Top 15 Tours in Heraklion

1.Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,579 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $95Our pick

Sail from Heraklion’s Old Venetian Harbour to protected Dia Island on a yacht limited to 14 passengers. Captain Petros and crew members such as Sofia, Giannis, Mariana, and Manos provide a relaxed day of swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, Greek food, unlimited drinks, and optional sunset views.

“Amazing experience!! The food and staff were amazing, the location is stunning, we had the most beautiful day”

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2.Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,055 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Spend a flexible day at CRETAquarium, near Heraklion, and follow a clear route through around 60 habitats. You will see Mediterranean species, sharks, rays, jellyfish, clownfish, and more than 150 kinds of sea life. Allow about one hour, or longer with the €3 audio guide.

“The excursion took about 1 hour. We’ve seen A LOT of different fish and other marine life in different tanks. Place is well kept, lady at the ticket counter was friendly and in general very good value for money. No complaints.”

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3.Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 1,540 reviews · 1 - 5 hours · from $34

Visit Knossos Palace south of Heraklion with a pre-booked entry ticket, site map, and optional smartphone audio guide in English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. Follow stories about Minoan art, trade, fashion, plumbing, and daily life at your own pace. Optional add-ons cover Heraklion and Phaistos.

“Loved the skip the line especially with the people coming off of cruise ships. Audio was a little hard to follow and know exactly which way to go next. Easy though to understand and able to repeat as needed.”

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4.Sunset or Morning Quad with Local Products Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,135 reviews · 3 hours

You’ll learn to handle a quad, then follow quiet coastal and mountain paths from Agia Pelagia to Achlada and a local olive-oil mill. Taste olives, honey, and oil before watching sunset over Heraklion Bay. English, French, German, and Greek guides lead groups of up to 10.

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5.5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 941 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $107Top rated

Ride a quad, 1000cc automatic buggy, Monster 800cc, or Jeep through the hills around Heraklion. Creta Quad Safari provides instruction, helmets, guides such as Harry and Dylan, lunch, hotel or port pickup, and a route mixing dusty tracks, olive groves, villages, a historic cave, Karteros Gorge, and a beach stop.

“I had a great time getting to see a different side of Crete. Getting to see the gorges and caves were amazing to see. The guides are really friendly and do a great job of getting you to the sight and to the port/airport on time.”

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6.Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 778 reviews · 6 hours · from $106

Spend six hours sailing from Heraklion to Dia Island with an English- and Greek-speaking crew. Swim, snorkel, fish, paddleboard, hike, and eat a fresh Mediterranean lunch onboard. Hotel pickup is available, and afternoon departures can include a sunset sail back to port.

“FANTASTIC!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! the trip to and Dia was an iregular trip(rough sea) ( but very safe) but the interaction with the crew was out of this world! we have spent 3 hrs (or so) by the Island of Dia snorkeling, paddling, diving... drinking. nice company as well beautiful meal plenty drinks Thank you Captain Nick "BARBOSSA" 1ST MATE KRISTINA 1ST MATE IORGU”

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7.Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 742 reviews · 4.5 - 7 hours · from $82

From Heraklion’s Venetian harbor, sail with a professional crew toward uninhabited Dia Island. You’ll swim, snorkel, paddleboard, and enjoy drinks onboard, with seafood pasta on the full-day trip or sandwiches and tomato pasta on the half-day option. Recent sailings have featured friendly guides such as Ernesto and George.

“It was a beautiful experience and the guys were very polite and helpful towards us”

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8.Elafonisi Beach Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 731 reviews · 13 hours · from $64

Travel from Heraklion and nearby resorts to Elafonisi with a multilingual guide, scenic stops, and 4.5 hours of free beach time. Guides such as Maria, Elizabeth, and Emmanouela have been praised for clear advice and local stories. Expect a long but comfortable day, with about four hours each way.

“Great day, our tour guide was very informative and had great tidbits for us along the way. Suggestion if you do not do well in the heat buy an umbrella, secure shade! Stunning views and a very comfortable transportation”

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9.Knossos-Zeus Cave -Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 694 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $136

Spend about 7.5 hours with a local guide such as Stavros, Ed, Mike, Spyros, or Demetrius, visiting an olive press, mountain villages, Lasithi windmills, Krasi, Zeus Cave, and Knossos. Tastings, drinks, transport, Wi-Fi, and hotel pickup are included. Lunch and entrance fees cost extra.

“Unforgettable Tour with the Incredible Demetrius! If you’re visiting Crete and want to truly experience the heart, soul, and hidden gems of this stunning island, Demetrius is the guide you need. From the moment we met him, it was clear we were in the hands of a passionate local with deep knowledge, warm hospitality, and an infectious love for his homeland. Demetrius didn’t just take us from place to place—he brought Crete to life. His stories about the island’s ancient history, mythology, and culture were captivating, and his insider knowledge led us to breathtaking spots we never would have found on our own. He tailored the tour perfectly to our…”

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10.Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Chania Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 526 reviews · 14.5 - 16 hours · from $88

This full-day Cretan Odyssey outing links a boat trip to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon with two hours in Chania Old Town. Expect hotel pickup, a long coach ride from Heraklion, a five-hour cruise, swimming time, and a guide speaking English, German, French, Italian, or Polish. Guides Tanya and Elizabeta have been especially attentive on past departures.

“The service was great. We just happen to have picked a windy day, the day after the zionists sprayed chemtrails in the air.”

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11.Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Meal and Water Activities

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 526 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $96

Spend about five and a half hours sailing from Heraklion to uninhabited Dia Island. Swim from the boat, snorkel, paddleboard, fish, and eat shrimp linguini with Greek sides. Pickup covers many Crete resorts, and the boat may be a sailing yacht or catamaran, depending on the booking.

“Well worth the expedition if you want to sail, swim, sunbath, eat, drink and nap in an iconic Greek settling. The sailboat held 12 and traveled for an hour to anchor in a protected cove in Dia. With an adorable church on the hill as a backdrop, swimming in clear and initially cool clear water was refreshing. Not much to look at snorkeling but the water clear. Inflatable SUP fun with the wind much stronger and the current non-exsisitant. A delightful Mediterranean meal served along with endless wine beer and water. Knowledgeable captain and crew stayed out of the way allowing the passengers to mingle and play.”

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12.Quad Safari Off-Road Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 479 reviews · from $99

Ride a solo or shared CF450cc or CF520cc quad from Malia through olive groves and vineyards to an olive oil factory, Milatos Cave, Milatos Beach, Sissi, and Milatos. You’ll get instruction, a helmet, transfers, lunch, and an English-speaking guide. Madi is one guide praised for making the day fun.

“Best tour ever. Got picked up on time, great guides, never rushed, great lunch. Very well maintained equipment and the facilities were modern and clean.”

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13.Sailing Trip to Dia Island with Lunch & Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 414 reviews · from $67

Set Sails takes you from Heraklion to Dia Island on a small-group yacht cruise with captains such as George, Vaso, Spiros, and Marina. Expect an 80-minute sail each way, a three-hour stop at Saint George Bay, seafood pasta, Greek salad, unlimited drinks, snorkeling, fishing, and SUP boarding.

“Trip was really good, so relaxing. Our crew goerge and marina were fantastic hosts. Great conversation & the lunch they provided was lovely. If you can request to have them, I 100% would!!”

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14.Land Rover Safari with Sunset Viewing, Dinner, & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 395 reviews · 6 hours · from $99

Spend six hours riding into Crete’s mountains in a small group of up to eight. Your guide, such as George, Kosta, Chris, or Yiannis, takes you along rocky roads to quiet villages, local tastings, and a high sunset viewpoint with prosecco and fruit. Finish with a Cretan dinner, unlimited wine, and possibly Greek dancing.

“It was absolutely incredible. Highly recommend. The highlight of our trip. Had the most lovely experience tasting the oils and olives. Food was delicious and the scenery was memorising. Had the best time.”

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15.Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos and Elounda with BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 361 reviews · 5 - 12 hours · from $29

Cruise from Elounda to Kolokytha Bay for a swim and BBQ lunch, then explore Spinalonga with a guide before visiting Agios Nikolaos. Guides may include Mairy or Viola, and pickup is available from many northeast Crete hotels. Expect a full day with bus rides, boat transfers and limited free time.

“nice trip. Agios Nicolauses should have more time to see the city”

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