• Water shoes (lots of rocks)

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Sun hat

• Snorkeling gear

• Sneakers/shoes with good grip, marble is slippery.

• Car charger if renting a car or battery bank

• Euros

If you’re looking to travel beyond Athens, Mykonos, or Santorini, look no further!  From breathtaking beaches, stunning mountains, rich history, and an inviting atmosphere for kids—Crete should be at the top of your list.

Crete isn’t just one of Greece’s largest islands – it’s a whole vibe!  Whether you’re a beach lover, a history buff, or just looking for an unforgettable family vacation, Crete has something for everyone.

Aside from the stunning, beautiful beaches, I was surprised to experience how kid-friendly it is.  

My dad and Brian woke up bright and early to pick up our rental car.  They picked Levi and me from our AirBnB and made our way to Chania’s Old Town.

Here, you can stroll through the colorful streets filled with souvenirs, and restaurants, and walk along the port.

We also found a hidden gem called Tamam.  The food was delightful, the service was impeccable, and the prices were very reasonable.

Be sure to stay for a mesmerizing sunset.  Venture and walk along the port towards the Light House of Chania for magical pictures during this golden hour.

We finished our day having a homemade meal at our AirBnB where our host’s parents treated us with prickly pear straight from their front yard!

We started our day heading towards Seitan Limania.  This is one of the beautiful beaches that is hidden in a cove.  It is a must-visit beach but you must be prepared for the following:

• Steep, narrow hills to drive down towards the “parking space”

• Steep, rocky, and slippery climb both ways. Brian and my father did it.  They reassured me it was not safe to take our toddler, as they were also struggling a bit.  The other way to get there is to rent a boat (That’s exactly what we did the following day!).

I waited in the car for roughly 30 min while Levi napped.  They went down, took a dip, and climbed back up.  At least I was in the company of goats who climbed cars >__<

On to our next stop! 1hr20min car drive to Falassarna Beach

This slice of paradise is located on the western side of the Island.  Unlike our hidden gem (Seitan Limania), it’s an organized beach with plenty of parking, umbrellas, and lounge chairs for rent.  it is very accessible and family-friendly indeed.  They also have bathrooms which are cleaned constantly and beach showers.

If you rent a cabana, you can choose whether you want full delivery service from the bar or pick a spot on the beach.

As far as the beach itself, there are waves, but I felt pretty safe by the shore with Levi.

We were up bright and early to catch our rental boat in Marathi Beach!  It was about a 20-minute ride from our Airbnb.

You have the option of either riding the boat yourself or hiring a captain; we went with the latter (lol).

Seitan Limania was our first stop.  We parked the boat and splashed into the water to swim to the shore.  It was a beautiful landscape of turquoise water and rocky mountains.

We made a few more stops where we were able to snorkel and they were able to jump from cliffs.  As far as Levi, we splashed around in the water, and he even drove the boat for a bit! (Obviously, right next to me)

After we returned the boat, we laid down at Marathi Beach to hang out and have a bite (homemade sandwiches). This was one of Levi’s favorite beaches, as the waters were calm and shallow, with practically no waves.

We wrapped up our day by heading home, changing quickly and going back into town to have a delicious souvlaki from Oasis.

Nestled between Chania and Heraklion, Rethymno is a charming town that perfectly blends Crete’s rich history and vibrant culture. After driving for 1hr30min we reached our destination of Melodini, Rethymni.

Our second Airbnb was located in this small village.  Our host, Johanna, was raised in Alabama and decided to return back to her and her family’s roots in Crete.  Needless to say, she was amazing.  There were refreshments in the fridge, cookies on the dining table, along with fresh fruit.  She also surprised us with a delicious home-cooked meal!

They also run a family-operated Olive Oil Factory and offer other accommodations.

We walked around the village before heading into town at the Old Venetian Harbour (30-minute drive).

Rethymno is a University town, and there’s no denying it.  The Old Venetian Harbour is a beautiful place to walk no matter the time of day.  There are blocks upon blocks filled with restaurants featuring different cuisines, lively tavernas, and tons of shopping everywhere you turn.

We had a quick bite and a few drinks at this restaurant called The Whistler.  We ordered a steak platter to share and chicken fingers for Levi.  Everything was tasty, but the music and vibes stole the show! (great throwbacks)

We went back to the house, where we enjoyed a nice bottle of Rose while listening to salsa and moonbathing.  

When it comes to Crete, breathtaking beaches are a given—but if you’re looking for unique experiences off the beaten path, Kalypso and Plakias should be at the top of your list.

The drive to Kalypso was magical, as you can see below.

The only way to get down is using some run-down stairs.  There are no bathrooms.

We arrived around 3:00 pm; it was super windy for Levi and me to swim in the shallow water.  The waves were hitting extremely hard against the rocks, and truthfully it wasn’t as hot and sunny as the previous days.

However, if your cup of tea is diving or snorkeling, then this is the place for you! Brian and my dad jumped off, and honestly, I was petrified because of the crashing waves, but I’m thankful they made it out okay

Just a short drive from Kalypso lies Plakias Beach, a long stretch of golden sand that offers a more laid-back vibe. There is a tikki bar right on the beach, perfect for sitting around during golden hour.

By the time we arrived, it was incredibly windy, and once again, the waves were hitting hard against the shore.  I recommend going here first, early in the day, then taking your dip in Kalypso, especially if you are traveling with children.

We finally had a late lunch in Paligremnos Taverna and it did not disappoint! It was super fresh and tasted like a delicious meal made at home.

The last town to explore was Heraklion.  We started our day with a Freddo Cappuccino (as we did every day), and off we went!

Before making our way to our last Airbnb, we made a pit stop at Livadi Beach!  We had sunny skies all morning, and soon after we rented our pedal boat, it started to get gloomy.  

We made it halfway, jumped in the water, and returned to shore.  Even though it was short-lived, thanks to the storm, this was so much fun!

Let me tell you one thing: driving in Crete, I mean Greece overall, is a nightmare.  The roads are narrow, steep, and snake-like, and to top it off, they have no barriers.  Thank God for Brian taking the wheel because I couldn’t have done it (no really,, it was a manual car ).

Our Airbnb was atop a mountain.  It was a beautiful home but nonetheless a bit intimidating to get there.

This was our last beach day and we made it our goal to make the best of it.  These two beaches were my absolute favorite from the entire trip!

Paleokastro Beach was only a 15 minute ride from our AirBnB so we started our day here.  It was smaller than other beaches, but parking was rather easy and there were only a few locals by the time we arrived.

It is a great swimming spot for the entire family as the waters are calm and crystal clear (don’t be surprised to find a shoal of fish swimming next to you as well).

After a morning/ afternoon full of sun, off we went to our final destination, Voulisma Beach! (1hr drive from there)

Located on the northeastern coast of Crete, Voulisma Beach boasts a long stretch of golden sand and breathtaking turquoise water.  

When we arrived (4 p.m.), it was fairly packed, but the water was the warmest we had experienced on the island.  Parking was easy (along the main road).  There is an “adult only” tikki bar before you head down to the beach as well.  

Before taking the stairs to the beach, there was another bar/restaurant open to the public, where we bought food and drinks to enjoy downstairs.  

We loved everything about this beach from the calmness and warmth of the water to the music from the bar that can be heard down at the beach.  The atmosphere was great and was very clean overall!

We headed back towards Heraklion, where we made reservations at Athali.  This restaurant specializes in Authentic Cretan Cuisine. Everything we had in Crete was delicious, but this was the absolute best.  We ordered lamb chops, feta cheese saganaki (obsessed), meat pie, kebab athali, and lamb souvlaki.  

For the most part, we spent our time walking around Heraklion Old Town, buying last-minute souvenirs and grabbing bites of food.

If you want to do some shopping, the inner streets have a great variety of stores and even better sales!

One thing you must try before you leave, is the cheese Bougatsa (filo dough pastry filled with either spinach, cheese or sweet cream) from Kikor! hand down, it’s one of the best ones I’ve had!

To wrap it up, we had an incredible time in Crete, and if I could, I would do it all over again! It’s not just a destination, but memories in the making.  From splashing in crystal turquoise waters to indulging in local flavors, this is one of the perfect places to relax in Greece without the chaos of Mykonos or Santorini.  Gather your crew, pack your bags, and let this incredible island show you the time of your life. <3