With a few more days in Crete, I highly suggest that you rent a car and get out to really see the island. If you’re visiting from the US, your driver’s license is a valid form of ID and you do not need an International Driving Permit. 

Day 4: Chania Day Trip 

On our 4th day, we drove westward towards Chania. On the way, we stopped at Lake Kournas, the only freshwater lake on Crete. The lake is so beautiful and you can rent paddle boards, paddle boats, and day beds. We only stopped for a few minutes to take in the view, but you can easily spend half a day here. 

Chania, also spelled Hania, was a very important port city for Crete. For centuries, its ports welcomed Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans, which shaped the city’s architecture and lifestyle. Tip: If you’re driving into Chania, we parked our car at Parking Apollon. The public parking lots around the Old Port area were completely packed by 10am.

Old Venetian Port of Chania is a picturesque spot that offers old buildings of Venetian and Turkish design. The Old Port is one of the oldest parts of Chania and was originally built by the Venetians during their occupation of Crete. One of the highlights of the Old Port is its lighthouse, which dates back to the 16th century.

The Old Chania Market is a great place to shop for souvenirs and products made locally on the island. Visitors can buy handmade crafts, traditional textiles, locally made olive oil, and Cretan herbs and spices.

Day 5: Vai Beach Day Trip 

Crete has hundreds of beautiful beaches all over the island. All over the island, you can find a gorgeous beach just about every 20-30 minutes. We opted to make the trip out to Vai Beach, located on the easternmost coast of Crete. Vai Beach is nestled  in the heart of a protected natural palm tree forest known as Finikodasos (Φοινικόδασος). Vai is one of the most popular beaches on the island, with clear blue waters and beautiful sandy beaches. We visited 2-3 other beaches while we were in Paros and drove by dozens of other beaches on Crete and we both agreed that Vai was the best one of them all. The water was so calm here and we really enjoyed bobbing around in the water all day. You can rent beach chairs for a variety of prices – 25€ for an umbrella and 2 basic lounge chairs and up to 60€ for a full daybed right up on the edge of the beach.