Crete is big enough to feel like a small country, but it also has its own little islands. Most of them make a perfect day trip.
Gavdos
The southernmost inhabited place in Europe, a few hours by ferry from Chora Sfakion or Paleochora. Very quiet, with juniper forests, wild beaches and a handful of tavernas. Stay a night if you can.
Chrissi
A protected island off Ierapetra with white sand, turquoise water and an old cedar forest. Boats run in summer. There is no shade except the trees, so bring water and a hat.
Gramvousa
Off the north west tip, next to Balos. Climb up to the Venetian fortress for one of the best views in Crete, then swim from the little beach by the old shipwreck.
Spinalonga
The fortress island in the Elounda bay, later a leper colony. Small, moving and easy to reach by boat from Plaka, Elounda or Agios Nikolaos.
Dia
The island you see from Heraklion. It is a nature reserve with wild goats, reachable on some boat trips for swimming and snorkelling.
Elafonisi and the islets
Elafonisi is a tiny island you can usually wade to from the beach, and there are many more small islets along the south coast.
Spinalonga Island
Venetian sea fortress that later became a leper colony until 1957.
Festungen & Burgen · Agios Nikolaos
Balos Lagoon
Turquoise shallow lagoon at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula, framed by pink-tinted sand.
Lagunen · Kissamos
Elafonisi Beach
Famous pink-sand beach and wade-across islet on the south-west corner of Crete.
Sandstrände · Kissamos
Find a boat trip
Updated: 2026-10-29
