Best 8 Shopping activities on Crete Island

Discover the beautiful, ancient city of Chania, dating back 4000 years, making Chania the oldest city in Europe. Spend a pleasant evening with an unforgettable sunset in the former Cretan capital with an english speaking guide. Early in the evening, reach the beautiful Town with a cozy walk through the narrow allies in the idyllic Venetian Old Town, with a stop to take fantastic photographs. Enjoy enough free time to spend the evening as you wish. Stroll through the Venetian Port, go shopping, visit some of many old and interesting buildings, or enjoy the sunset with a romantic dinner, candles and a glass of excellent wine.

The bus departs around 09:00 from Rethymno for the drive to Crete’s capital city of Chania, the most beautiful town on the island. Settled more than 4,000 years ago, Chania is one of the oldest cities in Europe. On this full-day excursion you’ll have 5 hours to explore Chania, with plenty of free time for a romantic walk through the idyllic old town. Visit historic neighborhoods, churches and museums and take a walk to the beautiful Venetian Port for shopping, a cup Greek coffee and lunch (not included in the tour price). At around 16:00 the bus will depart for the return trip to Rethymno.

Depart Heraklion and journey west by bus to the stunning city of Chania. Learn about its Minoan history and see sights from different civilizations, including the Byzantine, Ottoman and Venetian eras. Get a view of the lighthouse in the port, wander the narrow streets of the old town and enjoy some free time for lunch in the pretty harbor. Look for gifts and souvenirs in the famous agora (market) and more. Then, make your way to Lake Kournas and get back to nature in the lush green hills. Keep a look out for rare birds and marine life, including eels and turtles. Go for a swim or take an early afternoon walk in the protected wetlands. Drive back towards Heraklion and stop in the city of Rethymno along the way. Wander the enchanting alleys of the old town, see the domes and minarets of the Ottoman-era mosques, and marvel at the 16th-century Venetian fortress.

Enjoy a guided day tour of Heraklion as you discover the historic city center and Knossos Palace. Start with pickup in the morning and first visit Knossos Palace, the mythical labyrinth and ancient capital of Minoan Crete. Enter the archaeological site with your guide and learn about its fascinating and mysterious history Then enjoy some free time to take photos and admire the architecture of your surroundings. Next, explore the city of Heraklion with a guided tour in the city center. Enjoy 2 hours and 30 minutes of free time at the old market, the city center, or visit the archaeological museum. For those who wish to visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, the choice is optional and will be without a guide. Afterward, return to your hotel.

Explore the sights in Heraklion with this bus tour from selected areas of Crete on a half day tour. Discover sights like Liberty Square and Koules Fortress on a sightseeing tour combined with a visit at the Cretaquarium. This is created for families and explorers. Enjoy the convenience of pickup from locations outside of select hotels in Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Anissaras, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Chani, Heraklion, Ammoudara, and Heraklion. Sit back and relax on a spacious, comfortable, and air-conditioned bus.  Start with a visit at the famous Cretaquarium where you can purchase a ticket to skip the line to view various Mediterranean species, including sharks, tuna and sea turtles. Don’t miss the absolut highlight of the Cretaquarium, the Jelly fishes. It’s for every human kind an attraction itself, to meet all species of the Mediterranean Sea. After about 1 hour stay, you continue your journey, heading the capital of Creta, Heraklion. There the bus takes the Liberty Square to take in the statues and fountains like the Venetian Lion Fountain Morosini and the town hall. Explore the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Venetian influences on the city. Admire the imposing fortress of Koules at the harbor and the Venetian Walls that surround the old city. Have some free time to sit at one of the many restaurants or coffee shops in Lions Square or to see one of the city museums, the Municipal Library, or the Art Gallery or for shopping souvenirs, fashion clothes at the open market and Dedalos Street. . Spend your time in the capital city for about 3,5 hours and capture the Cretan urban lifestyle before transferring back to your hotel.

Start with pickup from your hotel and first pass the Selinari monastery with its impressive gorge, and reach the small town of Neapolis. Visit the Vassilakis Estate, one of the oldest and most successful olive oil producers in Crete. Enjoy a detailed tour of their production facility and learn how olive oil is made. Continue to the provincial capital of Agios Nikolaos where you can admire the shimmering blue waters of the bay of Mirabello. Walk along the harbor and over the bridge to the freshwater Lake Voulismeni. Visit a local market and browse for specialty local products such as honey, olive oil, and spices. After a Greek coffee in one of the cozy cafes, continue to Kritsa, one of the most picturesque villages on the island. Admire the views of the whitewashed houses of the village located below a steep rocky slope. Take a break for some lunch at your own expense, followed by a stroll through the village. Finally, travel to Amazonas Park and discover a sanctuary for the conservation of endangered species. Take a guided tour of the sanctuary and see a variety of colorful parrots and curious monkeys. See rare parrot species which will eventually be released back into their natural habitat, and enjoy the fantastic views of the foothills of the Dikti Mountains.

Morning Pick-up: We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus drive will differ. Bus Drive: 1 hour 1st stop: The Palace of Knossos Visit Knossos, the mythical labyrinth and ancient capital of Minoan Crete, 5000years ago. Our participants will enter the Archaeological Site with our Representative in order to attend a Guided Tour for about 1 hour & 20 minutes and then enjoy some free time to take photos and admire the historic Minoan place. People, have to wait in line, in order to receive their tickets and enter the Palace. The waiting time is different during high-season months and peak times within the day. 2nd stop: City Center of Heraklion Walking Tour & Free time Visit the capital of the Region and enjoy a guided tour in the center and the historical part of Heraklion, free time at the old market, the city center or visiting the archaeological museum. Participants will have plenty of time to walk, do some souvenir shopping or just take photos. Optional: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion For those who wish to visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, the choice is optional and will be without a guide as the Covid Regulation for visiting the museum as a group makes the procedure complicated and time consuming for the participants. End of the tour – Return to resorts: Embarkation in the buses and drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning. Depending on traffic and on the pick-up places of each one, the time of journey back to the hotel will differ.

This tour starts with your pick up from your hotel at Chania and drive east by vehile to the stunning Kournas Lake along the north-west coast of Crete geting panoramic views of the sea. At Lake Kournas get back to nature in the lush green hills. Keep a look out for rare birds and marine life, including eels and turtles. Go for a swim, or take a walk in the protected wetlands, or ride a pedalo boat at Lake Kournas, or take a coffee or breakfast at the local restaurants. Leaving Kournas, drive towards the city of Rethymno the third biggest town in Crete east of Chania on the north coast of Crete.Here, archeological monuments of the Ottoman and Venetian eras co-exist. Enjoy a stroll in the alleys of the old town, a visit to the Turkish minarets and the Venetian fortresses, or a lunch at the magnificent harbor. You will have free time to explore the Rethymnon Old Town, browse for gift and unique products.