Road cycling facts
- Road cycling routes on Crete
many
- Best time to travel
February to April and September to November
- Flight connections
Edelweiss tips:
Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and has plenty on offer for road cyclists – above all, solitary mountain regions with winding roads leading up to fascinating mountain peaks. Crete is great for cyclists who like steep ascents. Sfakia road on the island’s north coast is almost like an alpine pass. Cyclists are advised to avoid cycling on main roads, as Greek drivers like to use most of the road. The side roads are generally in good condition, though cyclists need to watch out for potholes at all times, especially on the many steep descents. Delicious Greek food and a refreshing dip in the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea are well-deserved rewards after cycling.
Top road cycling routes on Crete
Starting easy with Sissi Difficult
Cyclists can look forward to pedalling through multifaceted landscapes with easy ascents and descents on the route between Ellinika and the picturesque fishing port of Sissi in Crete’s northwest. The ‘Old Road’ from Ellinika to Neapoli is ideal for a first tour of the island, offering an easy start to a week of cycling in Crete. From Neapoli, the trail makes a loop via Sissi back to the starting point of the tour. Home to 700 residents, the charming village of Sissi is a lovely place to stop and have lunch in a typical Greek taverna while taking in delightful views of the Mediterranean Sea. A 75 km, moderately challenging day tour also starts in Sissi and takes cyclists to Elounda in lovely Mirabello.
- Length of tour 3 h 10 min
- Distance 60,8 km
- Ascent 1’110 m
- Descent -1’110 m
Road cycling tour to the Lasithi Plateau Difficult
When the mountains call, the answer is a tour up to the Lasithi Plateau in the Dikti mountain range. The ascent on this tour is tough on the legs, but there is a high-speed ride down to Malia at the end of it. The tour starts in Hersonissos with a flat initial stretch to Avdou. The subsequent climb from Malia up to the plateau gets very steep. Cyclists will know they have reached the plateau, which can be cycled around, when they catch sight of the windmills. The descent back to Malia is via the same route. Tip: cyclists who prefer a shorter route, but want to ride the descent, can cycle as far as Mohos and enjoy the popular downhill ride from there. This shorter tour takes just under two hours.
- Length of tour 6 h 40 min
- Distance 110 km
- Ascent 2’710 m
- Descent -1’930 m
Flat route from Chania to the western tip of Crete Medium
Although Heraklion is generally seen as the gateway to road cycling adventures on the island of Crete, many cyclists choose Chania as their base. There is a particularly lovely tour along Chania’s tourist strip to Kastelli. This typical Cretan town is mostly known for its archaeological site. The first part of the route to Maleme offers an easy start to the tour, with the first hills starting after Kolymbari. Arrival in Kastelli is after a nice winding descent to the bay of Kissamos. The return ride takes the same coastal route back to Chania.
- Length of tour 3 h 45 min
- Distance 82,6 km
- Ascent 860 m
- Descent -720 m
To Spili’s lion head fountain – sightseeing by bike Difficult
The area around Rethymno is well-known among road cycling buffs for its hilly and mountainous terrain. Many cyclists who love a continuous sequence of ascents and descents are drawn from the coast to the hinterland town of Spili. The route to this small Cretan village is ideal for combining cycling with sightseeing. On arrival in the village, cyclists can relax in the cosy Fabricafe and admire the famous lion head fountain. The Venetian fountain features 25 lion heads from which water flows. Each head stands for a particular village. According to legend, drinking water from a particular lion’s head will cause the drinker to meet their dream partner in the village of the head they drunk from. The return ride to Rethymno is via more mountain peaks and roughly 50 km long.
- Length of tour 3 h 50 min
- Distance 70,6 km
- Ascent 1’370 m
- Descent -1’380 m
From Rethymno to Lake Potamoi Difficult
Besides the Ida mountain range (Psiloritis) and monasteries, including Arkadi and Vosakos, Potamoi Lake is a popular destination to visit in the Rethymno region. Experienced and well-trained road cyclists will reach the lake in just under an hour. However, the remaining two hours of this loop tour back to the coast are extremely tough on the legs. After stopping for a picnic by the lake, there is a 3,675 foot (1,120 m) elevation gain with a maximum gradient of 19% to tackle. This second leg of the tour is rewarding, with spectacular views of old churches and deep gorges, including the Prassano gorge.
- Length of tour 3 h 25 min
- Distance 58,0 km
- Ascent 1’350 m
- Descent -1’190 m
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