Joy2

Best location for first time travelers to Crete. Our visit includes flight to Crete for five nights and departing by ferry. Two locations that I’m leaning towards is Old Town or Hercaklion but open to suggestions.

HappyTrvlr

Stay in lovely Chania. Only stay in Heraklion long enough to tour Knossos.

travelerjan

Joy, I just checked your 2 previous threads & happy to see you've learned from advice (Ferries are nice but not all-day trips). BTW, tip: it's good to recap basic info on a new thread, to get best advice (i.e., your trip is for 2 weeks, in September, you plan also to visit Santorini & one other island also). It also enables transit efficiency if u share time-of-day arrival, because it affects flight/ferry availability. In my suggestions, I'm guessing u r from N America, & arriving 9am-noon.

CHANIA - best start: because (1) Old Town sunsets such a lovely way to begin! and (2) u must end in Heraklion anyway, for AM Ferries to Santorini. This avoids backtracking & w good planning allows u to briefly visit S. Coast/Libyan Sea, then drive NE to Heraklion for final day. To Browse options, I love this map - https://tinyurl.com/2pc7ycp5 (click & it gets huuge - navigate w side-slides) .. it shows bg roads/small PLUS terrain/mts /sites) for arrival day & at least day 2,. no need for car rental, just explore fascinating Chania. Day 3 head S, stay o'night, day 4, head for Herak AM Day 5 if you want to see Knossos & Museum... Frankly, u might consider adding 1 day,... Crete isn't just an island, its a Country! (170 miles long, vs. Santorini at 12 miles). You could lop 1 day from Santorini, because it's really all about the Famous Caldera View, not beaches or many famous sites. (earlier u mentioned 4 days there, but so far ahead, u can tweak dats w.o. penalty).

SANTORINI - You'll doubtless have separate inquiry re this; my basic tips based on many visits: Friday - Sunday, if u can manage, are least-crowded w. cruise-ship & package-tour mobs -- FIrostephani is my TOP choice for stays; gorgeous caldera-views, walkable to Fira but away from hubbub, fine sunset views, no madness -- Avoid Sunset madness in Oia.

NEXT ISLAND - NAXOS is Wonderful, alas now "discovered" but September won't be crowded & beaches will be lovely, in September the seas are Divine, Inland scenery, hillside villages are splendid, fall Wine Festivals a possibility. give it at least 4 days.

ATHENS - the Grand Fnale; fly back in AM (40 mins vs 5-6 hr ferry) try to have at least 3 days to thrill to its world-famous landmarks & museum treasures.. after your island immersion in history, they'll resonate so much more!

mjs

Chania for sure. We spent a week there once and only covered a small part of the island. Stayed at the Casa del fino which was lovely.

travelerjan

For a smaller hotel near Casa del Fino, but very nice -- Hotel Palazzo, (12 rooms, Venetian Palazzo modernized to 21st C), front room balcony on charming pedestrianized lane. Any place in that area is enjoyable.. just Up from the harbor, thus So convenient to all sights, restaurants etc, yet v. serene at night.

Joy2

Thank you for the great tips.

travelerjan

In September some who want to pair Santorini with another Cycladic island (bedazzled by white-house-blue-shutters pix) will name Mykonos -- because it's also highly over-promoted. Important to research these factors:
• Ferries- Mykonos is on a different ferry route from Santorini, thus on mosts days, not llinked by large ferries
• Fares - "fast jets" are way more €€€ than large-ferry economy tickets
• Weather - Autumn has roughest seas/winds, smaller boats may be rocky rides
• Expense - Costliest of all islands for hotels, meals, even sunbeds

By contrast, Naxos & Paros - both with wonderful sandy beaches, sunsets, ancient sites - Naxos also has dramatic inland scenery, bountiful farm harvests & outstanding local produce, autumn wine festivals, fascinating port town "maze lanes" up to high fortress. Both have multiple flights daily (40 mins) & Spring ticket-promotions with prices close to ferry fares.