Research guide · Crete
Crete: regions, getting there via Heraklion and Chania, Knossos, Samaria and costs
Planning Crete: buses from Heraklion and Chania, six regions compared, Knossos and Samaria with times and prices, climate table and climate fee.
By Nighthopper editorial teamCreated with AITranslated with AIPublished Updated 17 min read
How this article was made
This English version was translated from the German original with AI and has not been reviewed by a person. The checks described here refer to the German original, which is authoritative.
Text created with AI and checked with AI against the sources listed. The latest update on was published automatically by the monthly review after passing fixed checks, without being reviewed by a person.
Editorially responsible: Saimon Misiaki (Simon Misiak).
At a glance
- Heraklion city bus: single journey €1.30 in advance, €2.30 on the bus (zone A); line 6 leaves the airport on weekdays from 05:50 (as of September 2026).
- Heraklion–Chania: one bus an hour, plus four express journeys a day that cover the roughly 140 km in about 2 hours (timetable as of September 2026).
- Knossos: €20 admission, open from April to August 08:00 to 20:00, from November to March 08:00 to 17:00, free on 28 October (as of October 2026).
- Samaria Gorge: about 15 km, 6 to 7 hours, €10 admission; closed until further notice since 5 October 2026, the season ends on 31 October at the latest (as of October 2026).
- Climate fee April to October: €5 per room and night in a 3-star hotel, €15 in a 5-star hotel (valid since 1 January 2025).
- July in Heraklion: mean maximum 28.9 °C, on average 0.8 mm of rain (weather service HNMS, 1955 to 2010).
Getting there from Germany
Airport: Heraklion (HER)
| From | As the crow flies | Compensation up to |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt (FRA) | 2,114 km | €400 |
| Munich (MUC) | 1,818 km | €400 |
| Berlin (BER) | 2,106 km | €400 |
| Düsseldorf (DUS) | 2,303 km | €400 |
| Hamburg (HAM) | 2,353 km | €400 |
Compensation per person under the EU air passenger rights regulation (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004) if the flight arrives 3 hours late or more, or is cancelled less than 14 days before departure — not in extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather. Check whether you’re owed anything →
- Time difference:
- +1 hour
- From the airport to Hersonissos:
- approx. 25 km, around 25 min by car
Straight-line distance: our own calculation from airport data (OurAirports). Driving time: guide figure from a transfer provider.
Crete suits you if you want to combine beach days with archaeological sites and hikes. Greece's largest island is about 260 km long, almost 8,000 km² in area and has more than 1,000 km of coastline. Since 2025 six Minoan palatial centres have been on UNESCO's World Heritage List, including Knossos and Phaistos. The Samaria Gorge leads over about 15 km from 1,227 metres down to sea level.
The island is a poorer fit if you want to get around widely without a car. A bus does run hourly between Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania, but to Matala on the south coast only three times a day (as of September 2026). And if you are looking for sun in winter, you will hit the wettest months: Heraklion records an average of 91.0 mm of precipitation in January.
Getting there and from the airport to the holiday resorts
Around 1.5 million passengers from the main German airports flew to Crete in 2025. That puts the island in 8th place among all foreign destinations. About 85 % of them landed in Heraklion and 15 % in Chania (as of the year 2025).
Flight delayed or cancelled?Check whether you’re owed money under the EU air passenger rights regulation — with every step of the check in plain language.Heraklion airport (HER)
"Nikos Kazantzakis" airport is the island's largest and lies 5 km from the centre of Heraklion. It has a single passenger terminal and is in operation around the clock all year round.
Several city bus lines start at the airport, including line 6 to Ammoudara, line 11 to the university and in part to the port, and line 12 to the ELMEPA college and in part to Amnissos. Line 6 leaves the airport on weekdays from 05:50 to 00:05, about every 20 minutes during the day (as of October 2026).
The city bus network has two zones: zone A covers the city within a 5 km radius, zone B the suburbs. Which zone the airport belongs to is not stated on the fares page, and the operator does not give journey times to the centre either.
Tip
Heraklion city bus: the ticket is cheaper in advance
On the Heraklion city bus a single journey costs €1.30 in advance instead of €2.30 on the bus, and in the outer zone €1.80 instead of €2.80 (as of September 2026). Tickets are also available in the operator's app, which also shows where the buses are at the moment.
Chania airport (CHQ)
Chania is one of the 14 Greek regional airports operated by Fraport Greece. The terminal and airport are open daily around the clock. The buses stop on the east side of the terminal, opposite the departures area. The driver sells tickets.
The KTEL Chania–Rethymno buses run daily from 05:00 to 00:00 from the airport into the city of Chania, with a few night journeys until 01:40 (timetable valid until 24 October 2026). To Chania you pay €2.70, to Rethymno €8.80 (as of October 2026). The operator does not give a journey time into the city.
There are also five direct buses a day to Rethymno via Souda. They leave the airport at 09:15, 12:50, 16:10, 19:30 and 23:50, on Fridays some later (timetable valid until 24 October 2026).
Planned for 2028: new airport at Kastelli
The current Heraklion airport is due to be replaced by a new building at Kastelli for up to 15 million passengers a year. In January 2026 the government named 2028 as the start of operations; the operating company speaks of test flights from 2027.
Long-distance buses between the towns
Two bus operators run across the island: KTEL Heraklion–Lasithi in the centre and east, and KTEL Chania–Rethymno from Chania and Rethymno.
From Heraklion to Chania a bus runs hourly via Rethymno every day from 05:30 to 21:30. From Chania, four express buses a day are added, at 09:30, 12:45, 15:30 and 18:45 (as of September 2026). They cover the roughly 140 km without an intermediate stop in about 2 hours (as of June 2025).
The service is most frequent towards Hersonissos and Malia: Mon–Sat there are 38 buses, every 15 to 30 minutes during the day. To Agios Nikolaos there are 20 journeys Mon–Sat, to Sitia only four a day (as of October 2026).
With KTEL Heraklion–Lasithi you can also pay by credit card at all bus stations, and two pieces of luggage per person travel free (as of September 2026).
Caution
Heraklion–Chania bus: full is full
From Heraklion towards Rethymno and Chania, every bus has 50 seats. Once all are sold, the departure is closed, which is why KTEL advises buying early (as of November 2023). Tickets bought online can afterwards no longer be rebooked to another time or date.
Car hire: above all for remote places
Away from the large towns only a few buses run: to Matala from Heraklion three a day, to Elafonisi from Chania one (as of September 2026). If you want to link several such places, a hire car makes you more independent.
At the Samaria Gorge a car only helps at the start: you can reach the Xyloskalo entrance by car, but the end at Agia Roumeli only by boat. The German Foreign Office explains traffic rules, the blood-alcohol limit and driving licence requirements; the link is under "Practical information".
Car hire Crete: Heraklion Airport (HER)Latest price sample for each car class and rental company, plus the search for your travel dates.Where to stay: the regions compared
The choice of region determines how long your excursions will be. Between Heraklion and Chania there are about 140 km, and the express bus takes about 2 hours. The descriptions in the table follow the Region of Crete, and the bus details the timetables of September 2026.
| Area | Location and transport links | Suits | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heraklion (city) | Island capital, 5 km from the airport; city bus 2 to Knossos, long-distance buses to Chania, Malia, Agios Nikolaos and Matala | Archaeological Museum and Knossos, pedestrian zone with activity late into the night | According to the Region of Crete, the city lost part of its character through unplanned expansion in the 20th century |
| Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia | Stalida 30 km, Malia 35 km east of Heraklion; buses Mon–Sat every 15 to 30 minutes during the day | About 6 km of sandy beach from Stalida with shallow water, nightlife, Palace of Malia | The Region of Crete describes the main beach in front of Malia as overrun by thousands |
| Agios Nikolaos and Elounda | Main town of the district of Lasithi in the east; Mon–Sat 19 buses to Heraklion | Lake with a canal to the sea, boats to Spinalonga, in Elounda hotels with many stars; in the east of Lasithi the Vai palm forest and the Sitia Geopark | According to the Region of Crete, thousands visit Spinalonga by boat |
| Rethymno | Old town beneath the Fortezza, city beach directly behind the harbour; hourly buses to Heraklion and Chania, five direct buses to Chania airport | A town that is lively all year round, in winter thanks to students; bus to Arkadi Monastery | The best-known beaches of the district lie on the south coast, such as Preveli and Plakias |
| Chania and the coast to Platanias | Old town with old shipyards, airport bus for €2.70; coastal bus via Agia Marina and Platanias about every 20 minutes | Old town, buses to the Samaria Gorge, to Kissamos (Balos) and Elafonisi; large hotel complexes with organised beaches | Heraklion is about 140 km away |
| South coast: Matala, Plakias, Paleochora | Matala three buses a day from Heraklion, Paleochora Mon–Sat four from Chania, Plakias by bus from Rethymno | Matala with rock caves on a sandy beach with a Blue Flag; in the south of the district of Chania wilder landscape and the E4 coastal path from Paleochora to Sougia (6 hours, easy) | Without a car you depend on a few buses a day |
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
Sights: times, prices, getting there
Minoan palatial centres: World Heritage since 2025
In 2025 UNESCO's World Heritage Committee added six Minoan palatial centres together to the list, unanimously according to the Greek government. The sites date from the period between 1900 and 1100 BC and are all on Crete. They include Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Zominthos and Kydonia, on whose ruins present-day Chania stands.
Knossos
Admission costs €20, reduced €10 (as of September 2026). You buy tickets online through the Ministry of Culture's official e-ticket system. Last admission is in each case 20 minutes before closing:
- from 1 April: 08:00 to 20:00
- from 1 September: 08:00 to 19:30
- from 16 September: 08:00 to 19:00
- from 1 October: 08:00 to 18:30
- from 16 October: 08:00 to 18:00
- from 1 November: 08:00 to 17:00
Admission is free on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May and 28 October, and also on the last weekend of September for the European Heritage Days. You get there by city bus 2 from the stop "Limani" at Heraklion's harbour, on weekdays from 05:50 to 23:15 about every 15 to 20 minutes (as of October 2026).
In great heat the excavations may close over midday. On 22 July 2026 Knossos, Phaistos and Malia, among others, stayed closed from 12:00 to 17:00 (as of July 2026). In July and August you are therefore better off planning the visit for the morning.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The museum at Xanthoudidou 2 shows Minoan finds from Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and other sites. Admission costs €20 (as of September 2026). Tickets are available at the ticket office or in the Ministry of Culture's official ticket shop, there with a fixed time slot. The shop sells the museum and Knossos only separately.
In summer it is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00, on Wednesdays only from 13:00. From November to March admission is free on the first and third Sunday of the month, and EU citizens over 65 pay a reduced €12 during this period (as of September 2026).
Heraklion: Koules fortress and city walls
At the harbour entrance stands Koules, a 16th-century Venetian fortress. In the historic centre stand the Morosini Fountain and the Venetian Loggia. On the Martinengo Bastion of the city walls lies the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis, whose name the airport also bears.
Phaistos and Malia
Admission to Phaistos costs €15, reduced €8 (as of September 2026). In summer the same hours apply as at Knossos; in winter, from 1 November, 08:30 to 15:30. Buses run several times a day from Heraklion to Moires. From there, Mon–Fri at 09:00, 14:15 and 15:15, the journey continues to Phaistos (as of September 2026).
The Palace of Malia is the third-largest Minoan palace on Crete. Admission costs €10, reduced €5, and it is closed on Tuesdays (as of September 2026).
Spinalonga
The island off the village of Plaka served the Venetians and Ottomans as a fortress and was afterwards, until the middle of the 20th century, a leper colony. You can get there only by boat, from Plaka in about 5 minutes, from Elounda in 10 or from Agios Nikolaos in 35 minutes. From 1 April to 31 October it is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00. Admission costs €20, reduced €10 (as of September 2026).
Samaria Gorge
The main path through the gorge is about 13 km long, and a further 2 km or so is added to the village of Agia Roumeli. On average you need 6 to 7 hours for it. You start at Xyloskalo at an altitude of 1,227 metres and end at Agia Roumeli at sea level.
According to the park regulations the path may be open from 10 April to 31 October. The exact start date is set each year by the park administration NECCA after maintenance work. For the whole route, admission is only from 07:00 to 13:00. After that you can only enter for the first 2 km, at the north entrance until 15:00, at the south entrance until 16:00. By 18:00 everyone must have left the park (as of September 2026).
Since 5 October 2026 both entrances have been closed until further notice (as of October 2026). According to NECCA the gorge will reopen only after the necessary inspections, and no tickets can be booked online until 31 October.
The single ticket costs €10, in the family €6 per person, also for partial stretches (as of the fee decision of February 2025). Free admission applies to, among others, children under 18 and adults over 65. Anyone who enters free or at a reduced rate needs proof; otherwise a penalty of ten times the ticket price is threatened. Tickets are available online from NECCA or at both entrances.
From the Chania bus station, buses run daily at 05:00, 06:15, 07:45 and 08:45 to Xyloskalo; the journey takes about 60 minutes. You leave Agia Roumeli only by boat to Chora Sfakion, Sougia or Paleochora, and in strong wind boats may be cancelled. The return buses from Sougia and Chora Sfakion wait for the boat (as of September 2026).
The park administration advises staying overnight in Agia Roumeli instead of doing the gorge as a day trip (as of July 2026).
Tip
Samaria: whether the gorge is open is usually known the day before
In the event of a rain forecast or for inspections, NECCA can close the gorge at short notice, and the notice then appears on the ticket page. The decision is usually made on the afternoon before, in urgent cases on the same day. Also keep the additional ticket from the entrance, as it is checked at the exit.
Balos and Elafonisi: lagoons in a protected area
Balos Bay and the Gramvousa peninsula lie in the Natura 2000 site GR4340001. At Balos, the mainland and the Tigani peninsula enclose several lagoons. According to the EU data sheet, the Tigani lagoon is a refuge and breeding site for many marine species. Gramvousa is also a bird protection area, among other things for Eleonora's falcon.
Without a car you take the bus from Chania to the port of Kissamos, daily at 08:15 and 15:30. The return bus at 18:30 waits for the arrival of the boats from Balos and Gramvousa (as of October 2026).
Between the island of Elafonisi and the mainland there is only shallow water with a sandy bottom. The island and coastal zone have been a special Natura 2000 protected area since March 2011. The bus from Chania runs there only once a day, at 09:00, and back at 16:00 (as of September 2026).
Chania: old town on the harbour
Chania stands on the ruins of Minoan Kydonia. Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans have left traces: mosques and monasteries, the city wall, old shipyards and the so-called Egyptian Lighthouse. The Chania Archaeological Museum is a new building.
Rethymno and Arkadi Monastery
Above the winding old town of Rethymno, with the Rimondi Fountain and minarets, stands the Fortezza, built from 1573.
Arkadi Monastery lies 25 km from Rethymno at an altitude of about 500 metres. According to the inscription, the monastery church with its Renaissance façade was built in 1587. On 8 November 1866 the defenders blew up the powder store and died in the process, rather than surrender to the Ottoman besiegers.
In September it is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00, in October until 18:00; on Sundays the museum opens only after the liturgy. Buses run from Rethymno only Monday to Friday, going out at 06:00, 10:15 and 14:15 and coming back at 07:00, 12:15 and 17:00 (as of October 2026).
Best time to visit: climate in Heraklion and Chania
In summer it almost never rains: from June to August Heraklion records an average of 2.9, 0.8 and 0.9 mm a month. The wettest month is January with 91.0 mm in Heraklion and 129.5 mm at the Souda station near Chania.
May, September and October are suitable for excavations and hikes. The mean maximum temperatures in Heraklion are then between 23.6 and 26.6 °C, in July by contrast 28.9 °C. The Samaria Gorge can in any case only be open between 10 April and 31 October.
The table shows mean values from the Greek weather service HNMS: Heraklion station (39 m) for 1955 to 2010, Souda station near Chania (148 m) for 1958 to 2010. The hours of sunshine come from the new HNMS portal, which gives no period for them. In the 1991 to 2020 normal period July is somewhat warmer, with a mean maximum of 29.4 °C in Heraklion and 31.4 °C in Souda.
| Month | Heraklion max./min. (°C) | Heraklion rain (mm / days) | Souda max./min. (°C) | Souda rain (mm) | Sun Heraklion (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.3 / 9.1 | 91.0 / 16.0 | 14.4 / 7.9 | 129.5 | 4.2 |
| February | 15.5 / 8.9 | 69.0 / 13.6 | 14.7 / 7.8 | 104.0 | 5.3 |
| March | 17.0 / 9.8 | 53.4 / 11.4 | 16.6 / 9.0 | 76.0 | 6.5 |
| April | 20.1 / 12.0 | 28.2 / 7.6 | 20.0 / 11.4 | 31.5 | 8.4 |
| May | 23.6 / 15.1 | 13.4 / 4.6 | 24.5 / 15.0 | 13.5 | 10.2 |
| June | 27.3 / 19.2 | 2.9 / 1.3 | 28.9 / 19.0 | 3.4 | 11.9 |
| July | 28.9 / 21.9 | 0.8 / 0.3 | 30.7 / 21.2 | 1.0 | 12.5 |
| August | 28.8 / 22.0 | 0.9 / 0.5 | 30.4 / 21.2 | 1.4 | 11.7 |
| September | 26.6 / 19.5 | 16.7 / 2.8 | 27.4 / 18.7 | 15.4 | 9.4 |
| October | 23.6 / 16.7 | 59.4 / 7.5 | 23.5 / 15.7 | 67.7 | 6.8 |
| November | 20.2 / 13.5 | 59.6 / 10.6 | 19.6 / 12.4 | 77.0 | 5.0 |
| December | 17.1 / 10.9 | 85.6 / 15.2 | 16.2 / 9.7 | 101.9 | 3.9 |
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
Costs
| Item | Price | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Heraklion city bus, single journey zone A | €1.30 in advance, €2.30 on the bus | September 2026 |
| Heraklion city bus, single journey zone B | €1.80 in advance, €2.80 on the bus | September 2026 |
| Heraklion city bus, travel pass | 24 hours €6.00, 3 days €15.00, 7 days €30.00 | September 2026 |
| Bus Chania airport to Chania town | €2.70 | September 2026 |
| Bus Chania airport to Rethymno | €8.80 | September 2026 |
| Knossos | €20, reduced €10 | September 2026 |
| Heraklion Archaeological Museum | €20 | September 2026 |
| Phaistos | €15, reduced €8 | September 2026 |
| Palace of Malia | €10, reduced €5 | September 2026 |
| Spinalonga | €20, reduced €10 | September 2026 |
| Samaria Gorge | €10, family €6 per person | fee decision of February 2025 |
| Climate fee April to October, hotel | 1–2 stars €2.00, 3 stars €5.00, 4 stars €10.00, 5 stars €15.00 per room and night | valid since 1 January 2025 |
| Climate fee November to March, hotel | 1–2 stars €0.50, 3 stars €1.50, 4 stars €3.00, 5 stars €4.00 per room and night | valid since 1 January 2025 |
| Climate fee short-term rental | April to October €8.00, November to March €2.00 per night | valid since 1 January 2025 |
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
The climate resilience fee replaces the former tourist tax. It falls due per night and per room or flat, not per person, and free stays are exempt (as of January 2026). Long-distance bus prices and admission to Arkadi Monastery are published by the operators only in their booking systems, which is why they are missing here.
Practical information
- Money: You pay in euros. Tipping is voluntary; according to the tourism authority, 5 to 10 % is welcome in a restaurant for good service.
- Time: Crete is on Eastern European Time, UTC+2 and in summer UTC+3. Clocks are one hour ahead of Germany.
- Electricity: The tourism authority gives 230 volts at 50 Hz, the Region of Crete 220 volts. The sockets are type C and F (Schuko).
- Telephone: Emergency number 112, country code +30. German honorary consuls are based in Chania for the districts of Chania and Rethymno (+30 28210 27235) and in Heraklion for the districts of Heraklion and Lasithi (+30 2810 226288).
- Water: According to the Region of Crete you can drink the tap water, but it advises bottled water.
- Daily rhythm: Lunch is eaten from about 14:00, dinner after 21:00. Quiet hours apply from April to September 15:00 to 17:30 and 23:00 to 07:00, from October to March 15:30 to 17:30 and 22:00 to 07:30.
- Shops: According to the Region of Crete Tue, Thu and Fri 09:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 21:00, on the other weekdays 09:00 to 15:00. In holiday resorts free opening hours apply in summer.
All details in this list: as of September 2026.
The current rules on entry, safety and health are set out by the German Foreign Office.
Entry requirements and safety
The rules that apply are published by the German Federal Foreign Office — always up to date there.
Travel and safety advice: Greece (in German) (opens in a new tab)Who this is not for
- If you are looking for sun in winter: Heraklion records an average of 91.0 mm of rain on 16.0 days in January.
- If you want to visit excavations in high summer: In great heat Knossos, Phaistos and Malia may close over midday, on 22 July 2026 for example from 12:00 to 17:00.
- If you want to travel the whole island without a car: Crete is about 260 km long, and to Elafonisi only one bus a day runs from Chania.
- If you want to see many sites on a small budget: Knossos, the Heraklion museum and Spinalonga cost €20 each, and the official ticket shop offers them only individually.
- If you want peace on the beach in Malia: The Region of Crete itself describes the main beach in front of the town as overrun by thousands.
- If you are counting on the Samaria Gorge: It can close at short notice, as it has, for instance, since 5 October 2026, until further notice, and you may only start the whole route until 13:00.
Sources and last update
- Federal Statistical Office (Destatis): Statistical report on air traffic at main airports, July 2026, table 46421-09 (own analysis, year 2025, in German) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Reiseanalyse 2026 – first results (FUR Research Association for Holidays and Travel, in German) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Heraklion Airport “N. Kazantzakis” – Brief presentation (Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority), archived copy of 12 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Chania Airport – By Public Bus (Fraport Greece) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Airport Profiles – Chania (Fraport Greece) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Bus routes from and to Chania Airport, valid 01-10-2026 until 24-10-2026 (KTEL Chania–Rethymno, PDF) (opens in a new tab), accessed 13 October 2026
- Bus departures from Chania, valid from 09-10-2026 (KTEL Chania–Rethymno, PDF) (opens in a new tab), accessed 13 October 2026
- Timetable with departure from Rethymno, valid from 13-10-2026 (KTEL Chania–Rethymno, PDF) (opens in a new tab), accessed 13 October 2026
- Tickets – Heraklion Urban Bus (Astiko KTEL Irakleiou) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Line 06 Αεροδρόμιο–Αμμουδάρα, weekday timetable from 1 Oct 2026 (Astiko KTEL Irakleiou, PDF) (opens in a new tab), accessed 13 October 2026
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- Tips for crossing Samaria (National Park of Samaria), archived copy of 23 Jul 2026 (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Natura 2000 Standard Data Form GR4340002 “Nisos Elafonisos kai paraktia thalassia zoni” (European Environment Agency) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Natura 2000 Standard Data Form GR4340001 “Imeri kai Agria Gramvoussa – Tigani kai Falasarna – Pontikonisi, Ormos Livadi – Viglia” (EEA) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Natura 2000 Standard Data Form GR4340017 “Chersonisos Gramvousas kai nisides Imeri kai Agria Gramvousa, Pontikonisi kai thalassia zoni” (EEA) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Απόφαση Α.1202/2024 – Τροποποίηση Α.1217/2023 (τέλος ανθεκτικότητας στην κλιματική κρίση), ΦΕΚ (AADE, PDF) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Συχνές ερωτήσεις – απαντήσεις για τη Δήλωση απόδοσης του Τέλους Ανθεκτικότητας στην Κλιματική Κρίση, January 2026 (AADE, PDF) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Climatic Data by City – Iraklio, Data Period 1955–2010 (Greek Weather Service HNMS/EMY), archived copy of 24 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Climatic Data by City – Chania Souda, Data Period 1958–2010 (Greek Weather Service HNMS/EMY), archived copy of 24 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Κλιματικά δεδομένα – stations Heraklion and Souda (Greek Weather Service HNMS/EMY) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Greece: travel and safety advice (German Foreign Office, in German) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- German honorary consul in Chania (German Missions in Greece, in German) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- German honorary consul in Iraklion (German Missions in Greece, in German) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- FAQ (Visit Greece – Greek National Tourism Organisation) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Did you know? (Visit Greece – Greek National Tourism Organisation) (opens in a new tab), accessed 13 October 2026
- Greece – Power plug, socket & mains voltage (WorldStandards) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Useful Information (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Heraklion (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Chania (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Rethymno (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Lasithi (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Malia Beaches (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Matala (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Paleochora Sougia – E4 paths (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Arkadi (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Fortezza Castle (Incredible Crete – Region of Crete) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- The Monastery – Visiting Hours (Sacred Monastery of Arkadi) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Crete’s New Airport Targets 2028 Opening as Air Navigation Systems Deal Signed (GTP Headlines, 30 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Heraklion International Airport of Crete S.A. (operator of the new Kastelli airport) – home page (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
- Chania International Airport – home page (Fraport Greece) (opens in a new tab), accessed 24 September 2026
Information last checked on 13 October 2026.
Last change to the content on 13 October 2026: Samaria Gorge closed until further notice since 5 October 2026; bus timetables, Knossos opening hours and winter hours brought up to the October position.
Found a mistake? Write to us — we’ll correct it and note it here.
