Best Day Trips and Tours from Rethymnon

Rethymnon is a great place to start your journey to discover Crete because there are many wonderful things to do and spots to see during your vacation. The region is home to Crete’s highest peak (Mount Psiloritis), gorges, valleys, mountains, and stunning beaches.

There are also museums, archaeological sites, and two of Crete’s most important monasteries, Preveli – with its unique palm tree beach – and Arkadi Monastery.

Rethymnon Old Town is another gem to explore. You can do it on your own or book an organized walking tour! Although traveling around Crete in your rental car can be one of the most rewarding experiences, joining an organized day trip or excursion will often let you know more and better.

My Top Picks for Day Trips from Rethymnon, Crete

In no particular order, check out these great excursions and day trips to and from Rethymnon that are good value for money.

Margarites, Arkadi Monastery, and Rethymnon Old Town

This is a fantastic group tour from Rethymnon. You can spend a whole day visiting three of the region’s best areas.

Start with a visit to the colorful pottery village of Margarites, learn about one of the most ancient traditions on the island, and even try your skills on the pottery wheel! You’ll have so much fun!

Later, return to your comfortable van and prepare to immerse yourself fully in the island’s past. Explore the ancient Monastery of Arkadi, probably the most important religious monument on the island.

Finish your day visiting the old town, exploring romantic alleys, and discovering ancient crafts.

Admire the Venetian fortification, Orthodox and Catholic churches, former mosques, majestic mansions of Venetian architecture, arches, and cobbled paths.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Full-Day Land Rover Safari to Preveli

This is one of my favorite tours in Crete! This super 8-hour tour takes you back to nature on a full-day safari by Land Rover to discover the hidden sides of Rethymnon.

Sip authentic locally-produced tsikoudia and taste other specialties at a traditional tavern overlooking the Libyan Sea. Swim in Preveli’s crystal clear waters and explore the palm forest. Feel the wind in your hair as you return to nature in the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. End with a panoramic view of Rethymno before dropping you off at your hotel.

Day Trip to Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

Don’t miss a visit to the most visited place on the island, the fantastic archaeological site of Knossos. Spend a day discovering the mysteries of Crete’s ancient civilization, the Minoans.

After a 2-hour tour of the Palace, you’ll have the chance to discover one of the most important archaeological museums in Greece and Europe.

Get ready to be even more dazzled by Minoans’ advanced sophistication. The museum includes exhibits from all the eras of Cretan prehistory and history and collections of unique masterpieces of Minoan art.

Day Trip to the East (Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, and Spinalonga Island)

This is a gem of a private tour you cannot miss if you’re staying in Rethymnon and decided not to hire a car. It will take you to explore the eastern region of Lasithi and visit remarkable places.

Check out the beautiful city of Agios Nikolaos and the place where Lake Voulismeni connects to the sea. Later on, you can enjoy some hours in Elounda, one of the top seaside resorts on the island, and then embark on a boat trip to step into the recent history of Crete… Spinalonga.

The now-abandoned island and archeological site was one of the most tragic corners of Crete, one of the last leper colonies in Europe, and the place that inspired English writer Victoria Hislop to write the breathtaking novel The Island.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Rethymnon Inland

I believe this is the best value-for-money day trip out there. It will take you to discover a fantastic itinerary in only one day! The trip includes the following stunning stops:

>> Old Town Rethymnon: Spend an hour wandering the narrow-paved alleys of Rethymno Old Town and visit the artistic cafes, craft shops, mosques, churches, and Turkish and Venetian mansions.

>> Margarites Pottery Village: Visit the magnificent village of Margarites and discover the ancient art of ceramics, which has been alive in Crete for centuries.

>> Ancient Eleftherna: Visit one of the most remarkable archaeological excavations (still in progress). The visit allows you to unveil the mystery of the ancient civilization that thrived there until Byzantine times. After the visit, you can also explore the Museum of Ancient Eleftherna, which exhibits unique findings from the ancient city.

>> Arkadi Monastery: The next top is the historic Arkadi Monastery, once a remarkable center where the Cretan Resistance against the Ottoman Empire would gather and fight against the Turkish. The monastery remains a beloved monument and one of the many Cretan symbols of the island’s fights for freedom.

>> Spili Village: One of the most magical places in Rethymnon, the village of Spili is better known for its unique Venetian fountain and mountain springs. Explore the village and discover the amazing lines of lion heads in the village’s main square.

>> St. Anthony Gorge: Also known as Patsos Gorge, this is one of the most beautiful but also easy-to-explore gorges in Crete. Don’t forget that your visit will be more pleasant if you wear your most comfortable shoes. You can also visit St. Anthony’s Cave, inside the gorge. A unique, rewarding experience.

>> Preveli Beach: Preveli is one of the most beautiful beaches in South Crete. For that reason, this last stop of the day won’t disappoint. Once you’ve reached the parking area, you will hike down a seaside mountain path to visit a palm tree beach where the river meets the sea. You have some free time on the beach. To get there, the drive takes you through the scenic Kourtaliotiko Gorge.

Flower Power Lotus Land

Cherries, churches, and the Valley of Amari are some of the ingredients of this day trip to explore the hidden paradise between the Kedros and Psiloritis mountains. The best time to join this tour is in spring when Cretan valleys are covered with flowers, trees, and fragrant herbal bushes.

Visit hidden spots populated by unique orchids and irises. In the plateau, you will see the extremely rare Tulipa doerfleri (locally known as the red tulip of Crete). It’s so abundant that it dyes fields in red!

The visit ends with an authentic Cretan lunch in a traditional taverna and a shirt stop at Spili, a village famous for its Venetian lion fountains.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Lake Kournas, Georgioupoli, and the Springs of Argyroupoli

Start your day visiting a local oil mill to see how Crete’s famous olive oil is produced. Then, visit the charming white chapel dedicated to Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) in the Georgioupolis village, built over a century ago on a rocky islet about 100 meters into the sea.

The journey continues with a stop to visit the springs and waterfalls of Argyroupoli, an area known for its imposing lush vegetation and small rivers.

Finally, you will explore the beautiful natural Lake Kournas, with enough time to taste Cretan delicacies at the many tavernas around the lake.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Day Trip to Elafonisi from Rethymnon

You can also discover the magnificent pink sand beach of Elafonisi even if you’re not staying in Chania, this tour will take you there and back to your hotel to avoid the stress of driving!

You can take in the lush green landscape along the road as you travel through the impressive Topolia Gorge and pass many old villages. Stop for a coffee and breakfast in the village of Elos, known for its chestnut trees.

Upon arrival at Elafonisi, you get some hours to relax and swim in the crystal clear water. Laze in the sun or stroll along the pink sand beach.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa from Rethymnon

The perfect pick to explore an area of unique beauty but with no easy access for less-experienced drivers. With this day trip, you’ll visit the uninhabited island of Gramvousa and then explore the spectacular landscape of Balos Beach.

An unforgettable excursion to check the westernmost tip of Crete on a scenic bus and boat trip to Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon.

You’ll have enough time to dip your toes in the soft white sand of some of the most beautiful beaches you have ever seen!

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Samaria Long Way from Rethymno

Samaria Gorge in the Chania region, is one of the most imposing gorges in Europe and certainly among the most popular day trips in Crete. This exciting hiking excursion to Samaria National Park takes you on a scenic 16-kilometer hike starting at the top of the gorge and winding your way down towards Agia Roumeli village, by the sea.

Along the way, you can take in stunning views of the surrounding mountains end even spot rare agrimi, Crete’s wild goat and other wildlife within the park. After the tour, enjoy a boat ride from Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakiona, where you’ll meet your bus to return.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

Visit Rethymnon with Me!

Want to learn about Crete with a local? I can show you around! My Lions Experience is a unique adventure that invites you to explore the mountain village of Spili, where traditional Cretan life unfolds against a scenic backdrop. Then, after a scenic drive through the majestic Kourtaliotiko gorge, we reach Rethymnon’s southern coast and visit the seaside Plakias village.

>> BOOK MY RETHYMNON EXPERIENCE HERE

Full-Day Trip to Chania from Rethymno

If you’re staying in Rethymnon and want to visit Chania Old Town minus the drive, then this is the best experience you can book at a ver affordable fee.

This day trip takes you to explore the former capital of Crete (until 1971) and, once there, you get free time for sightseeing, shopping, and taking in the highlights of gorgeous Venetian Port, its lighthouse, and other amazing sights inone of the oldest cities in Europe.

>> BOOK THIS TOUR HERE

As you can see, when it comes to Rethymnon and the nearby regions, you can pick tours, experiences, and adventures no matter what you enjoy doing the most. Hiking? Lazy day on the beach? Local tastes?

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Tours and Day Trips from Rethymnon, Crete

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