Crete is the largest Greek island and the only one where you can combine city beaches, Venetian old towns, mountains and archaeology in a single week. For summer 2026 we fly there directly from Belgrade every Sunday with Sky Express, on an 8 day, 6 night programme. Since the flights are overnight and the rhythm of the trip is specific, this guide lays out exactly what to expect, hour by hour, plus which hotels from our offer we would pick and why. For a broader picture of the island itself, start from our Crete destination page.
The flight and the first day
Departures are every Sunday. You need to be at Nikola Tesla airport at least two and a half hours before take-off. Flight GQ4831 leaves Belgrade at 02.45 and lands in Heraklion at 05.40, so you arrive at your hotel early in the morning. Rooms are handed over after 15.00 by international hotel rules, which sounds inconvenient but works fine in practice: pack swimwear and a change of clothes in your hand luggage, leave your cases at reception and head straight for the beach or breakfast. Most guests say the first day feels like a bonus day of holiday.
The return
On day seven you check out by 11.00, spend the afternoon at the pool or in town, and the transfer leaves for the airport in the evening. Flight GQ4830 departs Heraklion at 01.00 and lands in Belgrade at 01.50. You lose no beach time on the way back either, which is the quiet advantage of night charters.
What is included and what is not
The price covers the return Sky Express flight, airport taxes of about 36 euros at the time of publication, the fuel surcharge, a group transfer from the airport to the hotel and back, the confirmed hotel service and, importantly, a representative on the island who speaks Serbian. Checked luggage is 20 kg plus 8 kg of hand luggage per passenger. Paid separately: travel health insurance, cancellation insurance and the Greek overnight tax, charged at the hotel reception, 15 euros per room per night in five star hotels and 10 euros in four star ones. Budget that in advance so it does not surprise you at check-out.
Booking and payment
You reserve with a 40 percent deposit, the rest is due 21 days before departure, and interest-free instalments are available. Hotel confirmation arrives within two working days. Exact flight times are confirmed 24 hours before departure and your documents arrive by e-mail. If a child turns two during the trip, it needs its own seat both ways and is charged as a child fare, worth knowing when travelling with a baby born in late summer.
Where to stay: Rethymno or Hersonissos
Our programme concentrates on two very different bases. Rethymno is a living town with a Venetian harbour and an old quarter full of taverns. There, Kriti Beach, from 2080 euros for two people, stands in the centre, directly across from a long sandy beach where sunbeds, umbrellas and beach towels are free, a few minutes on foot from the old town. At the end of the Rethymno promenade, Aegean Pearl, from 2230 euros for two people, faces a Blue Flag sandy beach across the street, with shops and taverns 50 metres away, a calm pick for families. Hersonissos, on the other hand, is livelier and only 25 km from the airport, so transfers are short. Hersonissos Palace, from 1920 euros for two people, sits 60 metres from the sandy town beach in a central but quiet spot near the harbour, with carefully decorated rooms of 28 square metres. For something more indulgent, Akasha Beach Hotel & Spa, from 2460 euros for two people, spreads along its own sandy beach with free sunbeds and offers suites with jacuzzis and plunge pools.
Our honest advice
Six nights on Crete pass quickly, so decide early what you want: with a Rethymno base you get atmosphere and the west of the island, with Hersonissos you get short transfers, Heraklion and Knossos nearby. Rent a car for at least two days, distances are serious and the best beaches ask for wheels. And book June and September early, those Sunday flights carry a limited number of seats and the best hotels close sales first.
