Walking Tours in Crete: Old Towns, Gorges

October 31, 2026

Walking in Crete comes in two very different forms. The old towns of Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion are flat, compact and easy on foot, and you can walk them with a map or join a local guide. The gorges in the mountains are real hikes. Plan town walks for early morning or evening, because summer afternoons are hot. Euro is the currency, and wildfire risk is high from April to October, so check local fire alerts and weather closures in summer.

Chania old town loop

This self-guided route covers about 2.5 km and takes around two hours.

Start at the Firkas fortress at the harbour mouth for a view over the Venetian lighthouse.
Walk into Topanas, the quarter of stone doorways, carved coats of arms and old mansions.
Turn into Kondylaki Street in the old Jewish quarter. Etz Hayyim synagogue is on Parodos Kondylaki, and it is a place of remembrance. It is open Monday to Thursday 10:00 to 16:00 and Friday 10:00 to 15:00, closed on weekends and public holidays, and admission is EUR 4. Keep to a quiet voice and dress modestly.
Continue to Plateia 1866 and the cathedral of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, known as Trimartiri.
Cross into Splantzia, the former Turkish quarter, with the shady plane tree on Platanos Square and the church of Agios Nikolaos, which has both a Venetian belfry and an Ottoman minaret.
Finish along the waterfront at the Venetian arsenals, which now host exhibitions.

Rethymno old town loop

Rethymno has Greece’s most intact Renaissance streets, and the loop is about 2 km, or an hour and a half to two hours.

Begin at the Rimondi Fountain, dated 1626, with three lion-head spouts.
Pass the Venetian loggia, once the nobles’ meeting hall.
Look up at the minaret of the Neratze mosque, which began as a Venetian church and is now a concert hall.
Walk Vernardou Street for carved stone doorways and wooden upper storeys that jut over the lane.
Climb the ramp to the Fortezza on Paleokastro hill. Entry is about EUR 4 to 5, and hours change by season, so check at the gate.

Heraklion walls

The Venetian walls of Heraklion held out against an Ottoman siege for 21 years, from 1648 to 1669. You can walk along the top of the ramparts from the Jesus bastion to the Martinengo bastion, where the writer Nikos Kazantzakis is buried under a plain stone tomb with his epitaph, “I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.” Entry to the bastion is free.

Imbros Gorge

Imbros Gorge in Sfakia is the sensible gorge for most walkers. It runs about 8 km from the village of Imbros, at about 780 m, down to Komitades and takes two to two and a half hours. The canyon narrows to about 1.6 m at one point, and cypress and oak give shade. The fee is a few euros and the season runs about April to October. Taxis take walkers from Komitades back to Imbros, for a group fare you agree in advance.

Samaria Gorge

Samaria is one of the longest gorges in Europe and a serious mountain walk of about 16 km. It drops roughly 1,200 m over loose stone and river rock and takes five to seven hours. It is open about 1 May to 31 October, weather permitting, and closes in rain or extreme heat. The path ends in Agia Roumeli, which has no road, so you must catch the afternoon boat to Sougia or Chora Sfakion. The fee is about EUR 10, and the official ticket portal shows opening notices. The riverbed is mostly dry gravel in summer, with small drinking springs but no waterfalls.

Wear ankle-supporting boots, start early, and carry water and sun protection. Rangers evacuate injured walkers, but a sprained ankle will still ruin the day.