Best 213 Culinary and nightlife tours and activities on Crete Island

Culinary & Nightlife in Crete: Savor traditional Cretan cuisine, explore bustling markets and enjoy vibrant nightlife. Engage in one of these unique experiences. Unforgettable experiences on Crete Island.

  • Heraklion

Start your day by meeting your guide at the farm, where you will have a cup of coffee before taking a basic riding lesson to make sure you feel safe and comfortable while riding a horse. Then, hop on your horse to begin your ride out into the mountains.

After riding for about an hour, you’ll arrive at the top of the Finikia mountains, where you’ll stop for a break. Help yourself to a soft drink, or fruit, and take a moment to admire the amazing views and snap a picture or two. In the distance, you can spot the nearby mountain of Archanes, the place where the Greek God Zeus is said to be sleeping.

Then get back on your horses and make your way back to the starting point. After riding for about another hour, you’ll arrive at the stables and then sit down in our lovely garden for a delicious traditional Cretan lunch/dinner, including homemade wine with an amazing horse view!

After lunch, have a seat out in the garden of the farm, help yourself to some more wine, or enjoy a few more minutes with our horses. At about 12:30 PM, you will head back to your hotel or apartment.

  • Lazaretta

The boat departs from the Old Venetian Harbor and heads out onto the Gulf of Chania. Pass by the island’s famous lighthouse, which was built by the Venetians in the 16th century and later modified by the Egyptians in 1839.

The boat continues to sail west towards Lazaretta Island, a small island close to Chania which provides the best views of the sunset across the Kissamos Mountains. The island has a vast history that predates the Venetian occupation. Listen to your guide share lively commentary about the history of the island and its former inhabitants as you watch the sunset and the sky change color.

Relax on deck as you marvel at the sunset against the Kissamos Mountains or take a short swim, then enjoy a traditional Greek raki. As the boat begins the return journey back to Chania, admire the harbor’s glistening lights reflecting against the water as evening turns to night.

  • Hersonissos

Explore Crete by Land Rover on a full-day adventure along the Minoan Path, and experience a blend of ancient myths, spectacular landscapes, and a barbecue lunch on the Lassithi Plateau.

Following a pick-up from your hotel, drive through spectacular mountains en route to the Aposelemis Basin Reservoir, and see an ancient aqueduct of the Roman Empire. Continue to the village of Kastamonitsa in the foothills of the Afendi Mountains. Stop for a Cretan-style breakfast and raki tasting.

Next, brace yourself for the dirt tracks of the Minoan Path. Drive through a stunning mountain landscape to see wildlife and the unbelievable scenery. Learn the myths and legends of Crete on the way to a shepherd’s mitato (mountain shelter).
Feed the animals as you watch the shepherds produce cheese according to traditional methods. Taste some of the fresh, rich cheese.

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Lassithi Plateau and north coast. Continue to Dikteon Cave to marvel at the birthplace of Zeus. Work up an appetite before your lunch at a local taverna. Try a selection of traditional dishes (vegetarian option available) and a glass or two of wine.

Then, go to Lassinthos Eco Park to admire traditional handicrafts. Back on the Lassithi Plateau, experience a wilderness and farming land where time has stood still. See donkeys put to work to help farm the land. Then, go to Seli to take photos of the unique scenery.

Drive to the village of Krassi, famous for its 2,000-year-old tree and natural spring water source. Continue down the mountain roads, passing ancient olive groves before you reach the spectacular coastline and deep blue sea.

  • Diktaion Andron

Discover traditional life in rural Crete by witnessing the daily activities of the locals and visiting the sites where Greek myths were born. Enjoy a tour of Potamies, Aposelemis dam, Empasa, the cave of Zeus, and the beautiful scenery of the plateau.
Start with pickup from your accommodation. Visit one of the most characteristic Cretan villages, Potamies, for a tour of a traditional local farm. See the process of milking and cheese-making, meet the animals, and sample their fresh cheese.
Next, head to the Aposelemis dam, the largest water supply project in Crete. See the village of Sfendili submerged in the waters of the dam with its impressive old houses fading on the surface of the water. Explore the natural wetlands and spot a unique variety of birds.
Continue uphill on the dirt roads to the gorge of Empasa. Enjoy the views of the mountainous landscape and thriving wildlife. Try your hand at foraging for native herbs or relax and take in the panoramic views.
Take a trip to Lassithi Plateau to enter Psychro Cave, the fabled birthplace of the Greek God Zeus. Follow the trails of the gods and after that take a tour around the plateau to get a sense of local life.
Finally, enjoy authentic food baked in the wood oven in one of the most celebrated taverns in the picturesque village of Krasi. Admire the town square filled with fountains and see imposing plane trees that are up to 2000 years old. Return to your hotel full of unforgettable memories of Crete.

  • Lazaretta

Explore the Old Port of Chania on Agioi Theodoroi and Lazaretta Island on a history-lover’s boat cruise. Learn about the history of Venetian occupation, and see a German plane wreck from WWII. Take time to relax on the beach and swim.
This activity takes you to two islands connected with ancient mythology and the history of the Venetian occupation. Heading west from the Old Port of Chania, your first stop will be Agioi Theodoroi, an island that was used historically to defend the coast of Crete.
Nowadays, it’s a protected area and haven for kri-kri, an elegant and endangered Cretan goat. Your group will drop anchor close to a German airplane wreck (completely destroyed) dated from WWII, and give you the opportunity to dive into the water to see it for yourself.

After approximately 20 minutes, you’ll head on to the second stop on the same island, inside a small gulf with a nice view and a high possibility of seeing the kri-kri goats. The duration of this stop will be approximately 30 minutes.
Head on to Lazaretto (or Lazaretta) island, a small island opposite Nea Xora. Clear waters rich in marine life combined with two beautiful sandy beaches make this the best place to end your trip.
Enjoy options to swim or relax on the beach until the boat leaves back for Chania. On the way back, you’ll get panoramic views of the Old Venetian Harbour with its famous lighthouse and walled fortresses—an excellent view of what the city looks like from the sea.

  • Dia, Crete

Sail with us to the natural island of Dia with our comfortable sailing yachts and our very experienced crews. We start our trip from Heraklion Old venetian harbor where you can admire the old Venetian fortress.
Should the conditions help we sail with the wind and enjoy the magic of wind sailing.
It will take us about 1 hour and a 10-20 minutes to get to Dia Island, always depending on the weather conditions. On our way to the Island , our crew (captain and host(ess) will tell you about the history of the island and can answer any questions that you may have about Crete.
Once we arrive you will have the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear water, observe the underwater world with equipment provided by us, use the paddle board, have a drink and relax.
For FULL DAY cruise we will prepare you a nice traditional meal composed by a Greek salad, tzatziki and pasta with seafood (we can adjust the menu in case of allergy or any specific diet).
After our lunch we will set sails to an other bay of the island and you will enjoy a different landscape and have time for swim and enjoy some fruits and a traditional digestive that we called RAKI.
In case the weather does not allow us to go to an other bay we will just spend more time in our first stop.
The HALF DAY option will serve morning turkey club sandwiches. tomatoes, cheese and green salad, sunset – pasta with tomato sauce instead of a full meal and stay in our main bay for enjoying more time swimming and snorkeling.
It s time to end our day saying goodbye to Dia Island and thank you for this nice memories that we have shared together.
We start our trip back to Heraklion on the designated time that the crew informs you and again we open sails should the weather permits.
Once we arrive back at the port we will escort you back to the meeting spot or transfer.
We are looking to welcome you on board soon 🙂

  • Chania

Travel through stunning natural landscapes up into the mountains of the Kissamos region on this 7-hour tour from Chania.

Stop at a traditional family winery, established in 1993, and learn about the varieties of wine they produce and their ideas for modern farming processes and wine production.

Taste award-winning local Vidiano, Muscat of Spina and some international varieties such as Grenache rouge, Syrah and Mourvèdre that each have a unique taste due the local terroir.

Next you’ll visit a traditional village and see the oldest olive tree in the world, with an estimated age of 3,000 years.

This is a day filled with tasting different wine expressions of noble grapes and a variety of delicious foods.

Head to another winery in the Kissamos region to taste a special local blend of white wines with Vilana, Vidiano and Assyrtiko varieties.

Walk through the idyllic landscape of the vineyards and visit the family’s olive oil factory. Learn about extra virgin olive oil production. The wine tasting here will be accompanied by a tasting of extra virgin olive oils and local pure products, creating combinations your palate will never forget.

You’ll also learn the Cretan way of saying goodbye drinking the award-winning Tsikoudia.

  • Aposelemis Dam

Explore the Cretan mountains outside of Heraklion from the seat of a Land Rover during a guided day tour. Witness a stunning sunset over the Lassithi Plateau before stopping off for a local-style BBQ dinner with wine.
Begin your journey with hotel pickup and make your way through the magnificent mountains of Crete. Visit the Aposelemis Dam and an ancient Roman aqueduct as your guide shares interesting insight.
Next, stop off in the picturesque village of Kastamonitsa, nestled in the foothills of the Afendi Mountains. Enjoy the chance to sample local products such as olive oil and raki, a distilled alcoholic drink made with grapes and anise.
Back in the vehicle, brace yourself as you venture down dirt tracks and follow the Minoan path through mountain passes. Catch spectacular views of wildlife and unbelievable scenery, learning about mythology and history along the way.
Take a break to relax over a glass of prosecco and fresh fruit salad while admiring the sunset. Be sure to take plenty of photos to share of the amazing backdrop.
After building up an appetite, head to a local tavern for a delicious Cretan-style meal that will include appetizers and main courses as well as vegetarian options. Wash down the food with unlimited wine served with dinner.
Make your way back down the mountain roads as you head toward your hotel, marveling at the views of the moonlit coastline and illuminated towns along the way.

© All rights reserved. Crete Locals