Best Excursions from Sissi, Crete: My Personal Recommendations

Every summer, I answer the same question almost every day at Stefanos Tours:

“Stefanos, which excursions should we do?”

My first answer is simple:

Do some.

You have travelled all the way to Crete. Don’t spend your entire holiday moving between your hotel room, the swimming pool, the buffet and the nearest beach.

Crete is one of the largest and most diverse islands in the Mediterranean. Mountains, traditional villages, archaeological sites, monasteries, vineyards, olive groves, spectacular coastlines and thousands of years of history are waiting beyond the gates of your hotel.

For most visitors, organised excursions are one of the easiest and most relaxing ways to discover them.

The second question is more difficult:

Which excursions are right for you?

That depends entirely on what you enjoy.

After many years working with visitors in Sissi, I can normally understand quite quickly what somebody is looking for.

So imagine you have just walked into my office.

Here is what I would tell you. Excursions from Sissi Crete

Staying in Sissi? Excursions from Sissi Crete

Sissi is a wonderful place to stay, but one of its biggest advantages is its location.

From here, you are perfectly positioned for exploring eastern Crete. Spinalonga, Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and the Lasithi Plateau are all within reach, while travelling west towards Heraklion and Knossos is also perfectly realistic.

My recommendation is simple:

Use Sissi as your base and explore.

If you are staying for one week, I would normally recommend at least two or three different experiences.

Not because I want to fill your holiday with tickets, but because you have come to an extraordinary island and it would be a shame to leave having seen almost nothing beyond your resort.

“Why Don’t I Just Rent a Car?”

You absolutely can.

A rental car gives you freedom. You can leave whenever you want, stop wherever you want and explore at your own pace.

But don’t automatically assume it is the cheaper or easier solution.

First you rent the car.

Then you pay for fuel.

You may have parking costs.

You have to navigate.

You have to find somewhere to park.

And most importantly:

You have to drive.

Driving in Crete can be an experience in itself — and not always the kind of experience I would recommend during a relaxing holiday.

Let’s be diplomatic and say that some Cretan drivers have a rather creative interpretation of the Highway Code.

I live here. I know.

Do you really want to spend your holiday worrying about mountain roads, impatient drivers, parking and navigation?

For some visitors, absolutely. They enjoy driving and value the independence.

For many others, an organised excursion is simply easier.

You get on.

Someone else drives.

You enjoy the scenery.

And at the end of the day, someone brings you back.

Sometimes convenience has considerable value.

First Time in Crete? Start With Spinalonga

If this is your first visit to our part of Crete, Spinalonga, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos would normally be high on my list.

It is one of the most complete excursions you can take from Sissi because you experience several different sides of eastern Crete in one day.

Spinalonga is known internationally because of its history as a leper colony, but its story goes much further back, including Venetian fortifications and the Ottoman period.

Then you have the beautiful coastal scenery around Elounda and time in Agios Nikolaos.

History, sea, scenery and one of eastern Crete’s most attractive towns in a single day.

There is a reason this excursion remains so popular.

Interested in Ancient Crete? Knossos & Heraklion

If you love archaeology and history, I would recommend Knossos and Heraklion.

Knossos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and the Minoan civilisation is fundamental to understanding Crete.

But if ancient history genuinely doesn’t interest you, don’t go simply because someone told you that Knossos is compulsory.

Your holiday is not a school trip.

There is no examination before you fly home.

Tell me what interests you and we will find something better suited to you.

Want Mountains, Villages and Mythology? Go to Lasithi

If you want to discover another face of Crete, I would strongly consider the Lasithi Plateau.

The journey into the mountains takes you away from the coastal resorts and into a landscape of villages, agriculture and spectacular mountain scenery.

And there is now another major reason to visit:

The Cave of Zeus Is Open Again

The famous Dikteon Cave, traditionally associated with the birth of Zeus, is open again following its period of closure for improvement works.

This makes a Lasithi excursion much more complete again.

Mountains, mythology, traditional villages and a completely different landscape from the coast.

If you have only seen the beach resorts, you have only seen one side of Crete.

Want Something More Cretan?

Sometimes people tell me:

“We’ve seen the famous places. We want something authentic.”

Good.

Now we can start talking about olive oil, wine, villages, agriculture and the people who produce the things Crete is famous for.

An olive oil and wine experience is one of my favourite recommendations for this kind of visitor.

Olive oil and wine are not simply products here. They are part of our landscape, economy, cuisine and history.

Meeting producers, tasting their products and understanding where they come from can give you a completely different connection with Crete.

Sometimes the best travel memories aren’t made standing in front of a famous monument.

They happen around a table.

Want Adventure?

Then perhaps you don’t need another archaeological site at all.

Try a Jeep Safari, Quad Safari, horse riding or another outdoor experience.

Crete is an enormous natural playground.

Mountains, countryside, dirt roads and incredible views are waiting once you leave the resorts behind.

Tell me what level of adventure you want and I can help you choose something appropriate.

And Then There Is Santorini…

I am asked about Santorini almost every day.

“Stefanos, should we go?”

My first question is:

Do you really dream of seeing Santorini?

If the answer is yes, then go.

Santorini is one of the most famous destinations in the world and, for many people, seeing those views in person is something they have dreamed about for years.

But understand what you are booking.

A day trip to Santorini from Crete is a very long day.

During the summer it can be extremely crowded.

And let’s not pretend otherwise:

Santorini can be painfully expensive.

Food, drinks, transportation and tourist services can quickly turn an already expensive day into a considerably more expensive one.

So don’t go because Instagram convinced you that your Greek holiday is incomplete without a photograph in Oia.

Go because you genuinely want to see Santorini.

And if you do, come and talk to me first.

Going to Santorini? Come and See Me First

There are different ways to organise your limited time on Santorini, and choosing the obvious tourist option isn’t necessarily always the best use of your day.

Tell me what you actually want.

Oia?

The famous caldera views?

More independent time?

A beach?

Do you want to keep your additional expenses under control?

I will explain the different possibilities and give you my personal tips for making the most of the hours you have there.

I can also tell you where I think spending extra money makes sense — and where it doesn’t.

If you are going to dedicate an entire day of your Cretan holiday to Santorini, make that day count.

Travelling With Children?

Tell me their ages.

A three-year-old and a fifteen-year-old don’t experience the same excursion in the same way.

Long journeys, summer temperatures, walking, boats and waiting can make an otherwise excellent excursion exhausting for younger children.

Depending on their ages, I may suggest sightseeing, an activity, something involving the sea or simply a shorter day.

Happy children normally mean happy parents.

Mobility Issues? Please Tell Me

The same applies if you have mobility difficulties.

Crete isn’t always an easy destination. Archaeological sites can have uneven surfaces, villages may involve steps, boat access can sometimes be challenging and the summer heat should never be underestimated.

Tell me what you are comfortable doing.

There is no point booking a famous excursion if you spend the entire day struggling to keep up.

How Many Excursions Would I Recommend?

For a typical seven-day holiday in Sissi, I think two or three excursions or activities create a very good balance.

Perhaps one major sightseeing day such as Spinalonga.

One day discovering mountains, villages or authentic Cretan products.

And perhaps one adventure or sea-based experience.

That still leaves plenty of time for Sissi, beaches, restaurants, your hotel and relaxation.

If you are staying ten or fourteen days, explore more.

You have travelled to Crete.

See Crete.

Don’t leave after two weeks having seen only your hotel, the swimming pool and the road to the nearest beach.

Crete Rewards People Who Explore It

I’m not suggesting that you wake up at 6:00 every morning and spend your entire holiday travelling.

What I am saying is that Crete changes enormously once you start exploring.

The mountains are different from the coast.

Lasithi is different from Heraklion.

Agios Nikolaos is different from a tiny mountain village.

Spinalonga tells one story.

Knossos tells another.

A winery or olive producer shows you another side again.

You could visit Crete repeatedly and still discover something new.

That is exactly why I encourage visitors to explore beyond their hotel.

Come and Ask Stefanos

If you are staying in Sissi, you don’t need to work everything out before you arrive.

Come and see me.

Tell me:

How many days are you staying?

Who are you travelling with?

Have you visited Crete before?

Do you love history or hate it?

Beaches or mountains?

Food and wine?

Adventure?

Is Santorini genuinely on your bucket list?

Give me a few minutes and I will tell you what I would choose if I were in your position.

Sometimes Spinalonga.

Sometimes Knossos.

Sometimes Lasithi.

Sometimes an olive oil and wine experience.

Sometimes a safari.

Sometimes Santorini — together with a few tips that could save you money and help you use your limited time there much better.

My Philosophy at Stefanos Tours

I want visitors to book excursions because I genuinely believe excursions are one of the easiest ways to discover Crete.

You don’t have to drive.

You don’t have to navigate.

You don’t have to worry about fuel or parking.

You don’t have to spend the day concentrating on the road while everyone else looks at the scenery.

You can simply enjoy the experience.

But I don’t want you booking excursions just to fill a calendar.

I want you booking the right excursions.

After many years working in tourism, I believe this is where a local travel agent still has real value.

Anyone can sell you a ticket.

The important part is listening to you, knowing the island, understanding the alternatives and being willing to tell you what I genuinely think.

So come and see me at Stefanos Tours in Sissi.

Tell me what kind of holiday you want.

And together we’ll find the best ways for you to discover Crete.

Stefanos Katrinakis
Stefanos Tours – Sissi, Crete