Heraklion Airport N. Kazantzakis 1 hr 44
canyon Kotsifou (10 min)
Mountain gorge offering scenic drives & hiking, with native plants & a wintertime waterfall. Kourtaliotiko Gorge (12 min)
Imposing, windswept gorge with natural caves & springs, offering sweeping views. Skinaria beach (11 min)
A fine-pebble beach meets a deep-blue bay at this laid-back hangout with sun beds & a taverna. Triopetra beach (52 min)
Large Mediterranean beach with clear waters & coarse sand, plus parasols, sun beds & tavernas. Gorge Patsos: Agios Antonios (45 min)
Trail through a narrow gorge with wooden bridges & ladders to a cave sanctuary, plus birding. Mikro Ammoudi (5 min) Frangokastelo beach (46 min)
Tranquil sandy beach with adjacent ruins of a 14th-century castle backdropped by mountains. Schinaria Beach (11 min) Preveli beach (14 min)
Remote, well-known beach where the Kourtaliotis River meets the sea, with palm groves & stairs. One Rock Beach (6 min) Kalypso Beach (7 min) Ammoudaki Beach (5 min) Souda beach (11 min)
Quiet strip with umbrellas, showers & seafood tavernas, backed by a grove of rare Cretan date palms. Damnoni beach (18 min)
Popular tourist destination with turquoise waters & white sand, serviced with bars, showers & more. Plakias beach (19 min)
Long, quiet beach bordered by a road for walking & biking, plus sand sports & nearby restaurants. | 
