Agia Anastasia Gorge

WaterCity is a hillside water park above Heraklion with sea views from the terraces, and this day pass covers unlimited use of every slide and pool, a sunbed and an umbrella. The park holds around fifteen slides, a 385-metre lazy river, a jacuzzi and a children’s playground, with lifeguards on the water throughout. Tickets start at €32.50, and the pass carries a 4.46 rating across 465 reviews.

What this water park pass actually does

The pass buys a full day inside the gates with nothing rationed. Three parts make up the park.

First are the slides, roughly fifteen of them, split between drops built for thrill-seekers and gentler rides the whole family can use. Second is the lazy river, at 385 metres the longest in Crete, plus a jacuzzi and open pool areas. Third is the children’s zone, with a dedicated water playground away from the larger rides.

The park sits on high ground above Heraklion, so the terraces look out over the sea. Restaurants and bars operate on site and everything sold there is charged separately.

Places this tour visits

The park sits inland and above the city, a short drive from the coast.

• WaterCity, the day is spent entirely at WaterCity waterpark, on the hillside above the coastal road.
• Heraklion, the park overlooks Heraklion and its bay, close enough to combine with a city day either side.

What’s included and what isn’t

The ticket covers the rides and your place in the sun, and nothing else.

Included:

• Unlimited use of every slide and pool
• Sunbeds
• Umbrellas

Not included:

• Food and drinks
• Towels

You cannot bring your own food or drinks into the park, so budget for the restaurants.

Why we recommend this experience

We recommend WaterCity as the better of the two big water parks near Heraklion, and the deciding factor is the hill. The park is terraced into a slope facing the sea, which means the views are genuinely good and the queues spread out across levels rather than bunching at one plaza. A French reviewer described arriving at 10:00 and getting round the whole park three times without waiting.

The slide range is what reviewers praise most. Around fifteen rides cover both ends, a British reviewer noted plenty for thrill-seekers and for the less brave alike, and a French one singled out the park decorations. Lifeguards are present throughout, which matters with children.

Timing is the single biggest lever on your day, and the reviews agree on it without exception. Everyone who arrived at or near opening reports no queues for the first couple of hours. Everyone who describes queues describes them from lunchtime onwards.

Three honest caveats, because value for money is the weakest score at 4.3 out of 5.

Queues build at the popular slides. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says travellers experience long queues at key slides and want clearer queue management, and a French reviewer described a lot of people at the thrill rides specifically.

The food divides opinion sharply. One Israeli reviewer found it tasty and reasonably priced and a Greek reviewer called the food court normally priced, while a German guest called it more than inadequate, crepes, waffles and hot dogs with ketchup as the only savoury option. A British reviewer found service slow once the park filled. Since you cannot bring your own food in, this is worth knowing.

Cleanliness came up once. A French reviewer rating four stars called the park not very clean and expensive for what you get. That is a single account against many positive ones, but it is in the record.

CreteLocals insider tips

Arrive at opening, check the height limits before you queue, and eat before the lunch rush.

1. Arrive at 10:00 when the park opens, since every reviewer who did reports walking straight onto the slides for the first two hours.
2. Check the minimum height rules with children first, because some slides enforce them and disappointment at the top of the steps is avoidable.
3. Eat before 12:30, as reviewers report both queues and slow service building at lunchtime.
4. Claim your sunbed and umbrella on arrival, which are included in the pass and gone by midday.
5. Bring a towel, since towels are not provided and are not sold cheaply inside.
6. Do the thrill slides first and the lazy river after, given the 385-metre river absorbs crowds far better than the drops do.

What to know before you go

The pass is valid for a full day. Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel and sunscreen.

Outside food and drinks are not permitted, and pets are not allowed apart from assistance dogs. Some slides carry a minimum height requirement.

Frequently asked questions

How many slides does WaterCity have?

The park holds around fifteen slides, ranging from steep drops to gentler family rides, plus a 385-metre lazy river.

Are sunbeds included?

Sunbeds and umbrellas are included in the day pass, though they go quickly, so claim yours on arrival.

Can you bring your own food?

Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Restaurants and bars operate inside and are charged separately.

When is the best time to arrive?

Arrive at opening, around 10:00. Reviewers consistently report no queues for the first couple of hours and long waits from lunchtime.

Are there height restrictions?

Some slides have a minimum height requirement, so check before queueing with younger children.

Is WaterCity suitable for small children?

A dedicated children’s playground and shallow areas sit apart from the main slides, and lifeguards are present throughout the park.

Check dates and prices for the WaterCity waterpark day pass.

This is a full-day pass to WaterCity in the hills above Heraklion with the transfer built in, which is the part that usually complicates a waterpark day. The ticket covers unlimited use of the slides and pools, a sunbed and an umbrella, and the park runs on a cashless wristband so you carry nothing around. T4V run it over about 6 hours from €32.50, with a 4.33 rating across 290 reviews.

What this day actually does

The day is a transfer, a full-day pass and a transfer back. Three parts.

First is the pick-up, which starts somewhere between 08:30 and 10:45 depending on how far your hotel is from the park, at the hotel entrance or a meeting point within short walking distance. Second is the park itself, with slides graded for different ages, pools at varying depths, a wave pool, a jacuzzi, a 385-metre lazy river and a dedicated water playground for toddlers. Third is the return, with departures at roughly 16:00 and 18:00.

Tickets are collected from the reception desk at the park on arrival rather than sent in advance.

Places this tour visits

The day is spent at one site inland from the coast.

• WaterCity, the whole day is at WaterCity waterpark, set on a hillside above the Heraklion coast.

What’s included and what isn’t

The €32.50 covers the transfer, the entry and your spot by the pool.

Included:

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Full-day entry
• Unlimited use of slides and pools
• Sunbed
• Umbrella

Not included:

• Food and drinks
• Towels

Outside food and drink cannot be brought in, so budget for eating at the park.

Why we recommend this experience

We recommend this version specifically because of the transfer. WaterCity sits up a hill outside Heraklion, a taxi each way turns a cheap day into an expensive one, and driving means someone spends the day sober and watching the clock. At €32.50 including the coach, sunbed and umbrella, the arithmetic is good.

The park itself reviews well on the things that matter for a family. A British parent took a 14-month-old and reported slides for all age groups and pools at different depths. Another British guest praised clean surroundings and well-maintained attractions. A third called it not too big and not too busy, which is a fair description, this is a mid-sized park rather than a mega-resort, and several reviewers count that as a positive.

The cashless wristband comes up again and again, and it deserves the mention. You pay for everything with the band, so nothing needs carrying, no wallet, no phone, no cash by the pool. Combined with the lockers, reviewers describe it as the thing that let them relax.

Three honest caveats, because 4.33 is a middling score and the reasons are consistent.

The transfer is the weak link, not the park. GetYourGuide’s own summary of verified reviews says pick-up timing and communication for transfers could be clearer and more reliable, and guide quality, which here effectively means the transfer operation, is the weakest dimension at 4.3. Your exact pick-up time arrives by email or chat the day before, not on the ticket, so watch for it.

Expect queues in high season. A British reviewer said to expect some, while calling them still manageable.

The slide range has gaps. A Dutch reviewer enjoyed the tyre slides but was disappointed there were no Category 2 slides without a tyre. If you are booking for teenagers chasing the steepest rides, check the current line-up.

CreteLocals insider tips

Watch for the pick-up message, wear water shoes, and take a towel.

1. Check your email and GetYourGuide chat the day before, since your exact pick-up time and point are sent then and are not the time printed on the ticket.
2. Wear water shoes, which a British reviewer recommends specifically because the park involves a lot of walking between attractions.
3. Pack towels, as they are not included and not available with the sunbed.
4. Collect your tickets at the park reception on arrival rather than expecting them in advance.
5. Check the height limits with children before queuing, because some slides have a minimum height requirement.
6. Take the 18:00 return rather than the 16:00 one if you want the last quiet hour, when the day crowd has thinned.

What to know before you go

Pick-ups run between 08:30 and 10:45 depending on your distance from the park, and returns leave at approximately 16:00 and 18:00. Tickets are collected from reception on arrival.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel and sunscreen. Outside food, drinks and alcohol are not permitted, and pets are not allowed apart from assistance dogs. Lifeguards are on duty throughout.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the day at WaterCity?

The trip runs about 6 hours, with pick-ups from 08:30 to 10:45 and returns at roughly 16:00 and 18:00.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pick-up and drop-off are included, with the exact time sent by email or chat the day before.

Are sunbeds included?

A sunbed and umbrella are included in the ticket, but towels are not.

Can you bring your own food?

No, outside food and drinks are not permitted. The park has restaurants and bars, paid by wristband.

How do you pay inside the park?

Everything is paid with a cashless wristband, so you can leave your wallet and phone in a locker.

Is it suitable for small children?

Yes, there is a dedicated water playground for toddlers and pools at varying depths, though some slides have minimum height limits.

Check dates and prices for the WaterCity waterpark day with hotel pickup.

Join a tour with all of Crete’s most iconic products. All the areas that you will visit are famous for their vineyards, the olive groves, and their wine production since the Minoan era. Even today they are considered the largest areas in Greece for cultivating grapes and high-quality olive oil.

Stop at a local olive mill and take a tour of the olive grove and after the olive mill where you can taste fresh olive oil. The second stop is a family-owned winery that uses organic methods for cultivating. You will get a tour around the vineyards and the winery and taste 5 wines.

The next stop is a unique distillery with an ancient wine press. Raki is the most famous Cretan spirit. Take a tour of the distillery and then enjoy a traditional lunch at a local tavern. Before finishing off the tour with a visit to a pottery studio located in a traditional village that is famous for its pottery.

*The pottery lab is not available on Sundays

Acqua Plus is the largest water park in Crete, and this ticket combines entry with a return coach from hotels in the Rethymno area. Acqua Plus sits on a hillside 5 kilometres from Hersonissos and 30 kilometres from Heraklion, split into an adult section and a children’s section. Pick-up runs from around 08:00, the coach reaches the park near 10:30, and you stay until 17:00, so the ticket buys roughly six and a half hours inside the gates.

What this water park ticket actually covers

The ticket covers the coach, the gate, every slide and a sunbed, which means the only thing you spend money on inside is food.

Platanos Tours runs the transfer. The park itself is built across a terraced hill, so the walk between rides is short and mostly downhill, and the layout puts the adult slides on one side and the children’s pools on the other. Slides include the Kamikaze drop, the Tsunami, the Black Holes tunnels and the Crazy River, which zig-zags through three linked pools. A lazy river, a playground and shallow pools make up the children’s half.

Qualified lifeguards work the pools and a doctor stays on site through the day. Reviewers consistently single out how closely the lifeguards watch the water, which is the detail that matters most if you are bringing small children.

Places this tour visits

The trip runs between the Rethymno coast and the Heraklion regional unit, and two of the places on the route have their own page here.

• Acqua Plus, the coach drops you at the gate of Acqua Plus, which is the only stop of the day and where you spend the full six and a half hours.
• Heraklion, the park lies 30 kilometres east of the city, so it pairs naturally with the rest of the things to do around Heraklion if you are building a week rather than a day.

What’s included and what isn’t

The fare covers transport, entry and shade, and it excludes food, drinks and anything sold separately inside the park.

Included:

• Return coach ticket from Rethymno-area hotels
• Entrance fee for Acqua Plus water park
• Access to all the water games and slides
• Sunbeds and umbrellas
• Free Wi-Fi
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off

Not included:

• Personal expenses, including all food and drink
• Pick-up from remote hotels such as Grand Rimondi, where you board at the Creta Star bus stop instead

Children aged 0 to 4 enter free.

Why we recommend this experience

We recommend Acqua Plus as the family day out that survives a hot week, and we send people here rather than to the coast when the north wind makes the sea uncomfortable. A water park is one of the few things in Crete that works better at 35 degrees than at 25, and this one is big enough that the crowd spreads out.

The reviews back up three things in particular. Supervision is genuinely tight, several reviewers mention lifeguards positioned everywhere and watching properly. Queues are short outside peak weeks, with visitors reporting they got round every slide without stress. The park is large enough to feel uncrowded even on a busy day, which is the single most common observation across the review record.

Now the things we would flag before you book, because this tour scores 4.13 out of 5 and the gaps are worth knowing.

The journey is the weakest part. Transportation scores 3.9 out of 5 and guiding 3.8, the two lowest marks the tour carries, and reviewers from Rethymno report a coach journey of at least 90 minutes each way. Add the 08:00 start and you are committing the whole day, not the afternoon.

The Grand Rimondi exclusion is real and it catches people out. One reviewer described a 1.2-kilometre uphill walk to reach the Creta Star bus stop, and that is the official pick-up arrangement rather than a mistake.

Spending inside the park is the third point. Entry costs around €29 and the food is described as good but priced up, and a few attractions such as the Ninja course carry their own charge on top of the ticket. Budget for extras rather than assuming the ticket is all-in.

CreteLocals insider tips

Arrive at opening, stake out shade early, and treat the coach timetable as the fixed part of your day.

1. Head for the slides in the first hour, since reviewers who arrive at opening consistently report walking straight onto rides.
2. Claim your sunbed and umbrella on arrival, because they are included in the ticket and the shaded rows go first.
3. Pack a full water bottle per person, as drinks inside are priced for a captive audience.
4. Check your pick-up point the evening before, particularly if you are staying at Grand Rimondi or another hotel off the coach route.
5. Bring water shoes for the children, given that the walkways between pools get hot by midday.
6. Keep €20 spare for the pay-extra attractions, so nobody is disappointed at the Ninja course.

What to know before you go

Show your ticket at the Acqua Plus entrance, there is no separate meeting point at the park itself. Pack sunglasses, a sun hat and strong sunscreen, because the hillside layout offers little shade between the rides and the reflection off the pools is harsh.

The park runs from late spring to early autumn. Infants and children under 5 enter free, and the children’s section has its own shallow pools, playground and lazy river well away from the drop slides.

Frequently asked questions

How long do you get at Acqua Plus?

You get about six and a half hours in the park, arriving around 10:30 and leaving at 17:00 when the coach departs.

Is hotel pick-up included?

Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included for most Rethymno-area hotels, though guests at remote properties such as Grand Rimondi board at the Creta Star bus stop instead.

How long is the bus journey from Rethymno?

The coach takes at least 90 minutes each way, according to reviewers travelling from the Rethymno area, with pick-ups starting around 08:00.

Is Acqua Plus suitable for toddlers?

Yes, and children under 5 enter free. A separate children’s section has shallow pools, a lazy river and a playground kept apart from the adult slides.

Do you need to pay for anything inside the park?

Food, drinks and a few attractions cost extra. The ticket covers every standard slide, a sunbed and an umbrella, but reviewers note the Ninja course and similar add-ons carry their own charge.

Where is Acqua Plus?

Acqua Plus is 5 kilometres from Hersonissos and 30 kilometres from Heraklion, on a hillside in the Heraklion regional unit.

Check dates and prices for Acqua Plus water park entry with transfer.