Crete holiday-recommendations pls

[zoopigi]

Heading to Crete for a week with my two teenagers ds18 and dd16.

We love mythology and exploring naturally beautiful places like waterfalls etc, so was wondering if anyone has been and has any recommendations.

We will hire a car so can go all over, but will be staying near chania

I was going to recommend Rethymon, but have heard great things about Chania too. We got a bus from Rethymon to Heraklion to see the Palace of Knossos and the museum in town. I don't know what parking would be like in Heraklion itself though for a hire car. There was a local bus going to and from Heraklion city centre to Knossos which was easy to navigate.

At a local farmers market in Rethymon, we bought the most amazing thyme honey and olive oil. Delicious and I wish we'd bought more back to the UK.

I assume you have looked at tripadvisor and travel sites for things in and around Chania itself? Have a great time.

Gorgeous view from Venizelos Graves
Balos Lagoon is stunning
Samaria Gorge
Chania’s Venetian harbour
The Minoan 9D experience in Chania itself is unexpectedly brilliant.

@MarmiteCoriander yes, i have looked on trip advisor, and have a possible itinerary forming, was just wondering if anyone else had any ideas. Rethymnos and Knossos palace already on the list :)
@Fivemoreminutes1 Balos and Samaria gorge already on the list, but had not heard of the 9d experience, so on the list it goes :)

Thank you both for your suggestions!

Chania is a beautiful harbour town. I lived there for 2 years. If you want authentic food visit a hotel called Je-Chrina in kato daratso just outside chania. Yanna and manoli are the most fantastic, welcoming people you will ever meet. Also elaphonisi is a beautiful beach with lagoon.🤗

@lollyjack sounds great-abf added to the list! Thank you

Don’t walk the Samaria Gorge is my advice. It is very steep downhill to start and it is not an established footpath. the route changes according to the weather and you are constantly re-crossing the river. If you do walk it, and we did, in august, just keep going at a steady pace. It’s the old story of the hare and the tortoise.
Get to Knossos when it opens so you can see it before it gets full of tourists.

I see someone beat me to it with the recommendation of Rethymno. It's an absolutely beautiful town and if you are into your food there is some excellent eating to be done.