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A holiday in Crete is a season from May to October, with the peak falling in July and August, when the sea is warmed to 25–26 degrees. There are no direct flights from Almaty: they fly with one transfer through Istanbul or Athens, and the journey takes from eight to fourteen hours. The island is large, and the resorts are different: Heraklion and Hersonissos are noisy, Rethymno and Chania are calmer, and the southern coast is quieter and windier.
A trip to Crete begins with paperwork, and accuracy matters here. Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so a holiday in Crete requires a full package.
A trip by a citizen of Kazakhstan begins with a Schengen visa, which is issued by the consulate of Greece. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the intended return, and blank pages must be left in the document itself for the stamp. Photographs of the established format, a completed form, and copies of previous visas, if there were any, are attached to the application. The consulate almost always requests confirmation of accommodation booking and tickets in both directions, and tours usually already include these papers in the package. Financial solvency is confirmed by a bank statement or a certificate from work. Medical insurance for Schengen is mandatory, the minimum coverage is set by the consulate, and this should be asked about in advance. It is better to check the exact list on the visa center website before submitting.
For a resident of Almaty, it is more convenient to submit documents at the visa center of Greece, where appointments are made in advance. The standard processing time reaches fifteen calendar days, but in high season it stretches longer. It is advised to submit the papers a month to a month and a half before departure, so that there is a margin for additional certificates. The visa center accepts applications by prior appointment, and biometrics are taken on site. The finished passport is returned by courier or issued at the window, and the method is reported upon submission. Citizens of Kazakhstan should take into account that in May and June the lines are longer.
There are no direct flights from Almaty to Crete, and the journey almost always goes with one transfer. The Greek side receives tourists through several major hubs.
From Almaty it is most convenient to fly through Istanbul, from where there are direct flights to Heraklion or Chania. The second popular option for a holiday in Crete is a transfer in Athens, where planes fly to the island and ferries depart from the port of Piraeus. There are routes through Thessaloniki, but they are longer and more expensive. The total travel time, taking into account the connection, takes from eight to fourteen hours, and in winter the schedule is less frequent. Athens airport is large, and at least two hours are allowed for the transfer between terminals. Tickets for connecting flights are taken as a single booking, otherwise the baggage to Crete will have to be collected and checked in again. Tours to Crete often already include the flight, and then the operator thinks about the connections.
| Route | Travel time | Connection | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Istanbul | 8–11 hours | one | direct flights to Heraklion |
| Through Athens | 9–13 hours | one | plane or ferry |
| Through Thessaloniki | 11–14 hours | one | longer and more expensive |
| In winter through Istanbul | 10–14 hours | one | schedule is less frequent |
The time difference with Almaty is 3 hours in winter and 2 hours in summer: Greece changes its clocks (UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer), while Kazakhstan stays on UTC+5 all year round. In summer the gap narrows because Greece switches to summer time. The body handles such a shift more easily than a flight across the ocean, but the first day of rest is still better not planned to be busy. After arriving in the morning, it is worth spending more time in the light and going to bed according to the local schedule. Coffee and a heavy dinner late in the evening interfere with readjustment. Children and people with blood pressure need a margin of a couple of calm days. Greek cuisine and sea air usually speed up adaptation.
The budget of a trip to the island consists of the flight, accommodation, food, and movement. The currency here is the euro, and this determines all calculations.
| Season | Accommodation | Flight | Tourist flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | moderate | medium | small |
| June | above average | high | growing |
| July–August | maximum | maximum | peak |
| September | moderate | medium | declining |
| October | low | low | small |
The difference between May and August for accommodation in Crete reaches twofold, and this is the main item of savings. Tours to Crete in July and August rise in price the most, because the heat and school holidays coincide. Booking a hotel three to four months in advance is almost always more profitable than looking on the spot. In June and September prices stay in the middle, and the weather remains comfortable. The flight from Almaty also becomes more expensive on peak dates, so flexible dates save noticeably. The Greek side offers the lowest rates in winter, but some hotels are closed.
The euro remains the main currency in Crete, and cards from Kazakhstani banks do not always work abroad. It is worth bringing cash with a reserve, especially small notes for taxis and markets. Large hotels and shops accept cards, but in villages and tavernas there may be no terminal. Exchange offices are found in cities, and the rate at the airport is usually less favorable. Tips in tavernas are left as small change or the bill is rounded up, and a separate service charge is rarely found. In Greece it is not customary to bargain in shops, but in markets it is appropriate. ATMs dispense euros, however the commission depends on the bank.
The island is large, and the mode of movement determines how much you will manage to see. Public transport does not cover everything, so the choice should be made in advance.
A rental car gives freedom and allows you to reach quiet beaches where no bus goes. An international driver's license is required by almost all rental companies, and without it the contract will not be issued. The driver's age is usually at least twenty-one years, and for powerful cars the bar is higher. Roads in the mountains are narrow and winding, so driving experience must be confident. Extended insurance is taken, otherwise minor scratches are paid out of pocket. Gasoline on the island is more expensive than in mainland Greece, and gas stations in the countryside are rare. Parking in old towns is paid and tight, which is worth considering.
| Transport | Freedom | Expenses | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | limited | low | without a car |
| Rental car | high | medium | experienced drivers |
| Taxi | medium | high | short trips |
| Ferry | medium | medium | between ports |
Buses connect major cities on a schedule, but reaching remote beaches and gorges by them is inconvenient. Tickets are bought from the driver or at the ticket office, the schedule changes by season. A local SIM card costs less than roaming of Kazakh operators, it is issued with a foreign passport. Coverage along the coast is stable, but in the mountains the signal disappears in places entirely. Downloaded offline maps help in gorges and on mountain roads. Wi-Fi is available in hotels and cafes, but the speed in villages can be weak. For a short trip, roaming of your own operator is sometimes enough.
A holiday on the island is rarely associated with risks, but basic precautions will not hurt. Local customs are honored here, and this applies even to tourists.
Medical insurance for Schengen is mandatory, and it is arranged before submitting documents. August brings the peak of heat, when the temperature rises above thirty-five degrees in the shade. At noon it is better to stay indoors or near the water, and wear a hat at all times. Pharmacies are available in large cities, in small villages there may be none at all. Medicines are sold by prescription, so usual drugs are brought with you. Windy days on the southern coast occur even in summer, and sea trips are then canceled. At the first signs of overheating, you should go into the shade and drink water.
When visiting monasteries and churches, shoulders and knees must be covered, women are sometimes given a scarf at the entrance. Shorts and open T-shirts in temples are inappropriate, even if it is hot outside. Photography inside is often prohibited, signs warn about this. Souvenirs and local products are more convenient to buy not in tourist shops, but at markets in cities. Olive oil, honey, herbs and ceramics cost noticeably less there. Bargaining at the market is appropriate, in stores — not. The Greek side is proud of its products, and tasting is often included in the purchase.
Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, https://www.mfa.gr/en/visas/. The information on this page was verified on 10.09.2026.
It is most comfortable in September: the sea is warm, and the heat subsides. For silence, late May will do.
With one connection the journey takes from eight hours. There are no direct flights.
For trips between resorts a car is convenient. Within the city, buses and taxis are enough.
Elounda and Agios Nikolaos are the best fit. There the water is calm and the entry is gentle.
Balos, Falasarna and Matala are considered the most famous. They are reached by car or boat.
The Palace of Knossos, Samaria Gorge and Spinalonga Island. Seeing them takes a whole day.
Winter is mild and rainy. There is snow in the mountains, and gardens bloom on the coast.
Dakos, kalitsounia, anthos and roast lamb from the oven. Crayfish are served free at the end of the meal.
Prices depend on the resort and the season. The south and east are usually cheaper than the north.
Yes, the sea stays warm until the end of the month. The evenings are already cool.
Sunscreen, a hat and sandals for the stones. In the evening you need a light jacket.
Tastings at olive farms, walks through gorges and trips to monasteries.
What travellers write afterwards: the hotel, the dates and what is worth knowing in advance.
Took a tour to Crete because my husband's vacation was burning up and I myself filled out visa documents at this travel agency a couple of years ago and seemed like normal guys back then. Well Greece, sea, food.. thought I'd rest from all this office madness plus he also twisted his leg a couple of days before the flight - naturally limped the whole trip but overall 5 out of 5 of course
took a tour to Crete because i had to pick up the diploma supplement, and going to Athens for it was not something i wanted, so i combined it. the agency is ordinary, almost next to my house, i went in to ask about dates, came out already with a booking. Flew at night, window seat, but the window was all in streaks, nothing to see, a bit of a pity. The hotel is simple, but clean and hot water was always there, but the breakfasts are the same every day, that's a minus of course) on the beach the sunbeds are paid, i didn't take one, threw a towel on the pebbles and it was fine. Overall i came back happy, now i'm thinking where else to dash off with the same scheme
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Went to Greece, to Crete, because I wanted a change of scenery and to see the sea in winter, and the travel agency happened to be on the way from work — stopped in to ask about visas and unexpectedly bought a tour in ten minutes, without even reading reviews. Well and what came of it: warm, empty beaches and wind so strong I held my cap with one hand, but came back happy and with a bag of olives in my suitcase, except I didn't see a single dolphin.
Crete at the end of October gave warm weather and almost empty beaches, although the wind on the north side knocked you off your feet and one day had to be spent in a taverna with raki instead of the sea. The hotel turned out okay, but the air conditioner hummed like a tractor, though breakfasts with melon and local yogurt smoothed over that moment. I booked the excursion to the Samaria Gorge separately, the bus shook, but the views were worth it, came back tired but happy, four stars, no more.
crete is of course not Maldives but it earned its four, hotels on the first line are ok, though the sunbed by the pool had to be taken from the very morning, otherwise everything is taken with towels... food is good, though monotonous by the end of the week I couldn't even look at these olives the sea is clean, I walked to the neighbouring village for fresh fish, on the way I almost stepped on a turtle, and that little thing stuck in my memory more than all the excursions put together
Crete is something else of course. I booked tickets and hotel through our guys, everything came to my email in a couple of days, no hassle- but at the airport at the desk they made me wait about forty minutes, even though there were zero people. Checked in fast, the room was simple but the AC worked like a beast, and that's the main thing when it's plus thirty outside. Mostly walked everywhere, once I rented a car- the roads are serpentine, almost went gray while driving up to that monastery.. The sea is clean, but the stones on the beach are big, no way without flip-flops, I forgot mine in the room and regretted it later. We ate at the taverns nearby, the portions are huge, the waiters sometimes mixed up the orders but that was even funny. Came back tanned, happy, though the suitcase still smells of olive oil that spilled. Five out of five, no doubt.
bought a Crete tour at one Almaty agency and still can't get over it honestly. The manager did everything fast – hotel, transfer, all the docs. Flew at night, arrived in the morning, they checked me in right away. Breakfasts are boring, but the coffee's decent, and the view from the balcony to the sea – well that's just something else. The sea is warm, walking in it barefoot is a blast, though the stones on the beach cut your feet painfully. Went on an excursion to the fortress — the guide told it boringly, but the fortress itself is wow. Local cheese is expensive, but I bought a couple of pieces home and don't regret it. at the hotel they gave towels for the pool, but I kept losing the card and it was pissing me off. Crete I liked, I'll definitely come back there again and maybe in autumn, because in summer the sun just Bakes mercilessly
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took a trip to Crete on a whim, wanted to close the gestalt after spring didn't work out with vacation at all. went to the first agency by the house — the light was on. and honestly — don't regret it once bit. at the hotel the food was ok, but breakfast is always the same, that omlet of theirs and sausages, yuck. but the sea... the water is clear, kids are screaming, wife is happy. took an excursion to the mountains — the serpentine is such that got a bit car sick, but the views are worth it. came back angry and happy at the same time)) don't understand how people live there for a month and don't get tired of the wind.
Went looking for some quiet after a renovation in my apartment that dragged on forever, because at home there was no breathing room thanks to the jackhammer. The manager, without whom I'd probably still be sitting over a map stuck on nothing, got everything sorted in one evening, and a week later I was already looking at water the color of bottle glass. Little things like fast internet and a decent bed didn't let me down, and on the fifth day I caught myself just sitting there and not running anywhere)
сондағы демалысты Қазақстандағы турагентство арқылы алдық, себебі өзіміз іздеп әбігерленгіміз келмеді, бала-шағамен ұшамыз дегенде бәрін бір жерден шешкен ыңғайлы болды. Критке бардық, теңіз суы тұзды, ыстық, бал аралары қолыма қонып, қызым балмұздақты төңкеріп алды, әбден шаршадым бірақ қайта барғым келеді..
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the trip to Crete is a whole other story, i only got back the day before yesterday and i still see those streets in Rethymno in front of my eyes (that's where we stayed, the hotel was ok i guess, but the AC hummed like a tractor..). The manager got everything sorted fast, thanks for that, but we waited an extra hour for the transfer under the sun. the food was decent, the sea is clean, though the beach near the hotel is kinda small - better to go to the other end of the bay. overall 4 out of 5, i wouldn't go a second time just because of those stupid winds
Критке барып қайттым, 5/5 қойдым. Менеджер демалыс күндерін дұрыс бөліп берді, артық әуреге салмады. Қонақүйдегі желдеткіштің шуылы сәл кедергі болды, бірақ теңізге жақындығы бәрін ұмыттырды.
bronirovali my cherez turagenstvo v almaty, hotela prosto otdohnut chtob more i vse, i pochemu to vybrala krit hotya mogli v turtsiyu deshevle ulete, prileteli pozdno noch, zaselilis normalno otel prostoy no chistyy. v obschem kriti horosho i pogulyali po staromu gorodu i kupila tam magnitik s oslikom, a voobsche poezdka udalas i budu vspominat ee s ulybkoy
Poezdka na Krit cherez kazahstanskoe agentsvo ypolyne udalas, ostrov krasivy, more chistoe, no ochen uzh mnogo lyudei na plyazhe i ocheredi vezde, hotel normalnyi, no konditsioner gudel vsyu noch. No vot chto - ekskursii dorogie i gid postoanno torgopil, poetomu chetverka, a tak vsyo ostalnoe ponravilos, osobenno svezhee maslo i syr.
took the package just to drag my wife away from her never-ending renovation — to Crete, because she wanted to see those white houses with blue shutters and i just wanted the sea to be warm,. first days were fine, then the wind picked up, but i swam anyway, even when the waves were hitting my legs — wife didn't like it, but i was loving it, the only thing — i had to drag the sunbed myself across the whole beach, nobody helped, and that, honestly, pissed me off a bit, at night we sat on the balcony and ate those tiny olives that i can't stand, and she ate them by the handful.. all in all the trip was a success, don't regret a single minute, only that damn wind kinda ruined the tan, i'd go back there again without questions and to hell with the long flight, hotel is normal, food not poisoned, overall a solid five fully and completely deserved, would love to come back to finish seeing what i didn't get to.
Went to Crete because of my husband — after his surgery he can't sit for long, and there the sea is nearby and you can walk on flat ground, the manager took all that into account and picked a hotel with no stairs. Came back happy, though the water in August is like warm milk and you can only get in normally early in the morning!
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Crete is something else for sure. Bus to the beach, a rental car for three days, and then that smell of thyme on the roadside when we were crawling up the hill to the Samaria gorge, honestly thought I wouldn't make it a hundred meters left... and then I dove in. The sea here is such that after it our pool in the yard seems like a puddle, I ended up stopping going there altogether and just hung out by the shore until sunset, even though my swimsuit was drying on the balcony for a whole day. Anyway, after stuffing myself with moussaka and swimming so much my back is square, I came back a different person, five out of five
My friend and I went specifically for the visa, because we'd had enough of dealing with the paperwork ourselves and decided to just hand everything to the agency, and there they offered us Crete instead of the original Turkey — well, we agreed, without really reading anything, just took their word for it. The sea, the food, the narrow streets — all as it should be, one minus: there was no hairdryer in the hotel, I had to dry my wet hair on the balcony, but the way I then ate in the tavernas, where the owner himself brought me olives and raki, that's a whole other song, and in general the atmosphere is such that you forget about all the unfinished documents and just live these five days — I didn't regret it once.
To Crete I flew in April, the sea was still brisk, but for me perfect. The manager sorted everything out quickly, the hotel turned out to have a small balcony where in the mornings I drank coffee and stared at the neighbors' windows.
Жұмыстан демалыс алып, балалармен бірге демалғысы келдім, сондықтан турагенттікке барып Критке жолдама сұрадым. Ұшақтан түскенде-ақ ауа райы жылы, теңіз тыныш, қонақүй таза болды, тіпті бөлмедегі кондиционердің сытырлағаны да көңілге кірбің түсірмеді. Енді қайта бармақ ойым бар, өйткені балалар әлі күнге дейін балмұздақ жеген жағажайды сағынып жүр.
I booked the trip on a whim, I just wanted to breathe after the renovation and all those tiles and wallpaper, and a friend had been recommending Crete for ages. The manager sorted everything out in one evening, and here I am already walking the streets of Rethymno, eating their lamb with rosemary and realising that five stars are definitely deserved by both the trip and the people who put it together.
The trip to Crete was something else. We flew at night, arrived in the morning, and went straight to the sea. The hotel turned out to be simple, but with a view that made me forget about being tired. Walked around the little streets, ate Greek salad, even though at home I can't stand it. The olives there are different, big, with pits, and the oil smells so good that I ate bread just plain. The sea was cold, I swam through the pain, but then warmed up in a taverna. Came back with rocks in my suitcase — picked them up on the beach, now they sit on a shelf. Five out of five, and I'll come back, because I didn't get to see everything.
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The road to the hotel killed me. Three hours on the bus, though they promised one, but the views out the window made up for it all. Breakfasts are monotonous, but the sea is such that you forget about everything in the world. I'd come back again, despite the small misundertsandings.
we were planning Crete back in autumn, at my husband's work they said vacation is only in December, so I went to an agency near our house, thought it would be expensive. no, it turned out fine. we flew with a layover, sat in Istanbul for three hours, I managed to drink a coffee and buy a magnet though what magnets in duty-free. the hotel turned out basic. breakfasts the same every day - eggs, cheese, olives, by the end I couldn't even look at them. but the sea. the sea is a whole separate story, in December the water is cold of course, only the most desperate ones swam, I didn't risk it, but I walked along the shore and collected pebbles, they come across so smooth. we went to Heraklion, there's a fortress, the wind was knocking you off your feet.. I remember how it smells in the local streets - some kind of herbs, and also a cat was sleeping on a scooter near a taverna. I came back tanned and happy, though my husband says the tan is just the wind
bought through a kazakhstan agency — and here i am sitting, remembering Crete.. there were, of course, a ton of people in June, but the sea was crystal. The manager found a hotel fast, though we then waited forty minutes for the bus in the scorching sun — that's why i took off a star, but other than that all good
Rabota byl v Crete, pocel kupit tur v Kazakhstane, potomu chto mestnyy operator desevle hotal. Tuda leteli cherez Almaty, i, hotya hotel byl normalnyy, no kogda vernulsya, ostalsa dovolen.
took a package to pull my wife out of this endless work and get some air myself, the manager sorted everything out fast and didn't load me with extra stuff. Crete of course... well the sea there is cold in March, didn't go swimming, though a couple of daredevils were splashing around, I just got my feet wet and that was enough The hotel turned out to have decent grub, I wolfed down the local cheese with both cheeks, but the coffee from the machine by the pool was a real nasty thing, but that's just nitpicking. The manager by the way warned me about the winds, I didn't believe her, should have. went to some streets, there was a cat sitting on a scooter and not moving at all, I touched it, zero reaction came back tanned, happy, five points won't be sorry
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I went to Crete in March - and that was the right call, because there are almost no tourists, the air is +18 and the wind is serious. The hotel turned out to have a heated pool and a weird breakfast where olives were sitting next to scrambled eggs, but after my first cup of coffee I stopped paying attention to that, because the sea outweighed everything
I took a tour to Crete in February, and it was a strange decision, but I don't regret it. The hotel turned out okay, though the air conditioner in the room rattled like an old fridge, so I had to sleep with the balcony open. The sea was cold, I swam only once, but I ate so many olives and cheese that I couldn't look at them for a month after. The hike through the Samaria Gorge wore me out, but the views there are such that my phone died in the middle, and that was infuriating. The food was good everywhere, especially in a small taverna where the owner poured a little at a time and kept saying something in Greek. I came back tanned, happy, though one thing did still bother me.
Bought a tour to Almaty at a small agency near my home. Didn't even expect everything to go so smoothly. At first I got nervous about the flight, but the flight was charter and without delays, we flew at night, I fell asleep almost right away. In Crete we were put in a hotel with a sea view, and that was nice, because in the morning you open the balcony and there the waves are making noise. True, the air conditioner in the room worked kinda strange, I had to call a repairman, but he came quickly and fixed everything. Went to the beach, ate Greek salad with cheese that smelled of herbs, and once tried octopus — well, it's an acquired taste. I took the tour to the Palace of Knossos separately, there are stone ruins there and it's very hot, but it's interesting to touch stones that are thousands of years old. The bus brought us back to the hotel on time, I managed to swim before dinner. Overall I came back happy. Everything as promised, no surprises, and that's the main thing.
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Short guides: season, hotels, money and documents.
When planning a trip from Almaty, many tourists decide in advance whether an international driving permit is needed. The answer depends on the country and on whether you plan to get behind the wheel.
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A trip from Almaty to southern countries often includes visiting temples. Many tourists wonder in advance how to dress when visiting temples. Modesty rules apply in mosques, Hindu and Buddhist temples.
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Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure. For flights from Almaty, it is usually available on the airline's website and in its app. The procedure takes a few minutes and saves you from queues at the airport.
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Consent for a child to travel abroad is arranged in advance. A notary in Almaty certifies a power of attorney for the accompanying person. Parents decide who will take the minor on the trip.
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Hand luggage is the items a passenger takes into the aircraft cabin. The carriage rules apply to everyone flying from Almaty. Airlines set their own weight and size standards. Carriage of large bags in the cabin is usually not allowed.
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A transfer between flights is a stop at an intermediate airport, after which the traveler continues the journey on another plane. From Almaty, almost any long route is built through such a hub.
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