Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis 1 hr 50
Plakias beach (7 min)
Long, quiet beach bordered by a road for walking & biking, plus sand sports & nearby restaurants. Schinaria Beach (21 min) Gola Di Imbros (1 hr 12)
A popular destination for hikers & photographers, this 11-km, rocky canyon requires an entrance fee. Mikro Ammoudi (14 min) canyon Kotsifou (14 min)
Mountain gorge offering scenic drives & hiking, with native plants & a wintertime waterfall. Preveli beach (23 min)
Remote, well-known beach where the Kourtaliotis River meets the sea, with palm groves & stairs. Kourtaliotiko Gorge (21 min)
Imposing, windswept gorge with natural caves & springs, offering sweeping views. Lake Kournas (1 hr 6)
The only freshwater lake in Crete, this serene standby offers boat rentals, views & rocky beaches. Kalypso Beach (15 min) Frangokastelo beach (42 min)
Tranquil sandy beach with adjacent ruins of a 14th-century castle backdropped by mountains. Souda beach (8 min)
Quiet strip with umbrellas, showers & seafood tavernas, backed by a grove of rare Cretan date palms. Damnoni beach (12 min)
Popular tourist destination with turquoise waters & white sand, serviced with bars, showers & more. Triopetra beach (1 hr)
Large Mediterranean beach with clear waters & coarse sand, plus parasols, sun beds & tavernas. Skinaria beach (21 min)
A fine-pebble beach meets a deep-blue bay at this laid-back hangout with sun beds & a taverna. | 
