If you want to explore Crete and get away from the beaten track, you will want to buy a good map. Below are the ones we recommend
The Greek publisher Anavasi has published a few good 1:25.000 maps of Crete. Three of them cover the region from Sougia (East Selinou) to Sfakia and include most of the White Mountains. These maps are a huge improvement on what we had before (including the Greek military maps) and are accurate to use with a GPS but they could have been much better if they had included more of the old paths. On the other hand, from a safety point of view it might be a good thing not to include remote paths in the mountains because you invariably get people following them and getting in trouble.
The maps are cheap to buy and solidly made (you get the sense that they will not tear after the first few times you use them) and can be bought in good bookshops in Crete as well as on Amazon
Anavasi also offers three 1:100.000 road maps which are well-made and up-to-date (see below to order through Amazon)
This map was published in late 2012 and more or less combines the 1:25.000 maps of Sfakia and Pachnes so it will save you buying two maps. There are far more named areas and summits than in the older maps which I find a big plus. One disavantage is that the map is far less solid than the older 1:25.000 maps.
Click on the image on the left for a direct Amazon link
The new Adventure Atlas of Crete by Anavasi replaces their older atlases in a lighter but probably more sturdy form.
The atlas has a 1:50.000 scale and is definitely recommended if you are a regular visitor to Crete and want to explore the island in depth.
You may be able to get the various Anavasi maps (currently the best maps for Crete) through Amazon at the links below
Below are a few maps of Crete and areas of Crete. Click on the thumbnails to open the map
Map of West Crete
Map of Central Crete
Map of Eastern Crete
Map of Crete
Map of the White Mountains
City centre Chania
City centre Rethymnon
Venetian map of Crete