Immerse in Crete Island’s authentic local food scene. Explore 13 unique culinary tours and activities, savor delicious Cretan cuisine, and experience local food culture at its best. Join us.
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.
Discover Chania’s Old Town on a private or shared group guided tour with a local. Learn about local history, and taste delicious Cretan street food as you explore.
Meet your guide in Chania’s bustling market, then set off into the historic Old Town. Unravel the history of Chania as you stroll around the streets and admire the impressively well-preserved architecture.
Stroll along the cobbled narrow paths of the city, and learn about Chania’s Venetian past, renaissance heritage, and Ottoman influences. Pass by famous landmarks and soak up the charming atmosphere as you mingle with the locals.
As you explore, discover the flavors of Cretan cuisine, stop at colorful food shops and taverns, selling wine, olive-oil, cheese, herbs, spices, and more, and enjoy street food samples along the way.
Discover Chania like a local on our immersive tour! Begin your adventure in the scenic medieval town and old port as twilight approaches. Wander through the hidden cobblestone streets of the Venetian Old Port, uncovering tales of iconic locals, rebellions, and historical structures that make Chania’s history captivatingly real.
We’ll introduce you to vibrant local bars and unique shops that champion Cretan crafts, ensuring you experience the city’s lively spirit. As the sun sets, soak in the mesmerizing view at an ideal vantage point, perfect for unforgettable photos.
Wrap up the night in a charming garden, indulging in a wine and food feast. Savour award-winning Cretan wines alongside a three-course organic dinner, all while learning about Cretan wine varieties and cuisine, renowned for its health benefits.
For dessert lovers, enjoy artisanal ice cream made from fresh local ingredients. Conclude your night with “raki” shots at a local venue, mingling with Chania’s friendly locals. Before you leave, let us share insider tips to maximize your Crete experience!
Get back to nature and look for wildlife by 4WD jeep as you drive into the White Mountains. Cross a valley full of orange groves, avocado trees, and vegetable gardens, pass through rural villages, and experience life on the island away from the beach resorts.
Break for a coffee or cup of mountain tea far from the crowds. Then continue uphill to discover a typical shepherd’s hut (mitato) in a remote area that other vehicles can’t reach. Learn about the local graviera cheese and what life is like as a shepherd. Keep a look out for eagles and wild goats, and then venture along a rocky road to get panoramic vistas from 1,350 meters above sea level.
Return towards Chania via the village of Therisso, where you will stop to try the local produce at a traditional family-run tavern. Next, follow the road through the amazing Therisso gorge to arrive back in Chania.
Since its first settlement in the Neolithic period, Chania has been a prized location for many empires, including the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Ottomans, and Germans. Its strategic position has led to a rich and tumultuous history, making Chania a city with an enthralling story.
Join us on a laid-back walking tour of Chania to explore what makes this cultural capital so extraordinary. We’ll visit some of the Old Town’s best sights, famous spots, historic haunts, and hidden gems, including the lesser-known Ottoman and Jewish quarters. Get ready to experience Chania with all your senses!
We begin our tour at the Dimotiki Agora (Municipal Market), the boundary between the old and new town. Established in 1913, the year of Crete’s unification with Greece, the Agora hosts over 70 family-owned businesses selling local groceries and products. Sample local delicacies, discovering why Crete is home to one of the healthiest diets in the world.
After satisfying your taste buds, we’ll stroll through the old town district, navigating hidden back streets and narrow laneways, visiting Venetian and Ottoman monuments, and discovering secret gardens. Hear stories, myths, and legends about kings, sailors, merchants, heroes, lovers, and artists, and learn how Chania has been a crossroads between the West and East for centuries.
Next, witness local craftsmen producing their handmade products. Hear their stories and maybe even test your skills!
We’ll then meander through the old Jewish and Ottoman neighborhoods, learning how multiculturalism has shaped the lives of the locals over the centuries.
After walking along the historic harbor’s promenade, you’ll relax at a local favorite spot, enjoying a delightful table of Cretan mezedes (local tapas).
Our tour concludes here, the perfect place to continue your exploration of the city, or we can escort you back to the starting point. Before we part ways, don’t forget to ask us for more tips on making the most of your trip to amazing Chania.
Local Impact — How You Help the Community
Meet local shopowners and family-owned businesses selling Cretan-only products.
Visit one of the last remaining workshops for traditional handmade Cretan knives and hear stories from the knife maker.
Sample locally sourced food from Crete’s villages, farmers, and stock-breeders.
Create lasting memories in Crete as you enjoy an olive oil tasting experience under the shade of olive trees. This entire experience will be enjoyed in the middle of a 2,000-year-old monumental olive grove.
Discover the history, culture, and Cretan civilization of olive oil throughout the centuries. During your walk around the peaceful olive groves such as the holy Gethsemane Garden, you will discover the beauty of the Cretan landscape as well as the myths, flavors, and aromas of olive oil.
The activity includes an olive oil tasting of 4 different olive oils at a tasting table in the shade of some olive trees. During the tasting you will be pairing food with more types of olive oil, and you will receive tips on how taste, preserve, choose, cook, and fry olive oil. You’ll also receive more information about harvesting and olive oil extraction.
Explore the Palace of Knossos and learn the traditional craft of pottery on this tour of Cretan culture and heritage. After pickup at your hotel, start your day at the Palace of Knossos, one of the birthplaces of the modern world. Visit the palaces, the villas and other excavated buildings.
Continue to a traditional pottery village in the mountains, driving on pretty roads lined with olive trees. See how Cretans have produced their wonderful pottery for thousands of years. Enjoy the fantastic opportunity to try your hand at this ancient craft, with the guidance of a master potter.
During the tour, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant with wine or water included. At the end of a wonderful day, start the drive back to your hotel, where you’ll be dropped off.
It’s the right time, to fall in love with beer!
Enjoy a memorable Sunset experience of local food & beer discovery, in the charming Old Town of Chania, without the tourist traps.
It’s the right time, to fall in love with beer!
We, as two big beer lovers from Montreal & Crete, decided in April 2021 to start the 1st Craft Beer Tours in Greece & the rest is history!
With these years under its belt, this tour has been crafted like a fine strong ale: craft beer, Cretan food, Chania’s backstreets, local culture & an epic Sunset view.
It is also a crash course in beer history, styles, ingredients & tasting techniques that will transform your appreciation for beer.
You didn’t come to Crete for touristy traps, you came for good food, real people & maybe the best beer of your life.
What’s included
✚ 6 Greek Craft Beers (samples & full) from microbreweries
✚ Full tasting Greek Food Menu
✚ Crash Course in Craft Beer for all levels
✚ Personal Beer Card with Useful Vocabulary & Tasting Charts
✚ Guided Walking Tour & Photo Stops
✚ Different Tasting Locations
✚ Hidden neighbourhoods & stories
✚ Unique Souvenirs & our Top Local & Secret Recommendations!
✚ All fees & 24% taxes
© All rights reserved. Crete Locals
