Campsites in Crete

Pink-sand lagoons, Minoan palaces and gorge hikes down to the Libyan Sea: Crete packs a whole Mediterranean into one island, with warm swimming from late May to October.

1 destination 18 hours from Utrecht Heraklion (HER)

About Regio

Crete stretches about 300 km from Chania's Venetian harbour in the west to the quiet UNESCO Geopark near Sitia in the east, and the scenery changes every few kilometres. There are mountain ranges and deep gorges such as Samaria, Imbros, Richtis and Kourtaliotiko, as well as pink and white sand lagoons and palm-fringed beaches. At Vai in the far northeast you can swim beside the only palm forest in Europe.

History is part of daily life here. The Minoans built palaces with plumbing and painted frescoes thousands of years ago, and you can walk through the best known of them at Knossos near Heraklion. Romans and Venetians followed, leaving the old quarters of Chania and Rethymno, with their fortresses, harbours and lanes made for aimless wandering. Families with children who like their culture with a splash will find water parks around Hersonissos and Chania, plus an aquarium and a zoo.

The food is reason enough to come. Expect warm kalitsounia cheese pies, local olive oil, meze with a glass of wine and a small glass of raki to finish. Crete is one of the world's oldest wine regions, and the Heraklion wine trail and the olive-oil tastings near Kolymvari make easy morning outings.

Our advice from experience: the island is big, with more than six hours of driving from one end to the other, so choose one or two bases and explore by day trip. The north coast has calmer seas, good roads and plenty of facilities, while the west brings Elafonissi and Balos. The sea reaches about 22°C in June and 25°C in August, so the swimming season is long and generous.

Why holiday in Crete?

Lagoon Beaches – Elafonissi's pink sand and shallow water suit little swimmers.

Minoan History – Walk through Knossos, Crete's famous palace of frescoes and ancient plumbing.

Warm Sea – Comfortable swimming from late May, reaching 25°C in August.

Epic Gorges – Samaria's 16 km trail ends at the Libyan Sea.

Water Parks – Slides and kids' zones near Hersonissos and Chania.

Cretan Table – Olive oil, local wine, raki and freshly baked kalitsounia pies.

A family holiday in Crete

With young children in Crete

Crete is a paddler's paradise. Elafonissi has pink sand and a shallow lagoon you reach straight from the parking area, while Georgioupolis offers shallow water and a long sandy shore. Agia Marina near Chania has calm bathing water, and Falassarna and Vai are lovely sandy alternatives. For Balos, take the boat from Kissamos and arrive relaxed. The north coast has calmer seas, easy roads and organised beaches. Rainy-day or splash-day? Acqua Plus near Hersonissos has a kids' area with gentler slides, and the Aquaworld Aquarium and Crete Zoo are close by.

With teenagers in Crete

Teenagers will find plenty to do on Crete. Acqua Plus near Hersonissos has the Aqua Slalom, Black Holes and Crazy River, and Star Beach adds jet skiing and parasailing. For adventure, try canyoning at Tsoutsouras, rock climbing at Kapetaniana or a half-day quad safari from Rethymno. Fit teens can take on the 16 km Samaria Gorge, finishing with a swim in the Libyan Sea. Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion are great for a evening stroll and a gelato.

As a couple in Crete

Couples will love Crete's mix of culture, food and quiet corners. Chania's Venetian harbour is wonderfully romantic, and Knossos, Phaistos and Gortyn bring the Minoan world to life. Taste wine at Douloufakis in Dafnes or on the Heraklion wine trail, join an olive-oil tasting near Kolymvari and linger over a long lunch in a Sfakia taverna. Walkers can follow gorges or the Amari Valley, and quieter beaches such as Kedrodasos, Agios Pavlos and Preveli are perfect for a peaceful swim.

Where to stay in Crete

Crete offers a choice of bases, so pick the one that suits your travel party. Families with young children often favour the north coast, with its calmer seas, easy roads and facilities close by. Couples may prefer the west for Chania's Venetian harbour and beaches such as Elafonissi and Balos. With a long island to enjoy, we suggest one or two bases and day trips from there. Our team is happy to help you choose.

Mobile homes

1 campsites

Apollonia CampingPlakias

Things to do in Crete

Palace of Knossos

Heraklion

Explore the famous Minoan palace, Crete's most celebrated ancient site.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

Heraklion

A treasure trove of Minoan art, perfect alongside your Knossos visit.

Chania Old Town

Chania

Stroll the Venetian harbour with no plan and plenty of atmosphere.

Rethymno Venetian Quarter

Rethymno

Wander old Venetian lanes and climb up to the fortress.

Spinalonga Island

Elounda

Hop on a 10-minute ferry to a Venetian fortress island.

Balos Lagoon

Kissamos

Turquoise shallows, reached by an easy boat trip from Kissamos port.

Elafonissi Beach

Southwest Crete

Pink-tinged sand and a warm shallow lagoon, ideal for paddling.

Samaria Gorge

White Mountains

A 16 km downhill hike ending at the Libyan Sea.

Vai Palm Beach

Far northeast

Europe's only palm forest meets a beautiful sandy beach.

Acqua Plus Water Park

Hersonissos

Gentle kids' slides and extreme water games, 5 km from town.

Arkadi Monastery

Rethymno area

A rose-filled courtyard and fascinating history in the hills.

Heraklion Wine Trail

Heraklion

Taste Boutari and other producers in one of the world's oldest wine regions.

Best time to visit Regio

Crete has a long, sunny season. May is pleasant, with highs of about 24°C and a sea of 19°C. June reaches 27°C in the air and 22°C in the sea. July and August are the hottest and most lively months, at 29°C with a sea of 24-25°C. September is warm and relaxed, with 27°C and 24°C in the sea. October is gentle, with 24°C in the air and 23°C in the sea. Swimming is comfortable from late May to October.

Practical tips

By car: Utrecht to Ancona is about 1,475 km, then a ferry to Patras of about 21 hours. Drive 210 km to Piraeus and take an overnight ferry to Crete. Plan three days or more and enjoy the journey.
Ferries: Use Piraeus to Heraklion for the east and Piraeus to Chania (Souda) for the west. Arrive at Piraeus at least 90 minutes before departure.
By plane: Heraklion airport serves central and eastern Crete, Chania airport serves the west. They are about 140 km apart.
Transfers: From Chania airport it is about 25 minutes to Chania town and about 1 hour to Rethymno. From Heraklion airport to Agios Nikolaos or Elounda is about 1 hour.
Car hire: A hire car is ideal for exploring. Book ahead for July and August.
Time and money: Crete is 1 hour ahead of the Netherlands and uses the euro.
Local habits: Dress modestly at monasteries and churches. Visit wineries and olive-oil producers in the morning, before the heat.
Food to try: Kalitsounia cheese pies, meze with local wine, Cretan olive oil and a small glass of raki.

We love Crete for its variety, and our first tip is to resist the urge to see everything. The island is huge, with more than six hours of driving from one end to the other, so we always suggest one or two bases and a handful of day trips. With young children, we would head for Elafonissi, where you walk from the parking area straight to pink sand and shallow water. For Balos, our tip is to take the boat from Kissamos, which makes arriving at the lagoon a treat in itself. Teenagers will want to try the water parks near Hersonissos or a quad safari from Rethymno, while fit hikers can tackle the Samaria Gorge and finish with a swim in the Libyan Sea. Save the cultural highlights for early in the day: Knossos is lovely in the morning, and so are the wineries on the Heraklion trail. In the evening, we like to stroll Chania's Venetian harbour and order a plate of meze with a glass of local wine. And if you want a quiet beach, try Kedrodasos or Agios Pavlos. Finally, book your hire car early for July and August.

— Our specialist

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Frequently asked questions: Regio

Can we take our own car to Crete?

Yes. Drive to Ancona in Italy, about 1,475 km from Utrecht, and sail to Patras in about 21 hours. From Patras it is about 210 km to Piraeus, where an overnight ferry takes you to Heraklion or Chania. Superfast offers special rates for campers, caravans and families.

How long does the journey from the Netherlands to Crete take?

Plan three days or more by car. In total you drive about 18 hours: 15.5 hours to Ancona and 2.5 hours from Patras to Piraeus, plus roughly 30 hours on the ferries. Many families add overnight stops and treat the crossings as the start of the holiday. Flying to Heraklion or Chania is the quicker alternative.

Is the sea warm enough for swimming on Crete?

Yes. The sea is about 19°C in May and 22°C in June, then 24-25°C from July to September. October is still about 23°C, so swimming is comfortable from late May to October. The south coast is a few degrees warmer than the north, which is handy for early or late-season trips.

Which coast of Crete is best for young children?

The north coast has calmer seas, good road access and organised beaches with facilities nearby. Georgioupolis has shallow water and a long sandy shore, and Agia Marina near Chania has calm bathing water. Elafonissi is a shallow lagoon you reach straight from the parking area, a lovely day out in the west.

Do we need a hire car on a camping holiday in Crete?

A hire car is recommended, because the island is large and it takes over six hours to drive from one end to the other. Choose one or two bases and add day trips, and book your car ahead in July and August. Public buses are the cheapest way to travel from Heraklion airport.