Yes, Malia Palace is just a short trip east of Hersonissos and offers a quieter alternative to the crowds at Knossos. It's one of the three major Minoan palace complexes on Crete, with courtyards, storage rooms, and ceremonial areas still visible among the ruins. Nearby Lyttos, once a powerful ancient city-state, adds another layer of history for travelers who want to go beyond the beach without venturing far.
Heraklion is about 26 km (16 miles) from Hersonissos. A private transfer typically takes 30-40 minutes along the coastal highway, well under the time you'd spend waiting for and riding a public bus. That leaves more of the day for exploring Knossos, the old Venetian harbor, and Heraklion's markets rather than sitting in transit.
A half day is enough for a focused visit to Knossos and Heraklion's highlights, while a full day lets you add the archaeological museum, old harbor, and a leisurely lunch in town. The Lasithi Plateau is more of a full-day excursion given the mountain drive and the ground to cover once there. Because Hersonissos itself has beaches, a harbor promenade, and water park attractions to enjoy on other days, day trips are a good way to break up a longer stay without feeling rushed.
Yes, it's one of Crete's most-visited archaeological sites and a natural pairing with Heraklion city. Knossos was the ceremonial and political center of Minoan civilization, and its reconstructed frescoes, throne room, and maze-like layout give context to the Greek myth of the Minotaur's labyrinth. Combine it with an hour or two in Heraklion's old town and its archaeological museum, which houses most of the artifacts recovered from the palace, for a full picture of Minoan life.
Hersonissos sits on Crete's north coast in the Heraklion region, putting the island's biggest highlights within easy reach. Heraklion city and the Palace of Knossos are a short drive west, while the Lasithi Plateau and its windmill-dotted highland villages lie inland to the east. A private transfer lets you combine stops into a single loop and return to your resort the same day, with no schedules to coordinate around.
The Lasithi Plateau offers a completely different side of Crete from the coastal resorts. This high mountain basin is covered in orchards and farmland, historically irrigated by thousands of white-sailed windmills, some of which still stand today. It's also home to the Dikteon Cave, mythologized as the birthplace of Zeus, and the traditional village of Psychro nearby. The drive up through switchbacks and mountain villages is part of the experience, with sweeping views over the plateau's orchards and windmills opening up before you reach Psychro and the cave itself.
Daytrip is a private car service platform that connects you with local drivers who will transport you door-to-door. We also give you the opportunity to explore sights/attractions along the way. We drive, you discover.
Daytrip offers private door-to-door transfers with optional sightseeing stops, hourly driver hire, and curated day trips — all with local English-speaking drivers and operating across 130+ countries.
The cancellation policy may vary depending on your trip. The cancellation conditions available for your booking will always be shown before confirming your trip. Depending on eligibility, Daytrip offers different cancellation options:
Non-refundable: If your trip is canceled after confirmation, the amount paid will not be refunded.
Standard: If your trip is canceled at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, the amount paid will be refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not eligible for a refund.
Flexible: If your trip is canceled at least 1 hour before the scheduled departure time, the amount paid will be refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 1 hour before departure are not eligible for a refund.
Trips booked less than 24 hours before departure may not be eligible for free cancellation unless stated otherwise during the booking process.
Yes! Book a private, door-to-door airport transfer with a local English-speaking driver. Enjoy fixed and transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and the option to pay in advance without the hassle of exchanging cash at a foreign airport.
You will receive the vehicle that best fits the number of travelers in your group, ranging from a sedan to a van for groups of up to 7. Depending where you travel, you can book anything from a sedan comparable to a Toyota Corolla to a Mercedes V-Class to a Classic Cuban Car. While the exact model may vary, we always ensure that the vehicle provided meets your needs in terms of safety, reliability, and comfort. You may be upgraded to a larger vehicle class free of charge depending on availability. Since our largest vehicle seats 7, for groups larger a combination of vehicles will be used. We will send you the exact vehicle details a few days before your trip.
Everywhere except the USA, drivers will supply appropriate child seats (just let us know during booking). In the USA, certain states require you to supply your own child seats.
So, so happy I stumbled upon this website to book two private transports while visiting Lima, Peru. They were both one-way trips approximately 3 hours in length. Great communication as soon as everything was booked via email and I then downloaded their app. I had a few issues with the app and the customer service was awesome trying to assist me in getting it corrected. Honestly impressive customer service which gave you a positive feeling that you made the right choice. Both drivers were right on time - No issues whatsoever! Can't say enough about the service and ease of everything when travelling so far away. Great job to the daytrip team! Would strongly recommend.
