Heraklion Day Trip Planner: South Coast to Lasithi

Five outings make sense as a single day from Heraklion, and two famous ones do not. The list below gives each one with its distance, travel time and cost, so you can pick by the hours you have. Public buses depart from two terminals: Station A (Ikarou Avenue, near the old port) for the coast road east and west, and Station B (Chanioporta) for the south.

Quick comparison

  • Cretaquarium, Gournes: about 15 km east, short drive, EUR 15 for adults.
  • Phaistos, Gortyn and Matala: 60 to 75 km south, 1.25 to 1.5 hours, Phaistos EUR 15.
  • Lasithi Plateau and Dikteon Cave: about 60 km, 1.25 hours.
  • Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Spinalonga: 65 to 75 km east, a long day, island EUR 20.
  • Rethymno: about 80 km west, 1 to 1.25 hours.

The Messara Plain in the south

Phaistos has full tickets at EUR 15 and reduced tickets at EUR 8. Opening runs from 08:00 to 20:00 in summer, tapering through September and October, and from 08:30 to 15:30 in winter. Gortyn is on the same plain and also closes at 15:30 in winter. The Matala caves charge about EUR 5, which you pay in cash. Pick two of the three stops rather than rushing all of them.

Cretaquarium

The aquarium is open all year. Summer hours (1 April to 31 October) are 09:30 to 19:00, and winter hours are 09:30 to 16:00. Children from 5 to 17, seniors and students pay EUR 8, and under-5s are free. Details are on the aquarium site .

Spinalonga from the east coast

Heraklion has no boats to Spinalonga. Boats sail from Plaka, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos, mainly between April and October. Agios Nikolaos is around 55 minutes from the city by car, and the other two ports are slightly further. The island costs EUR 20 (EUR 10 reduced) and the crossing is paid on top. In winter the island is closed on Tuesdays.

Mountains and the west

The Lasithi Plateau and Dikteon Cave lie in the hills, and the roads there are narrow and winding. Rethymno is the easiest bus trip, using Station A.

Do not plan these as day trips

Samaria Gorge is 175 km away behind Chania, with about 3 hours of coach travel each way and a 12 to 17 hour tour day. The gorge is closed from 1 November. Elafonisi is farther still, at 200 km or more and about 4 hours each way, and no boats to it leave Heraklion.

Between April and October wildfires are a real risk in Crete, so look at fire alerts and follow any road closures.

Read more: Multi-day trips from Heraklion if you want to stay overnight.

Timetables and tours

Bus operators are listed on the KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi site . For guided options try GetYourGuide .