Top Crete Food & Drink

Visit the family home of a local Cretan for an evening of cooking, eating, and cultural exchange. Begin your visit in the vegetable gardens, where you harvest ingredients to use in your recipes. Learn traditional dishes from your hosts, hear the stories behind each, and taste local cheeses. Enjoy views of the Aegean Sea and the mountains, then sit down to a meal you helped prepare, paired with local wine.

Make your way to Chania and indulge in a gastronomic getaway featuring all that's special about this Mediterranean island. On this 2.5-hour walking tour, taste local delicacies like raki, tsikoudia, and bougatsa with plenty of cheese, olives, and sweets thrown into the mix. Plus, experience some unique gems too; explore an herb store known only by locals and marvel at renowned traditional knives crafted on-site.

With the help of your greek host you will have the chance to learn the production process of olive oil in our olive mill as well as the traditional way Cretans cultivate their olive trees for centuries. Visitors will also be able to taste the unique flavor and aroma of extra virgin olive oil and some traditional cretan delicacies. Vegetarians are welcome. You will also have the opportunity to buy extra virgin olive oil and other products made by locals. Pets and kids are welcome too

Get more than just a cooking class, and book a private Cretan cuisine experience that serves up island culture, too. Led by a mother-and-daughter team, the experience takes place outside at their farm, using their own organic produce and treasured family recipes. A meal made with your own hands and homemade refreshments are among the highlights.

Maximize time in Crete with a full-day combination guided tour. Get picked up at your hotel and set out on a coach sightseeing tour focused on archaeology and culture. See popular landmarks including the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, Dikteon Cave, and the Palace of Knossos. Admire panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau, visit an olive oil factory, and go inside a ceramic workshop to see a potter at work.

Get your Crete vacation off to the perfect start as you discover the town of Chania and Cretans’ favorite activity, eating, with a private guide. Sample signatures including Greek coffee, local cheese, raki, Crete’s answer to grappa, and bougatsa, a custard pie with phyllo pastry, then enjoy lunch. You’ll also tour the city highlights, including the lighthouse, the mosque and the Old Venetian Harbor.

The whole family will enjoy this fun snorkeling activity, which is both relaxing and adventurous. With a small group of no more than ten travelers you'll be taken on a boat ride to two different snorkeling spots. Experience the difference at the open ocean and sheltered spots, both with an abundance of sea life. Snorkeling gear will be provided so you don't need to bring your own.

Discover ancient Minoan history, Cretan farming culture, and magnificent island views on this full-day off-roading adventure from Heraklion. Travel in a rugged Land Rover along historic mountain trails, stopping along the way to visit the mythological Diction Cave, shepherds’ villages, the scenic Lassithi Plateau, and an eco park where traditional ways of life are still practiced. Replenish your energy with an included lunch and taste of ‘raki’ liqueur at a local tavern.

Embark on an enchanting journey through Crete's heart, where culture and culinary heritage intertwine. Begin at an olive mill, where the scent of olives fills the air, and witness the ancient craft of olive oil extraction. Dive into Cretan cuisine's traditions, connecting with the island's gastronomic roots. Continue to a micro-winery and raki distillery nestled in sun-kissed vineyards. Discover the alchemy of winemaking and distillation, unraveling the secrets behind Crete's indigenous varieties and beloved spirit. Enjoy a tasting of four wines and spirited raki, immersing in the island's essence. Indulge in a feast of Cretan delicacies, each dish a symphony of local flavors. As laughter mingles with the clinking of glasses, the meal becomes a celebration of tradition, uniting Crete's culinary richness with its authentic charm.

Go to hidden-away corners of Crete few travelers get to see with this guided all-terrain vehicle tour. Follow your guide off-road to quiet tracks far from the traffic and crowded resorts. Explore the near-abandoned ghost village of Achlada, where only a few locals still live, and Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco.

Come with us on a journey along East Crete reveling in the endless luxuries of the Lassithi Plateau which is basked in allure forests & fertile land dotted with iconic windmills. From the comfort of a luxury chauffeured vehicle at your disposal, our knowledgeable local insider will ensure you experience the best of the whole itinerary. Discover quaint villages, local lifestyle, storied monuments, Byzantine Monasteries & Cretan art. Tuck into a culinary odyssey & savor genuine tastes loved by our legendary forefathers. It’s our job to hook you up with only the most authentic eateries. Amble in the footsteps of gods to the Cave of Zeus. Plunge into the mythical birthplace & sense the sanctity of this ancient site. When in Knossos Palace, luxuriate in the eternal magnificence of the Minoan ruins & frescoes. Succumb to the personalized service of a top history-archaeology guide & let us stimulate you with eclectic information by ensuring a stress-free pace in all archaeological areas.

Immerse yourself in the Aegean Sea with this 3-hour guided snorkeling trip from Chania. All equipment is provided. Swim in the crystal blue waters in Almyrida Chania and explore reefs, caves and see the Elephant Cave of Crete.

Sail with us to the exotic Dia Island on our large and comfortable sailing yachts. Our journey begins at the Heraklion Old venetian port. After 1 hour of sailing, we arrive to Dia where we anchor in the first bay of the island. There you can enjoy the crystal waters and water activities such as snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding and more. (Please request the equipment from the Crew) About 1 hour later our delicious menu is served and includes Greek salad and several appetizers, while the main course is shrimp pasta (we also offer vegetarian and gluten free versions of the menu upon request). You can also accompany your meal with the finest wine, beer, ice tea or soft drinks. Around 30 minutes later we sail to a different bay where you can enjoy the waters and our refreshing fruit salad. There you will have about 30-60 minutes before we sail back to Heraklion. *In case there is not enough time for a visit to the second bay there will be extra time in the first one.

Maximize time in Crete with a half-day private tour of Chania. Get picked up at your hotel or the location of your choosing in Chania and set out on a sightseeing tour focused on local history and heritage. See top landmarks including the Old Venetian Harbor, Lighthouse of Chania, Firkas Fortress, and Hassan Pascha Mosque. Get to know Chania's Old Town and the many cultures that influenced its character.

Discover the smells, tastes, and sights of Crete on a small-group tasting tour via 4x4 with up to 6 guests per vehicle and guide. Explore with a local driver/guide in a small group on this intimate full-day food-centered adventure from the Chania area. Visit the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves; sample wines and olive oils at Anoskeli Winery Olive Mill while learning more about the wine- and oil-making processes; savor lunch with dessert at the Milia Mountain Retreat; and view the Topolia Gorge.

Experience traditional Greek vineyards alongside a certified sommelier on this private excursion by SUV. Venture into the countryside and learn about the winemaking traditions of Crete, including a visit to a 500-year-old wine press. Your tour includes a wine tasting of 12 premium wines paired with local snacks and culminates with a delicious 3-course Cretan meal in the middle of the vineyards.

Step aboard the 'Mikros Naftilos' for a private cruise to the islands of Gramvousa and the Balos Lagoon. With a well-established local operator as your skipper, you'll relax on a carefully planned route that showcases the area's coastal highlights. Enjoy a lunch of regional dishes and unlimited drinks as you cruise, and stop for cool-down dips in the sea along the way.

See the Palace of Knossos more intimately with this small-group walking tour that’s capped at just eight people. You’ll explore the palace without the rush and bustle of the larger sightseeing tours, and catch all the commentary about ancient Knossos and Minoan Crete. The tour even includes a skip-the-line ticket for quicker entry.

Combine sightseeing and local flavors with this half-day guided tour around Chania. Sample a variety of local dishes at the Municipal Market, then walk around the hidden streets and alleyways of the Old Town to discover secret gardens and historic monuments, and see local artisans at work, before ending the tour with tapas along the Old Venetian Harbor. Opt for a private tour to include hotel or port pickup as well.

Discover the Bronze Age city of Knossos and take a sightseeing tour of Heraklion. Knossos was once the capital of the Minoan civilization and is known to be Europe’s oldest city. Enjoy a guided tour of the labyrinthine palace and learn about its history. Then, visit Heraklion, the current capital of Crete, to discover its landmarks including the Lion’s Fountain.

Although Heraklion is the perfect base to see Crete’s cultural and architectural heritage, it’s not the only part of Crete that is worthy of a visit. On this full-day tour, discover two of the prettiest cities in Western Crete, Chania and Rethymno. Learn all about the diversity of Heraklion’s heritage, including its Venetian, Ottoman, Byzantine and ancient Greek influences.

Explore Crete’s diverse palm forests, gorges, and beaches on a full-day Land Rover safari with a guide to reveal the best of the island’s scenery and culture. Rumble along remote roads, passing landmarks like Prassano Gorge and Potamon Dam, and stopping to swim in the Libyan Sea. Get a taste of Cretan country life when you visit traditional villages like Spili, and enjoy a local lunch with free-flow wine.

Spend a day at Acqua Plus, the most popular water park on Crete. The park is divided into two sides, one for all ages and one for adults only. Facilities are clean, well-run, and safe, with multiple lifeguards on duty at all times. In addition to the many games, slides, and water rides inside the park, there is a beautiful garden in the center with Cretan flowers and trees, exotic flowers, weeping willows, palm trees, bougainvilleas,  French marigolds and more greenery, making for a nice escape form the heat and sun.