Category Chania & Rethymno Day Trips from Heraklion

Heraklion · CHANIA & RETHYMNO DAY TRIPS FROM HERAKLION

The 15 Best Chania & Rethymno Day Trips from Heraklion

23 reviewed

The two Venetian harbour towns to the west are worth the drive, and a good tour turns the transit into part of the day. These 15 trips cover Chania, Rethymno and Lake Kournas from Heraklion, with the stops, the time you get to wander, and the price.

From Heraklion: Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Chania Old Town

From Heraklion: Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Chania Old Town - Gramvousa Peninsula photo stop: views and the fortress moment

1.Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Chania Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 526 reviews · 14.5 - 16 hours · from $88Our pick

Cruise to Balos Lagoon’s white sands and swim in crystal water, then enjoy Chania Old Town and the Venetian harbor in one long day.

“It was absolutely amazing! Elizabeta was a really good guide and the excursion was truly out of this world and a must visit! It's worth the money, boat can get crowded and might not have spaces to sit at times but don't be put off by it. Bus journey from Heraklion was about 3 hours which wasn't too bad but some might not enjoy it. Overall amazing excursion and we loved it!”

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From Heraklion: Chania Town, Kournas Lake, and Rethymno Tour

From Heraklion: Chania Town, Kournas Lake, and Rethymno Tour - The coach setup: pickup time and how the ride feels

2.Chania Town, Kournas Lake, and Rethymno Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 288 reviews · 11 - 13.5 hours · from $56

A long, well-run day from Heraklion to Chania, Kournas Lake by pedal boat, and Rethymno for harbor walks and Venetian streets.

“Great trip to nice villages by the sea. Our guide Elisabeth told us a lot about the history of Crete and the towns we visited. We first drove to Chania, then Lake Kournas and then Rethymno. The time for each stop was plenty and it was a great day trip. Transportation, organization etc was great!”

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Rethymno: Sunset Catamaran Trip – Sushi & Open Bar

Rethymno: Sunset Catamaran Trip - Sushi & Open Bar - The Swim Stop: SUP, Snorkeling Gear, and That Pink Flamingo Energy

3.Sunset Catamaran Trip – Sushi & Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 77 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Sunset catamaran from Rethymno with Prosecco, sushi, open bar, SUP and snorkeling gear, then a pink-gold Cretan sunset cruise.

“The crew were friendly, the boat was beautiful and the refreshments were nice! The only negative was it was a bit more crowded than I expected. The sunset was absolutely amazing! We all had a great time!”

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From Heraklion : Full-Day Bus Trip to Chania city , Kournas lake & Rethymno city

From Heraklion : Full-Day Bus Trip to Chania city , Kournas lake & Rethymno city - The bus day reality: long rides, many pickups, and your best strategy

Day trip to Rethymno, Chania & Kournas lake

Day trip to Rethymno, Chania & Kournas lake - Rethymno Old Town: Venetian Lanes, Minarets, and Harbor Coffee

5.Day trip to Rethymno, Chania & Kournas lake

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 44 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $51

Day trip from Heraklion to Rethymno, Chania, and Kournas Lake with pickup, a guide, free entry stops, and time to swim or stroll.

“Michael hates what he does, it’s obvious by his attitude on the tour. He’s rude and reads his script like a robot. He doesn’t introduce himself or encourage a harmonious time amongst the fellow travelers.”

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Chania – Knossos Palace Guided Tour

Chania - Knossos Palace Guided Tour - Knossos Palace: the legends, the layout, and the practical guided flow

6.Chania – Knossos Palace Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 39 reviews · 11 hours · from $75

Chania-area guided tour to Knossos and Heraklion with English guide, air-conditioned coach, free time, and optional Heraklion museum.

“The on site guide was excellent. He was knowledgeable and most importantly, we could hear him clearly.”

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Full-Day West Crete Tour: Chania & Rethymnon Old Town and Kournas Lake

Full-Day West Crete Tour: Chania & Rethymnon Old Town and Kournas Lake - Chania Old Town: Venetian Streets and Old Port Time

Chania, Kournas and Rethymno from Heraklion Private Tour

Chania, Kournas and Rethymno from Heraklion Private Tour - Kournas Lake: the freshwater pause with lunch on the lake

8.Chania, Kournas and Rethymno from Heraklion Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $720Top rated

Private west Crete day from Heraklion with guided walks in Chania and Rethymno, plus a lakeside break at Kournas Lake.

“The communication between us and the tour company was excellent. Helen picked us up early and we were on our way for a fabulous day with her. She offered so much knowledge about the history of Crete and the various towns and villages and lake side that we enjoyed. She chose the perfect spot for lunch with a Lakeside view that I will remember as a highlight of the day. Helen is an excellent driver, and the only thing better was her knowledge and history that she so willingly offered. We could have spent days with her! Don’t miss this tour well worth the money.”

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Knossos Palace & Heraklion City –Full-Day Tour from Rethymno

Knossos Palace & Heraklion City –Full-Day Tour from Rethymno - Knossos Palace: The Labyrinth That Finally Has Real Walls

9.Knossos Palace & Heraklion City –Full-Day Tour from Rethymno

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $25Best value

Full-day trip from Rethymno to Knossos Palace and Heraklion Museum with a live guide, 2 hours at Knossos, plus free time in the city.

“I can really recommend this trip! We were in a small group of about 10 people, and our guide taught us a lot about Cretan history and culture whilst driving, and he also guided us through the Knossos Palace. We also beat the crowd in Knossos due to the early departure:) After Knossos, we had 3 hours in Heraklion, and were dropped off right next to the Archaeological Museum. It is worth mentioning that anyone up to (and including) 25 years old have free entrance to both the museum and the palace!”

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Airports/ports Transfers from /to Rethymno (one way)

Airports/ports Transfers from /to Rethymno (one way) - Driver Meets You by Name: Where You Actually Start the Trip

From Rethymno: Matala , Agia Galini and Spili Tour Day Trip

From Rethymno: Matala , Agia Galini and Spili Tour Day Trip - Agia Galini: 90 minutes to walk, snack, and get your bearings

Crete: Chania Old Town, Rethymno & Kournas Lake

Crete: Chania Old Town, Rethymno & Kournas Lake - Pickup, Bus Ride, and the 9.5–13.5 Hour Reality

12.Chania Old Town, Rethymno & Kournas Lake

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 10 reviews · from $41

Full-day guided loop through Chania Old Town, freshwater Lake Kournas swim time, and Rethymno’s Venetian-Ottoman lanes for great value.

“We had a pleasant and knowledgeable tour guide. Three destinations is a lot given the long travel time, so there isn't usually enough time. However, everything was well organized and the email communication beforehand was friendly and reliable.”

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Secrets of West Crete & Rethymno Town Private Tour from Heraklion

Secrets of West Crete & Rethymno Town Private Tour from Heraklion - Your route from Heraklion to Venetian Rethymno (and why the order helps)

13.Secrets of West Crete & Rethymno Town Private Tour from Heraklion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Private day trip from Heraklion through West Crete with a local guide, gorge and monasteries, plus Rethymno’s Venetian harbour.

“We had an amazing trip with Tina and Stefanos. They treat you like family and let us customize the end of the trip a little so we could spend more time at a place we were very eager to see. The van is clean and Stefanos is a great driver and such a sweetheart. Tina is now practically family to us and we love her and couldn’t recommend this trip enough! Highly suggest this company to anyone visiting Crete.”

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Rethymno Inland

Rethymno Inland - Margarites pottery village: craft you can see in action

14.Rethymno Inland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $711

Private inland Crete tour from Heraklion with pickup, AC comfort, Old Town, Arkadi, gorge hike, and Preveli beach views.

“Giorgos is an excellent guide. We saw beautiful beaches, towns, and villages. He described interesting facts and history of all the places. He was totally flexible when I wanted to spend more time some places, when I wanted to eat, when I wanted to rest, what I wanted to see. I enjoyed talking with him. Giorgos also is a skillful and careful driver. The car was comfortable, clean, and air conditioned.”

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CHANIA RETHYMNON KOURNAS, full day professional guided coach tour

CHANIA RETHYMNON KOURNAS, full day professional guided coach tour - Chania: guided orientation, then time to roam Venetian streets