The 9 Workshops & Classes in Crete That Earn Their Price

1.Authentic Cooking Class in the White Mountains

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 529 reviews · 6 hours · from $129Our pick

Spend six hours traveling from Chania to a family home in the White Mountains. Guides such as Alex, Yannis, and Costa share Cretan history, while Maria leads a hands-on class using garden produce. Expect cheese, wine, sheep, mountain views, traditional dishes, and a generous meal.

“Our guide Alex was incredible! The vehicle was very nice!! I would highly recommend Alex and this cooking class.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Beginner Scuba Diving Lesson with PADI Instructor

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 355 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $88Best value

Learn scuba basics with Petros and the CRETANDIVERS team, then take a supervised open-water session in Agia Pelagia Bay. You will practice slowly, use a full equipment set, and reach up to six meters with an instructor nearby. Small groups, several languages, and optional underwater footage make this a friendly first try.

“Can't recommend this enough. Petros and his team were super friendly, welcoming and very accommodating. The diving it's self was incredible and we felt safe and looked after at all times. I struggled with some of the basics at first but the team were brilliant at looking after me and helping me master the basics without me holding up the rest of the group. Scuba diving is an amazing experience and this beginners course with this team is the perfect way to get started or just get a taster. Thank you Petros & co for an incredible day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Chania Cooking Class-The Authentic Enjoy traditional Cretan meal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $133Top rated

Spend 4 to 5 hours near Chania cooking with Veerna, Alex, and their family. You will prepare kleftiko, dolmades, stuffed vegetables, kalitsounia, dakos, tzatziki, and dessert, then eat it all with local wine in an outdoor kitchen.

“This was amazing and fun. Hosts were welcoming and warm. The dishes we prepared were delicious. I'd do this again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 284 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $111

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring rural Crete in a 4WD vehicle with guides such as Mario, Giannis, Manos, or Nikos. You will visit villages, milk goats, make cheese, cook Cretan food, shape pottery, see Lasithi windmills, enjoy a wood-oven lunch, and taste olive oil.

“Lots of information, fun and hands on experiences. Good way to see off beaten track Crete although we did get bounced about a it in the back of the vehicle. All the drivers seemed very friendly but special shout out to Manos, our driver and Nicos who's group we joined up with at some stops to get a 100% English explanation of things (we were 2 Brits with 6 Germans in our vehicle)”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Cretan Cooking Class and Olive Oil Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 178 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $114

Meet mother-and-daughter hosts Marianna and Stella at Cretan Vibes near Moires. You’ll prepare a hands-on Cretan meal with fresh farm ingredients, taste premium olive oil, learn family recipes, and eat beside the olive trees with local wine.

“They were very welcoming and warm. The food we cooked was excellent! Fresh and delicious! Beautiful atmosphere.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Moires: Cooking Class and Olive Oil Tasting at a Family Farm

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 4 hours · from $100

At Cretan Vibes near Moires, Marianna and her mother, Mama Stella, guide you through a hands-on three-course meal using farm ingredients. You will taste premium olive oil, see a harvest video, eat with local wine, and take home recipes and leftovers.

“Absolutely amazing! The sweetest mother daughter duo taught us all about Crete culture and we made the best meals. And they were able to accommodate food allergies and allow all guests to still have amazing meals!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Sightseeing Day Trip with Cooking Lesson and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 77 reviews · 8 hours · from $108

Spend eight hours exploring rural Crete by air-conditioned 4x4. Meet farmers in Potamies, cook local dishes, shape pottery, visit the Aposelemis dam and Krasi, and taste olive oil. Guides such as Nico, Marios, Mario, and Nick bring plenty of humor and island knowledge.

“I liked the variety of activities and the friendly guides. I think the cooking demonstration is a bit limited and perhaps the main meal was a tad underwhelming. That said, we had a really good time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Authentic Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 4 hours · from $129

Join Veerna and her family in Nerokourou, 10 to 15 minutes from Chania, for a four-hour Cretan cooking class beneath olive and avocado trees. You will prepare lamb, stuffed vegetables, dolmades, kalitsounia, tzatziki, and dakos, then sit down to eat with local wine and raki.

“Veernas cooking class was an absolute joy! What a wonderful way to learn how to make authentic Greek food for 3 courses in a friendly group environment and even better still eat it with selected vino to suit! By the end of the day our bellies were full and we had met some lovely new people. Congrats and thanks to Veerna and her family for a lovely day in the mountains.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Cretan Delights – Wine, Olive Oil & Cooking Workshop from Chania

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $474

Leave Chania for Apokoronas, where you’ll taste Vidiano and Kotsifali wines, learn how Cretan olive oil is made, visit a family-house museum, and cook a traditional meal. Dimitri and Andreas may lead the day, with hotel pickup, lunch, water, and tastings included.

“This was probably one of the best tours I have been on so far. It was a great day from start until end with stops in different local shops such as a bakery, where we welcomed with freshly baked Cretan delicacies followed by tasting a locRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review