Your Crete road trip itinerary begins on a land of giant peaks and wild valleys. You navigate the winding paths of the White Mountains where local goats own the road. Every turn reveals a new gorge or a hidden stone village. You find old men drinking coffee under giant plane trees in the village squares. The air is fresh and the views stretch across the entire island from coast to coast. Driving here requires focus but the rewards are unmatched by any other island.
Head south to find the Libyan Sea where the water is deeper and darker. The drive to Elafonisi takes you through tunnels of rock and lush greenery. You end up at a beach with pink sand and shallow pools of crystal water. The island is so big it feels like its own country with its own unique rules. You will need a few days just to see the wild west coast and its hidden lagoons. Every mountain pass offers a new perspective on this rugged landscape.
Do not skip the ruins of Knossos near the city to see where legends began. You walk through the maze of the Minotaur before driving to the old Venetian fort at Rethymno. The food here is the best in Greece with olive oil and honey that taste like the land. Every roadside tavern is a reason to pull over and stay a little longer. It is a place where hospitality is as thick as the mountain air.
Crete highlights
- Samaria Gorge Drive to the Omalos plateau to see the start of this giant canyon stretching toward the southern coast. The road up the mountains is full of loops and amazing vistas that showcase the rugged scale of the island. It is the most famous hike in Crete and starts from a high alpine meadow.
- Elafonisi Beach Navigate the narrow roads of the west to find a beach famous for its rare pink coral sand. The water is warm and shallow like a giant blue swimming pool tucked away in a remote corner. The drive takes you through deep tunnels of rock and lush greenery along a coastal cliff.
- Lasithi Plateau Follow the winding road to this high plain famous for its thousands of traditional white windmills. The area is perfectly flat and surrounded by a giant wall of high peaks that keep the air cool. You can visit the Dikteon cave where legend says the god Zeus was born.
- Matala Caves Drive to the south coast to see the white limestone cliffs full of man made caves from the past. This spot was a famous hippy hangout in the sixty's and still keeps a very laid back vibe today. The beach is wide and the sunset over the Libyan Sea is truly legendary.
- Preveli Palm Forest Steer your car toward the south to see a river lined with tropical palm trees right in the sand. The forest leads directly to a sandy beach on the warm Libyan Sea where the river meets the salt water. The drive through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge to get there is an epic experience.
- Balos Lagoon The drive to this spot is on a rugged dirt road but the view from the top is worth the effort. You see a mix of bright blue and emerald green water flowing over white and pink sand bars. It looks like a tropical beach in the Caribbean moved to the Mediterranean.
- Anogeia Village Climb the slopes of Mount Ida to reach this brave mountain village known for its heroic history. The people here are famous for their traditional music and their strong local spirit and hospitality. It is the best place to taste real Cretan food like lamb cooked over an open fire.
- Vai Palm Beach Drive to the far east of the island to see the largest natural palm grove in all of Europe. The road takes you through dry hills that suddenly turn into a lush green forest at the water edge. It is a very unique landscape that feels like a desert oasis by the sea.
- Spinalonga Island Park your car in Elounda and take a short boat trip to this old Venetian fortress island. It has a moving history as a place for sick people in the past and features well preserved stone streets. The view of the bay from the fortress walls is stunning and quiet.
- Frangokastello Fort Visit this lonely Venetian castle sitting right on a sandy beach at the edge of the mountains. Legend says that ghosts of ancient soldiers appear here in the morning mist during the late spring. The road along the south coast is wild and empty and perfect for explorers.
The local Four
History of Crete
The Minoan civilization on Crete built the first paved roads in Europe over three thousand years ago. Your Crete road trip itinerary visits the Palace of Knossos, which covered twenty thousand square meters and had over one thousand rooms. In 1700 BC, the Minoans developed an advanced drainage system and the first flushing toilets in human history. The island served as a naval empire that traded saffron and timber with Egypt and the Levant.
The city of Candia, now known as Heraklion, was the site of the longest siege in world history. From 1648 to 1669, the Ottoman Empire surrounded the Venetian-held city for 21 years. The Venetians built massive bastions and a sea fortress that still guards the harbor today. The White Mountains provided a safe haven for the Sphakians, a local tribe that never fully paid taxes to any occupying force for centuries.
In May 1941, the island was the site of Operation Mercury, the first large-scale airborne invasion in history. German paratroopers suffered such heavy losses from local resistance that Hitler never ordered another major parachute attack. The high plateau of Lasithi was once home to ten thousand white-sailed windmills used to irrigate the fertile soil. The history of Crete is defined by high-tech ancient living, epic sieges, and a fierce mountain independence.