Crete is the largest one one of the most popular Island in Greece, yet this year I traveled to Crete for the first time. I was looking for an easy, relaxing and afordable holiday destination in Greece, and decided to visit Crete. I had traveled to the island Kefalonia, and Santorini before, and thought I had seen the most beautiful Greek islands. Howerver, in Crete I discovered beautiful hiking trails, beaches, food, and the nicest Cretan people.

I spent a week traveling solo around Crete. I landed in the evening in Heraklion, then spending two nights in Chania and two nights in Rethymno, the most touristic towns in Crete. In my opinion you can choose any of the two as your base for day trips to the beaches, hiking trails, or just wandering around the old town. Crete is a wonderdul destination for female solo travelers, and you will find it easy to get around by car or booking a tour. Here are my highlights from a fabulous holiday in Crete in early October.

Chania

1.45 hours from Heraklion by bus, Chania is a charming little coastal town in Crete. I arrived in Chania midday after a scenic bus trip from Heraklion’s central bus station, and discovered a lovely old town. The bus trip passed through the Cretan hills and mountains, small villages, and above the gorgeous turquoise sea. I was quite surprised to learn how beautiful the views from the bus window were. It reminded me of the views on the Island of Kefalonia, where I traveled a couple of years ago.

I initially planned to take day trips from Chania to the beautiful beaches of Balos and Matala, and hike the Samaria Gorge. However, on the afternoon I arrived, it started raining, and it continued raining the following day. Due to the bad weather, my hike was cancelled, and it was clear that swimming in the sea would have to wait for a nicer day.

I spent the next two days wandering the charming streets of the old town of Chania. Full of taverns, cafes, bars, olive oil souvenirs, and sterling silver jewelry, Chania is wonderful for shopping. Additionally, I strolled along the old Venetian port, admiring the views of the old town, postcard-perfect.

Chania has some great spots for sunset drinks and fantastic Greek food. For a sunset drink, I recommend the bar at the sailing club. I sat by a table outside, watching tourists strolling the port, fishermen, and boats at the dock, watching the sun setting. For lunch or dinner, I recommend Stavros’ Tavern. This lovely family tavern is situated on a quiet side street, with grapevines hanging above you. The lamb in honey is absolutely divine!

Rethymno

After two wonderful days in Chania, I continued to Rethymno. Rethymno is a little bit smaller than Chania, and an hour away from Chania by bus. After dropping off my bags at Ink Hotel Pho, I left to explore the town and shop for snacks for my Samaria Gorge hike!

Hiking Samaria Gorge

When I was planning my holiday in Crete, I read so many things about Samaria Gorge, but nothing had prepared me for the magnificent nature. The 16 km trail takes between six to eight hours to complete, and is about an hour from Chania, or two hours from Rethymno. You can either drive to the start point or book a full day trip to Samaria Gorge from Rethymno or Chania.

The hike in Samaria Gorge begins from a 2-3 km walk down to the Gorge, at parts on stone stairs. A wooden fence protects the hikers from the steep edge, and marvelous green pine trees on both sides. After the descent, you start walking through the gorge, green trees accompanying your every step, intersecting water streams every few kilometers.

The hike is magnificent, yet challenging. While the hike is mostly in descent mode, walking in trekking boots is highly recommended. I started off the hike feeling wonderful, but right from the start, I realized this hike would take a toll on my knees in the morning. In addition, you should go hiking on a clear and warm day, because a change of weather, like winds and rain, can be quite dangerous in the gorge.

Exploring Crete with Cretan Adventures Jeep Safari

My next adventure from Rethymno was on a Cretan jeep safari tour! Our lovely driver and guide, Antonious, picked me up at 9 am, and we embarked on a trip around the island. As an Island, Crete has a magnificent coastline, but the countryside is just as beautiful. During our day trip, we visited a few villages, stopped at stunning viewpoints of gorges, passed sheep walking along the roads, and thousands of olive trees, including the oldest olive tree with a diameter of 5 meters!

Our final stop was at the beautiful Preveli beach. You have two options to enjoy the beach: first, you can access the beach from the parking lot of Amoudi Tavern. The second way to access the beach is climbing up 80 stairs, which leads you to a hidden riviera, as our guide described it. I chose the second way, and it was worth it! After climbing up the stairs, I discovered a hidden beach, rocky landscape, and corners to hide out and have privacy from the many tourists, even in October! I had a wonderful swim in the refreshing water and climbed up for a delicious lunch at Amoudi tavern, all included in the trip with Cretan Safari.

Getting Around Crete

In contrast to other Greek islands I visited, traveling around Crete via public transportation was easy. After landing at Heraklion airport, I took the local bus to the city center, which is 20 minutes from the airport. From Heraklion to Chania, I traveled with the KTEL bus company. I booked my ticket at the bus station. In early October, I found it very easy to book the ticket on the same day, even up to 30 minutes before departure.

I also traveled by bus from Chania to Rethymno by KTEL bus. In October, buses depart every hour. High season in Crete finishes in the first week of October. It’s worth checking on KTEL’s website for the timetable when you plan your trip in Crete. On KTEL buses, it’s forbidden to bring food, so plan your snacks and lunch accordingly, because the ticket controller will check your bags and will not permit bringing food or snacks on the bus.

Crete is a great destination for a short holiday in Greece. You’ll find warm people, delicisious local food in afforadable prices, a range of accomodation options, and many trip ideas and ways to explore the island. I had an amazing time combining shopping, dining, hiking and exploring the island by foot and on a safari jeep tour!