Here you will find all of the best places to stay, restaurants to eat at, and tourist attractions that the family has to do before your stay in Crete comes to an end.
5 Restaurants to Visit While In Crete
Fish taverna on the shoreline of Nea Chora that serves predominantly seafood dishes but also has meat dishes too. You can sit right on the quay and get great views, but they also have indoor seating if the weather is bad.
Located in Elounda and directly on the quay, you get a great view of the Elounda Bay from the outdoor tables and even greater food.
People in Greece don't really eat breakfast, however this place caters to it's tourists and offers high quality food. Located on Nea Chora, it offers shaded outside tables and beachside views, and whether you just want some coffee, breakfast, or smaller snacks throughout the day, this is the place to go.
In Old Town Chania, you can eat Italian favorites in a grapevine shaded courtyard and enjoy a romantic evening filled with great views and ambiance.
This small restaurant in Old Town Chania has extremely high quality food, whether it be meals or just snacks. Along with the good food, it provides a good view of the Venetian Port and provides a relaxing break on your vacation.
5 Good Hotel Options (information regarding prices on the "More Information" page)
A hotel with a pool and a spa, Etheral White Resort Hotel & Spa ensures a peaceful enviornment whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or a family vacation. It's rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor and focuses on providing a tranquil trip, combining high-end amenities with top-tier service.
A resort with a waterpark (including pools, hot tubs, swim-up bar, slides, etc), beach access, multiple on-site restaurants, and more, this is the perfect place to go for a family vacation. Rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor, the resort has 8 restaraunts, 7 bars, 5 snack bars, and an all night restaraunt and snack bar. The rooms are also extremely spacious and comfortable, making this a perfect vacation spot for the family.
A resort with multiple pools (including one olympic standard pool with lanes), water slides, beach access, a spa, and more, Lyttos Beach is a good place to stay on a fun filled trip to Crete. Rated 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor, the resort also hosts fun activities for the family like yoga, mini golf, a basketball court, soccer fields, an ampitheater for plays, and more.
A resort with pools, a spa, a sauna, on-site restaurants, beach access, and more, this a great place to bring the family when you need a get away. Rated 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor, it has 6 restaraunts, 6 bars, children friendly activities, a tennis court, kids outdoor play equipment, and evening entertainment, making this a great option to stay at on your vacation.
A resort with pools, waterslides, a spa, a sauna, a gym, and on-site restaraunts, this is a good place to go when with the family and wanting to have a fun time. Rated 4.5 on Trip Advisor, it has multiple restaraunts, a gym, both indoor and outdoor pools, mini golf, tennis courts, karaoke, and more things to make the trip memorable for you and your family.
5 Fun Tourist Activities to Plan for the Family
One of the most breath-taking places in Crete is the Elafonissi Beach, the mint-blue sea coming to meet the rose-pink tinted sand. The family can play in the warm, translucent waters or bask on the pink beach and just enjoy relaxation.
Gortyna was the former Roman capitol of the island, and the anciet ruins now showcase Roman life and the ancient times. There are tons of relics, traditional theatres, and temples on display for the family to enjoy exploring and taking pictures.
Seeing the beaches from the beach is on thing, but you can jump onto a local boat and be able to get a tour of the beaches from the water, giving an entirely different perspective while also making it possible to take in the full beauty of the beach.
In 2003 wildfires devastated Crete and all of their olive trees were destroyed, and so a ton of flora was planted to create a beautiful botanical park filled with flowers and herbaceous plants. The two-hour, flower-filled walk through the park allows the family to feel at peace while taking in amazing scenery.
Venice ruled Crete for more than 400 years and built Chania's scenic port during the 14th century, and today it is the heart of Chania. Having restaurants, bars, and stores alongside landmarks like the Venetian Lighthouse, Firkas Fortress, Grand Aresnal, and more, the family can spend a whole day in the town just taking in the sites and doing multiple different activites.
5 Locations You Have to Visit
Second largest city in Crete, Chania has many great restaraunts and it's considered the island's culinary capital. It also has the Venetian Harbor, providing for great views and a scenic walk.
One of Europe's geological wonders, the Samaria Gorge is over 492 feet and can sometimes have gaps spanning up to 10 feet. You can take in it's beauty by hiking it's length from an elevation of 4035 feet to the coastal village Agia Roumeli with a beautiful beach. This would be a great location for your family to hike and explore or just get some pictures in front of the gorge.
South of Iraklio in eastern Crete,the Palace of Knossos is Crete's top must-see attraction. Once where the Minoan civilization lived, who thrived here in 1900 BCE, it's a site of marketplaces, grand chambers, intricate frescoes, hidden passages, and more. With tons of things for you and the family to get into and explore, you can easily spend the whole day exploring the site.
A good blend of the beach and history, one of Crete's most beautiful monestaries is on the cliff above one of Crete's best beaches, the Preveli Beach, making it easy to hit both locations in one trip. The family can go learn and see interesting artifacts from the Ottoman Empire and then go have some fun in the sun at the beach below.
For first time visitors, this town is a must-have stop in order to experience the best of Crete. The town is a maze of pedestrian streets lined with shops and restaraunts, and it's also a base for visiting Knossos and exploring central Crete. It possesses tons of nice shops that provide many things to keep the famiy interested along with beautiful scenery that really encapsulates the beauty of Crete.