The best places to visit in Crete

Crete packs a whole country's worth of unmissable sights in between its lovely shores. From the ornate architecture and culture of Hania to the deeply symbolic monastery at Moni Preveli, there is so much to see on Greece's largest island that many visitors come back again and again. Alongside the 4000-year-old Palace of Knossos – one of the world's top ancient sites – allow plenty of time for the island's gorgeous beaches, then pair a vineyard tour with delicious local cuisine when you're ready to tear yourself away from the coast.

Basking under intense blue skies, Crete calls out to be explored at any time of year. Ferries and buses connect the towns, resorts and beaches along the coast, but renting a car is the easiest way to get around the mountainous interior.

Whether you're lured here by the history, the beach scene or the wine and food, Crete will hit the spot. Plan where to go in Crete around these eight of our favorite places.

1. Hania

Best city for dining

Crete's second-largest city has many excellent places to eat, lining the labyrinth of ancient stone lanes that make up its 17th-century Venetian quarter. Some of the finest food in all of Greece can be found in Crete, thanks to the bountiful produce sourced from the island's farms and the ingenuity of local cooks.

For variety and quality of food, Hania is indisputably the island's culinary capital. Stop in at sidewalk cafes to snack on boureki (a rich, layered cheese pie), and appreciate the myriad ways that Cretans use locally produced olive oil, which is some of the best in the Mediterranean.

Start a foodie journey at unpretentious local tavernas such as Pinaleon Fine Kitchen and Kouzina EPE and garden restaurants such as Astrea Garden and Kritamon Wine Restaurant.

Detour: Before and after a meal, stroll down to the Venetian Harbor, which is studded with pastel-colored buildings and fortifications built across seven centuries. Follow the breakwater out from shore for stunning views of the city's waterfront.

2. Bali's beaches

Best for families

No, you don't have to go all the way to Indonesia for a Bali beach experience; just come to this azure bay on Crete's north coast. In Crete, the name Bali is derived from a Turkish word for honey, which was once harvested around this village. Those days are long gone, so modern visitors come to harvest fabulous holiday memories.

A string of beaches with distinct personalities dot the coves lining the shoreline around Bali village. Livadi is perfect for families with teenagers who revel in the party vibe at the cafes and clubs along the water. Couples looking for romantic evenings enjoy Varkotopo, with its elegant bars oriented toward the sunset views. Families with toddlers in tow are drawn to Karavostasi, the quietest beach; it's well-suited for smaller kids, who can build castles on sand lapped by gentle waves.

Planning tip: Bali is right on – really right on – the main Hania–Rethymno–Iraklio highway. It’s spread out, and it’s a long and undulating walk from one end to the other – 25 minutes or more.

3. Knossos

Best for Minoan history

South of Iraklio in eastern Crete, the Palace of Knossos is Crete's most unmissable attraction. Once a mighty Minoan palace, Knossos had its heyday in the second millennium BCE, and archaeologists have uncovered links to the legend of King Minos and the Minotaur. Visitors can view a sprawling collection of marketplaces, grand chambers, inspiring frescoes, hidden passages and rows of sturdy columns.

You can easily spend several hours exploring the site, but it can get crowded during the busy summer months. Look for a quiet corner to escape the crowds and contemplate life 4000 years ago. Signage is sparse, so engage the services of a guide or join a tour for vital context that will bring the site to life.

Planning tip: Avoid the touristy restaurants in the area and have lunch in the beautiful wine country to the south. Arhanes has numerous wineries in surrounding villages.

4. Iraklio wine country

Best for wine

Crete's wine is popular far beyond the island, and 70% of it comes from the lush valleys and plains south of Iraklio and the Palace of Knossos. Quiet back roads meander over and around gentle hills lined with grapevines producing varietals such as kotsifali, mandilari and malvasia. It seems like there's a vineyard, tasting room or taverna around every curve.

You can join organized wine tours of the region or go exploring under your own steam (easiest by car), letting your whims, moods and tastes guide you. There are more than two dozen wineries here; notable stops include the hugely popular Boutari and Minos-Miliarakis, which sits right in the middle of the lovely village of Peza.

Planning tip: If you're inclined to take a wine tour (and let someone else do the driving while you sample the local wines), Made in Crete is a popular operator.

5. Crete's southwest coast

Best for beaches

The journey to Crete's best beaches starts with a twisting drive through the mountains and down to the charming port town of Hora Sfakion. As you loop around bend after bend, panoramic views across the Libyan Sea show off the rocky Cretan coast in its filigreed glory.

Stretching to the horizon are coves enclosing perfect beaches, often backed by villages fronted by waterfront tavernas. Make a beeline for Loutro, Agia Roumeli, Paleohora and the crowning glory that is Elafonisi, renowned for its pinkish sand and the dune-blanketed islet offshore.

Planning tip: You can reach most of these beaches by car, but it's better to grab a ride on one of the coastal ferries that operate from May to September, making it easy to hop from one strip of sand to the next.

6. Moni Arkadiou

Best for Cretan history

In 1866, scores of local men, women and children fled their villages and sought refuge in this 16th-century hilltop monastery when Ottoman troops tried to put down islandwide revolts. Completely surrounded, the villagers chose to blow themselves up with a cache of explosives rather than surrender, killing more than 2000 Turkish troops in the process. The site is a potent symbol of the Cretan spirit and the Greek quest for independence, with displays and statues memorializing the siege. The monastery's 16th-century Venetian church survived, and it's a lovely spectacle, with a glittering interior full of sacred icons. Don't miss the wine cellar where the gunpowder used by the villagers was stored.

Detour: While you're in the area, pay a visit to the Museum of Ancient Eleutherna and its surrounding Minoan tombs – an easy add-on to a day trip to Moni Arkadiou from Rethymno.

7. Samaria Gorge

Best for hiking

The Samaria Gorge is one of Europe's top geological wonders. Sheer rock walls tower 150m above a rocky riverbed, standing less than 3m apart in the most dramatic stretches of the gorge. In other areas, the Samaria Gorge opens up into a wide green valley framed by soaring hills, tracing the path of a year-round river.

The best way to see it is by hiking its 16km length, starting from the village of Omalos at an elevation of 1230m and ending at the coastal village of Agia Roumeli, which has an appealing beach and ferry connections to Loutro and other beach hubs along the coast.

Only open from May to October, the hiking trail gets busy at the height of summer, but temperatures are better for hiking in late spring and early fall. Sights include old churches and seasonal wildflowers; if you're lucky, you might also spot a kri-kri, a species of mountain goat native to Crete.

Planning tip: If you're not up for the full hike, you can get a sense of the gorge on short walks in and out from the start and end points.

8. Moni Preveli

Best for beaches with history

One of Crete's most beautiful and historic monasteries is perched on a bluff high above one of the island's best beaches. The star attraction at Moni Preveli is its ornate chapel, which features artworks dating back to the 13th century. Memorials at the site recall the 1866 resistance to the Ottoman Empire and the role the monastery played in sheltering Allied troops during WWII. Far below the complex, Preveli Beach is shaded by palm trees and has river-fed freshwater pools; crystal clear turquoise seawater laps the sand, and the beach's low-key seaside tavernas are ideal stops for lunch.

Planning tip: Moni Preveli is an easy place to break the journey between Rethymno and Plakias, traveling either by car or bus.