11 days in Crete Itinerary

A quiet port town situated on Crete's western tip, Kissamos attracts mostly domestic tourists and possesses more of the quintessential Greek feel than livelier resorts strung along the island's coastline.

Take a break from Kissamos with a short trip to Elafonissi Beach in Elafonissi, about 1h 5 min away. There's still lots to do: stroll through Balos Lagoon, hike along Sirikari Gorge - Polyrrinia Trail, stop by Re-sea shop, and experience rural life at Astrikas Estate Biolea.

To find ratings, more things to do, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Kissamos tour app.

Dublin, Ireland to Kissamos is an approximately 8.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of ferry and bus; or do a combination of bus and ferry. The time zone difference moving from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is 2 hours. Traveling from Dublin in May, things will get a bit warmer in Kissamos: highs are around 29°C and lows about 19°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Rethymnon.

Rethymnon combines the old-fashioned charm of a small town with proximity to long sandy beaches with all the modern conveniences usually found in big tourist resorts.

Get out of town with these interesting Rethymnon side-trips: Souda (Souda Bay War Cemetery & Archaeological Site of Ancient Aptera), Georgioupolis Safari (in Georgioupolis) and Chania Town (Greek National Football Museum & Old Venetian Harbor). There's still lots to do: wander the streets of Rethymnon Old Town, contemplate the long history of The Venetian Fortezza, take an in-depth tour of Historical and Folklore Museum of Rethymno, and look for all kinds of wild species at Reptisland.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, read Rethymnon trip maker tool.

Getting from Kissamos to Rethymnon by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. In May, plan for daily highs up to 29°C, and evening lows to 19°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 15th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Hersonissos.

Wholeheartedly dedicated to tourism, Hersonissos remains best known for its vibrant nightlife, its bars and clubs attracting partygoers from around the world.

Venture out of the city with trips to Heraklion (Castello del Molo (Koules), Douloufakis Winery, &more), Elounda (Fortress Spinalonga & Spinalonga Beach) and Aegeo Spas (in Istron). The adventure continues: delve into the distant past at The Palace of Knossos, take an in-depth tour of Historical Museum of Crete, admire nature's wide array of creatures at Aquaworld Aquarium & Reptile Rescue Centre, and get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Cretaquarium - Thalassocosmos.

To find traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Hersonissos trip itinerary planning site.

Drive from Rethymnon to Hersonissos in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Expect little chillier evenings in Hersonissos when traveling from Rethymnon in May, with lows around 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to travel back home.