Christmas & New Year Tours & Trips in Crete

Ring in the New Year in western Crete with a visit to the Palace of Knossos, legendary seat of King Minos and Europe's oldest civilization dating back 5,000 years. Celebrate the festive season wandering through Chania's Venetian harbor, seeing Byzantine mosaics in Rethymnon, and watching traditional pottery-making in Margarites Village with local artisans. Stay 4 nights at Hotel Arkadi in Chania while visiting the active Monastery of Agia Triada set among olive groves and walking through Heraklion's blend of Venetian and Byzantine architecture during this private 5-day holiday.

This private 8-day trip along Crete's north coast includes a wine tasting at a local vineyard where you'll sample indigenous varieties like Vidiano and Liatiko. Visit the UNESCO-listed Knossos Palace in Heraklion, where Minoan civilization flourished, then head to the Archaeological Museum to see its collections of ancient jewelry and pottery. Walk through Chania's Venetian harbor decorated for the holidays, spend time at Elafonisi Beach with its pink sands, and check out the traditional pottery workshops in Margarites village.

Ring in the New Year on an e-bike tour through Central and Eastern Crete, cycling through hidden villages from the coastal area of Dyskos near Lentas to the quiet beach of Tris Ekklisies. Spend 6 nights in traditional guesthouses and middle-class hotels, with stops in Mochos and Istro Beach, and enjoy festive meals featuring Cretan specialties. This 7-day tour takes you across the Lassithi Plateau and to Myrtos Beach near Europe's southernmost city, with small groups of 2-6 travelers making it ideal for holiday celebrations.

Ring in the New Year checking out Crete's legendary landmarks, from the UNESCO-listed Palace of Knossos in Heraklion to the Venetian old town of Rethymno with its Ottoman mosques and wrought-iron balconies. Swim at famous beaches like Balos and Elafonisi near Chania, then find the Preveli palm forest and Matala's ancient caves along the Libyan Sea. Stay 7 nights at budget-friendly hotels in Chania, Agia Galini, Agios Nikolaos, and Heraklion with daily breakfast included.

Spend Crete's festive season with private accommodation at City Breeze Suites in Heraklion, where you'll visit the ancient Throne Room at Knossos Palace and the Grand Staircase with its Minoan art. Lion Square's Morosini Fountain is a great spot for Greek coffee and bougatsa pastries, then head to the Venetian harbor's Koules Fortress for sea views. Flexible departures run through December and January, so you can explore 1866 Street Market's local herb stalls and the Archaeological Museum's seasonal exhibits at your own pace. Airport transfers are included throughout.