Crete summer itinerary help
 

We (two adults, two teen boys ages 13 and 18) are planning to spend two weeks in Greece during the last two weeks of August. Even though we know it is going to be very crowded, it is our only available time. Reading the various prior posts, we are now thinking of the following:

Night 1: Arrive Athens (from Paris), take plane that night to Chania, Crete.
Nights 2-5: Stay Chania 4 or 5 nights (hike Samaria Gorge, beaches, ruins, rent car & see other parts of island)
Nights 6 and 7:Move to Iraklion (to see Knossos and museum),
Day 8: take ferry to Santorini
Nights 8-12: Stay Santorini, Oia (relax, hike, Akroti, Thira)
Day 13: Ferry or plane to Athens
Night 13 and 14: Athens, possible day trip to Delphi, if time.
Day 15: depart Athens for U.S.

Right now, we are considering staying at the following:
Chania: Ammos Hotel or Casa Leone (both have family rooms)
Iraklion: need ideas of where to stay?? ("moderate" priced)
Santoroni, Oia: Volcano Villas, Chelidonia or Lavas Oiaas

So, feedback place: have we allocated approximately the right # of days per location? Can you provide feedback about accommodations listed or suggest alternatives?

Thanks!

We spent two weeks near Chania last year and barely scratched the surface. I would only stay in Iraklion one night, and add that day to Chania. You can day trip to the beautiful western beaches from Chania. We also day tripped to Iraklion to see Knossos.The beaches on Crete are far superior to those on Santorini.Personally, I would not stay that long on Santorini either. Perhapa trim some of the days off of it and add to Naxos or Paros.
Delphi is in a beautiful location in the mountains so don't skip seeing it.
You can't go wrong in Greece and will have a wonderful trip reagardless of how you divide your time.

There are 2 main reasons to stay in Iraklion

1) to visit Knossos & the museum
2) to enter or leave Crete

You don't really need 2 nights there

Between Chania & Iraklion you might want to visit Arkadi Monastery which is Crete's equivalent of the Alamo - http://www.interkriti.org/visits/ret...e/enarkadi.htm

Thanks for these suggestions. I am just finding some posts saying that the museum is Heraklion will be closed. There was a post to this effect in the fall; does anyone know anything new..and whether/where the most important items in the collection are likely to be relocated?

The museum is closed- as I've been reminded. I don't think the stuff is on show anywhere else.

I actually thought your plan A was OK. I've "done" Knossos and the museum from Chania 3 times and I just hate the drive. You could go a bit further west and see Malia or even Gournia- which I think may be my favourite Minoan site on the island. It makes a super contrast to Knossos.

Regarding the Iraklion Museum -- I think a lot of the big cruise lines screamed in protest and the Ministry of Culture said "key items from the collection" would be displayed "in a Heraklion location." None has yet been announced. According to a Thorn Tree forum expert, Xaroula, who knows her way around the administration, the hang-up in display plans are due to (get ready for a "Greek Moment" ... "shortage of glass display cases." Sigh.

As a fall-back I suggest the smallish but excellent Chania museum; lots of good Minoan small stuff.