Dave's Travel Pages

Greek Island Hopping | Greece Travel Itineraries | Bicycle Touring

Travel Tips, Itineraries and Guides to Greece, Europe and beyond!

  • Greece Travel
  • Greek Islands
  • Athens
  • Santorini
  • Mykonos
  • Bike Touring

Last Updated On August 3, 2020 by Dave Briggs Leave a Comment

Heraklion Tours: Day Trips from Heraklion Crete

Heraklion is a popular place to spend a few days in Crete, as you can easily take excursions to see the rest of the island. Here's the best Heraklion tours and day trips from Heraklion to choose from.

10 of the best Heraklion day tours and excursions in Crete

Heraklion Day Trips

Most people heading to the Greek island of Crete will spend some time in Heraklion. Whilst there, it is possible to take a number of different tours to see other parts of the island.

Whether you want to walk the Samaria Gorge, visit Spinalonga, or explore archaeological sites, these day trips from Heraklion will help you experience more of Crete.

Heraklion Tours

In the list below, I've chosen 10 of the best day tours in Heraklion. If you are also interested in an Heraklion sightseeing itinerary, check out this guide on things to do in Heraklion later.

Day Trips from Heraklion

Here's 10 of the best day trips and excursions in Crete you can take from Heraklion.

1

Knossos Palace Skip-the-Queue Entry with Guided Walking Tour

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

No visit to Heraklion or Crete is complete without spending time at Knossos. This amazing archaeological site is thought to be the very centre of the ancient Minoan civilisation.
As you might expect, it is a popular place with tourists, and so this skip-the-queue tour along with guide makes perfect sense. Ideal for anyone with limited time in Heraklion or people who just don't like queuing (that's all of us really!), read on to find more about the Knossos day trip from Heraklion.

2

Day Tour of Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda & Plaka

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

This day trip from Heraklion offers unbeatable value for money. Unless you have your own transport, it's impossible to do this in one day yourself, and even then, you would need to know the timing of boats to Spinalonga. As a result, this excursion from Heraklion is a great way to see the island of Crete. Including pickup from your hotel, ead on to find out more about this full day trip from Heraklion.

3

Crete: Land Rover Safari on Minoan Route

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

Take a ride on the wild side during this 4WD tour of Crete. Follow an old Minoan trail, visit traditional villages, and enjoy amazing views from the Lassithi Plateau. If you ever wanted to really get away from the tourist trail, this Land Rover Safari in Crete is the way to go!

4

From Heraklion: Afternoon Sailing Trip to Dia Island

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

Sailing between Greek islands is a memorable experience, especially so on this half day tour from Heraklion. Enjoy the journey, snorkel, swim, and tuck in to a tasty meal. If you want to find out more about experiencing life on the ocean waves in Greece, click through to read more about this boat trip in Crete.

5

From Heraklion: Full-Day Gramvousa and Balos Tour

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

If the previous boat tour whetted your appetite for more sailing Crete tours from Heraklion, this one will take it to the next level! Picture crystal clear waters, a beautiful lagoon, and the chance to see the natural wildlife of Crete up close and personal. It isn't expensive either, especially considering it's a 12 hour boat trip. Read on to find out more.

6

From Heraklion: Chania, Lake Kournas and Rethymno Tour

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

This tour from Heraklion is ideal for people with limited time in Crete. During the day, you will get to see two other pretty towns which are Chania and Rethymno, as well as spending time at Lake Kournas. In addition to seeing some stunning landscapes, you will also have the chance to learn about the history of the area, take a ride in a pedalo and even go for a swim!

7

Santorini: Full-Day Tour from Crete

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

If Santorini is on your bucket list and you can't get there any other way, this Santorini boat trip from Crete is the way to go. You'll get the views of a boat journey, have the chance to admire the stunning Cycladic architecture, and spend time at the two main towns of Fira and Oia in Santorini. Be prepared though... it is a long day!

8

Samaria Gorge: Day Trip from Agia Pelagia, Heraklion & Malia

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

If you're after a little outdoor adventure during your vacation in Crete, this day trip to the Samaria Gorge from Heraklion should be top of your list. During the walk, you'll see a wild landscape as you walk through the majestic Gorge. I remember walking this as a kid with my parents, and loved it! Click through to find out more about this outdoor activity in Crete,

9

Crete: Day Tour to the Island of Chrissi from Heraklion

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

There's a lot of competition when it comes to which island near Crete is the most beautiful. Chrissi island is a top contender, and I've actually got a separate article about it here on the blog. If crystal clear waters, a touch of paradise and Instagram moments to die for are your thing, you need to find out more about this tour right now!

10

From Heraklion: Day Excursion to Elafonisi

Photo Credit: www.getyourguide.co.uk

Last, but certainly not least, is a day trip to Elafonisi from Heraklion. This is the most famous beach in Crete due to its incredible pinks sands. Whilst you can reach it on your own if you have your own vehicle, you might find it more convenient to take a day trip from Heraklion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heraklion

These answers to commonly asked questions about Heraklion in Crete can help you plan your activities.

What are the best tours in Crete from Heraklion?

The 10 best tours of Crete from Heraklion are:

  • Knossos Palace Skip-the-Queue Entry with Guided Walking Tour
  • Day Tour of Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos Elounda Plaka
  • Crete: Land Rover Safari on Minoan Route
  • Heraklion: Afternoon Sailing Trip to Dia Island
  • From Heraklion: Full-Day Gramvousa and Balos Tour
  • From Heraklion: Chania, Lake Kournas and Rethymno Tour
  • Santorini: Full-Day Tour from Crete
  • Samaria Gorge: Day Trip from Agia Pelagia, Heraklion & Malia
  • Crete: Day Tour to the Island of Chrissi from Heraklion
  • From Heraklion: Day Excursion to Elafonisi

What are the best outdoor activities in Heraklion?

Popular sport activities in Heraklion include:

  • Hiking / Trekking
  • Jet Skiing
  • Scuba Diving
  • Parasailing
  • Helicopter tours
  • Canyoning
  • Kayaking

How many days do you need in Heraklion?

Three days in Heraklion (also known as Iraklio) is enough time to explore the city, appreciate its history, culture and cuisine, and also take a day trip to other parts of Crete such as the Samaria Gorge or Spinalonga.

Please pin this guide to Heraklion day trips

If you are a Pinterest user, why not pin this guide to day trips in Heraklion for later? This way you'll easily be able to find the best Crete tours from Heraklion again in the future.

The 10 Best Day Trips from Heraklion in Crete

Sign up for Free Greece Travel Guides

Did you enjoy this Heraklion travel guide, and are interested in more travel guides to Greece? Sign up for my guides below, and I'll send you out useful travel tips, advice, and guides so you can plan the perfect vacation in Greece!

[mailmunch-form id=”681765″]

More about Crete

You might also like these other travel blogs about Crete.

  • Complete Crete travel guide
  • Transfers from Heraklion Airport to Rethymnon, Chania, and Beyond
  • Palace of Knossos in Crete | Visit Knossos and enter the Minotaur’s lair!
  • Crete sightseeing tours from Chania

Filed Under: Crete

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Dave’s Travel Blog

Dave Briggs, writer at Dave's Travel Pages

On this travel site, you'll find detailed guides and tips on traveling to Greece, as well as bikepacking blogs about cycling around the world. Dave's Travel Pages is an essential resource for planning trips to popular destinations like the Greek islands as well as preparing for adventures in off the beaten path destinations.

Find out more about Dave Briggs and this blog by clicking here

Recent Travel Posts

  • Can you bring spices on a plane?
  • River Captions And Quotes That Flow Beautifully!
  • What Are Bike Tire Caps And Do You Need Them?
  • Songs About Bicycles

Dave’s Travel Pages has a number of affiliate links placed within the travel blog. If you decide to buy items through these links, you will be helping Dave to fund this site and perhaps the next adventure. More importantly, it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Win win – we like that!

Dave’s Travel Blog Privacy Policy

Read our privacy policy here

You might also be interested in:

  • Travel by Bicycle
  • Travel Quotes
  • Travel to Athens
  • Greece Travel Guides
  • Dave’s Santorini Travel Guide

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Europe Travel Blogs
  • Asia Travel Blogs
  • Americas Travel Blogs

"Copyright Dave's Travel Pages (c) 2005- - 2022 "