation. And not just our Crete vacation. We’ve been sightseeing at full-throttle for two weeks straight. We are spent.

A day to relax, sleep in, and not plan anything is definitely in order. So after a serene morning, we head over to our new hotel at the very civilized hour of 11:00am.

An Upgrade to Captain Vasilis

The room at Captain Vasilis is just as fantastic as we hoped. Twice the size of the one we’ve been sharing for the past three nights. It even has a Jacuzzi tub with a million-dollar view of the harbor.

We’ve been wishing for a giant tub in which to soak our tired legs for a week and finally, we have one! Trade-off times for the tub are immediately established as we settle into our fancy new digs.

Later, we grab lunch and finally take a stroll around the harbor’s Venetian walls and out to the lighthouse. Chania’s architecture has a strong Venetian-Turkish influence which really adds to its charm.

The town was also heavily bombed during WWII and some of its unique atmosphere is due to a variety of nearly demolished buildings being reinvented as shops and restaurants.

That afternoon we try out one of the many glass-bottom boat trips available from Chania harbor.

We opt for the 2-hour trip with Captain Nick’s Boat Tours which circles Thodorou and Lazaretta islands and over the top of wreckage from an airplane shot down in World War II.

It’s another gorgeous day and the boat tour is the perfect way to get out on the water and get a look at some of the other beaches near Chania.

Last Night in Chania

We make the most of our terrace tonight with a sunset glass of wine. Then choose a new spot for dinner and try to come up with a plan for Heraklion.

I have a flight out tomorrow night to Rhodes. But Shannon has two more nights on Crete and still needs to secure a room on that side of the island.

Day 5. The Port City of Heraklion

For my last day on Crete, we hop on the 9:00am bus from Chania to Heraklion and arrive in town just after 11:00am. My flight doesn’t depart until 8:00pm tonight, so we have plenty of time left to explore Heraklion and visit the nearby Minoan Palace of Knossos.

Shannon’s hotel is the gorgeous Aquila Atlantis Hotel near the port and we find it easily after a short walk from the bus stop.

Heraklion is exactly as our local friends in Chania described it, a big city. Though the harbor area is pretty and the hotel is fabulous, the town itself is definitely lacking the charm and character of Chania.

We are instantly certain we made the right decision about where to spend our time while on Crete.

We ditch our luggage in Shannon’s room and wander the old Venetian port area for a bit before catching the bus over to Knossos.

Ancient History at Knossos

For many visitors to Crete, Knossos is the main attraction.

Excavation of the site containing two major Minoan palaces begun under Arthur Evans in 1900. Prior to that time, little was known about the ancient Minoan people.

While his actions at Knossos may have been controversial to some, it sure helps those of us without an archaeology degree gain a better appreciation for the place.

Like many of the incredible ruins I’ve seen across Greece in Athens and the island of Cyprus, it’s a fascinating site to visit and explore.

After wandering Knossos for a while, we grab the bus back into the city. There is just enough time for one last Cretan meal before I leave for the airport.

Heraklion vs Chania: Did We Make the Right Decision?

Our lack of initial planning turned out to be a solid strategy. When we fell in love with Chania we were able to pivot and spend our whole stay there.

I’m a natural planner (it’s what I do for a living), so it was a struggle for me to leave Crete to work itself out upon arrival. But the fact that it worked out so perfectly has inspired me to consider a more relaxed approach to travel planning going forward.

Maybe.

So, yes, we made the right decision by choosing Chania over Heraklion. It’s Crete’s most beautiful town and some of the island’s best beaches are an easy day trip away.

Next up, a late-night flight to Rhodes before continuing on to the Greek island I’m most excited about on this trip, Symi!

Read More: Sparkling Symi is the Best Greek Island You’ve Never Heard Of

Looking for more fantastic Greek Islands to explore? Start here:

Must-See Milos: 5 Things You Can’t Miss on this Glorious Greek Island

7 Reasons Naxos is the Best Greek Island (for Pretty Much Everything)

5 Reasons to Fall in Love with Paros Greece (Hint: Antiparos is one)

Greek Island Showdown: Naxos or Paros – Which one is BEST for You?

How to Plan the Perfect Santorini Honeymoon (on a budget!)