7 days in Crete

To start, I make my way to Heraklion Archaeological Museum. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (37,355 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

Around noon, head to Heraklion Venetian Port. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. 4.6 out of 5 across 9,463 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

After lunch, it’s Book Now - From Heraklion: Elafonisi Beach Day Tour with Pickup. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.

Early in the morning, meet me at Natural History Museum of Crete. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (4,884 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.

Then, head to Historical Museum of Crete. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (2,151 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.

In the afternoon, head to Tourist guides kiosk. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise go through Tiqets.

In the morning, it’s Old Venetian Port of Chania. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (42,858 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

Early in the morning, head to Watercity Waterpark Crete. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.

Late morning, meet me at Greek Monument. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.

Later, I make my way to Amnisiades Park. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

Early in the morning, head to Safari Tours Peninsula – Agia Pelagia Quad & Buggy Excursions. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Travellers give it 4.9 out of 5 (683 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

Late morning, meet me at Quad Tour Crete. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

In the afternoon, I make my way to ELA Quad Safari - ATV Tours Crete. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. 4.9 out of 5 across 291 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise go through Tiqets.

Early in the morning, it’s Παραλία Μαλίων. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (333 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

To start, head to Preveli Palm Forest. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (4,517 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.

Around noon, I make my way to Kourtaliotiko Gorge waterfall. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. 4.5 out of 5 across 1,408 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.

In the afternoon, head to The best lookout in Crete. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.