Best day trips from Bali: how to get there and what to see

Bali sits on the north coast of Crete between Rethymno and Heraklion, which makes it a good base for short trips rather than long ones. Match the trip to your transport: buses cover Rethymno and Heraklion well, while the monasteries, mountain villages and south-coast beaches need a car.

If you have one free day, go to Rethymno. If you have two, add a car day to Arkadi and Margarites. If you have three or more, use the third for the south coast at Plakias or a longer run to Chania.

Rethymno is the default. The old town is compact: the Venetian harbour, the fortress above it and a lane of tavernas take half a day at an easy pace. Buses run along the north coast road several times a day; check the current timetable at the station the day before, because shoulder-season services thin out.

Arkadi monastery is the most worthwhile short drive. The site is small, so pair it with Margarites, a village of working pottery workshops about 20 minutes further on. Both are inland and higher, so they are a good option when the coast is windy.

Melidoni cave is close to Bali itself and takes an hour or two. It is a single large chamber with a history tied to the 1820s Cretan revolts; bring a light layer, as the inside stays cool.

For a beach day, drive south over the mountains to Plakias. The road is winding but paved, and the reward is a long bay with several smaller coves nearby. Go early in July and August to get parking and shade.

Heraklion is the big-city option: the archaeological museum and Knossos need most of a day, and buses from the north coast make it doable without a car. Chania is a longer haul and better done as an overnight than a day trip.

Bus travel is the cheapest option and needs no planning beyond a timetable. A rental car costs more but splits across a group and opens up the mountain and south-coast trips that buses do not serve well.

These are 2026 estimates. Fuel prices move, and summer rental rates in Crete rise sharply in July and August, so book a car ahead if you are travelling then.

Start early. Parking in Rethymno and at the popular south-coast beaches fills by mid-morning in summer, and the mountain roads are easier before tour buses appear.

Carry cash for small entries, monastery donations and village tavernas. Cards are widely accepted in Rethymno and Heraklion but less so in the villages.

The north coast road is fast and dull; the south-coast crossings are slow and scenic. Allow more time than the distance suggests, especially on the Plakias road.

If you are relying on buses, buy your return ticket when you arrive and confirm the last departure, which can be early in the afternoon outside high season.