Crete Itinerary 3 Days

3 Days in Crete - Itinerary Overview

Brimming with pretty mountain villages and picturesque coastal towns, Crete, the largest island in Greece, offers so many exciting vacation prospects to the visitors! An enchanting kaleidoscope of glorious beaches, rich gastronomic culture, a variety of architectural styles, stunning mountainscapes, vibrant cities and ancient treasures, Crete is full of surprises! Spending just 72 hours in Crete is not enough to unravel the many layers of this multi-dimensional city but if that is all the time that you can manage for this fascinating island, go through this Crete Itinerary 3 Days to plan your trip.

• Palace of Knossos

Discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos, Knossos is Europe’s oldest city and was once the hub of Minoan civilization and culture. Featuring over grand 1,200 rooms, the Palace of Knossos was originally built sometime around 1900 BC.

• Chania Old Town

Chania served as the capital of Crete until 1971 and is one of the most picture-perfect Greek towns you’ll ever come across. Chania’s narrow streets and back alleys, pastel houses decorated with ivy and colorful flowers, the old Agora market, and stunning sunsets are sure to render you speechless!

• Samaria Gorge

Located in the Samaria National Park, the 18-kilometer-long Samaria Gorge is a must-visit place for athletic people, hikers, and adventurous souls! Starting just outside the mountain village of Omalos, the gorge goes downhill 1,250 meters and reaches the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli on Crete's southern coast. The river Tarraios running along the length of the gorge makes this trek even more challenging.

• White Mountains (Lefka Ori)

Craggy peaks coated with untouched snow during winters, vertical limestone cliffs, stunning gorges and high desert valleys await visitors at the White Mountains. Stretching for more than 50 kilometers through west Crete, White Mountains are stunning, to say the least! Mt Ida lying in the central Psiloritis range is the highest peak of the mountain range.

• Heraklion

The capital city of Crete, Heraklion is one of Greece’s finest coastal towns. Housing various popular attractions like the wonderful Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Heraklion serves as a perfect base for a vacation in Crete.

• Rethymnon

A town that embodies everything that defines Greece, from a unique mix of Venetian Renaissance architecture, cute cafes and eateries, to a stunning coast with deep blue clear water, narrow streets and pretty houses, Rethymnon is one unmissable area in Crete.

• Palm Beach

Well-known for its stunning landscape of the azure waters framed by white sand meeting the palm tree-covered hills and slopes, Palm Beach is home to the largest palm grove in Europe. A pristine coast, this beach is often praised by visitors for its cleanliness and beautiful views.

• Cretaquarium

One of Europe’s biggest aquariums, Cretaquarium displays the rich diversity of Mediterranean marine life. Home to 2,000 sea animals and 200 different Mediterranean species, is a fun activity for people of all age groups on a vacation in Crete!