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Beach resortsThis Beach Resorts page is from the Completely Crete website.
The most popular beach resorts and holiday destinations are scattered all over the wonderful Greek Island of Crete. From the far west tip of Crete at Kissamos to the far east beautiful town of Sitia and the lovely south coast villages of Ierapetra, Makrigialos, Agia Galini, Matala, Plakias, Loutro, Sougia and Paleochora. The Chania north coast beach resorts of Maleme, Platanias and Agia Marina plus the gorgeous Apokronos fishing villages of Kalyves and Almyrida are all very popular. At central Crete on the north coast you'll find the always popular beach resorts of Georgioupolis, Rethymnon, Bali and Sissi. Further along to the east you'll find the beach resorts of Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia and in the far east Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and quaint Kalo Horio. Kissamos ....More on Kissamos Maleme ....More on Maleme Platanias Platanias (alternative spelling Plattanias) is a wonderful beach resort crammed packed with a huge choice of accommodation, shops, restaurants, bars, discos, clubs and beachfront cafes on the Greek island of Crete. The holiday resort is just 10km to the west of the town of Chania in the prefecture of Hania and offers all you could want it terms of choice. It has a superb 4km stretch of white sandy beach. Opposite the beach, the small inhabited island of Theodorou is home to a number of the protected Kri Kri (wild goats) of Crete. Theodorou Island is said to be a petrified sea monster, rising from the sea with its gaping mouth wide open....More on Platanias Agia Marina Chania Chania (alternative spellings Hania, Xania), with its backdrop of the wonderful White Mountains (Lefka Ori), is a stunning town where modern, Venetian and Turkish traditional architecture are blended together making it a fabulous place to visit. The former capital of the Greek Island of Crete, it is now the capital of the prefecture of Chania and lies west of Heraklion....More on Chania Kalyves Kalyves (alternative spelling Kalives) has two super beaches with soft golden sand and scenic backdrops of the White Mountains (Lefki Ori). Plenty of extremely good tavernas, some waterfront, others around the pretty village square, offer the hungry holidaymaker a fabulous array of food and drink. The locals are very friendly here and there are lots of shops, tavernas and bars, and a magnificent church, making this a charming fishing village and a pleasure to stay in....More on Kalyves Almyrida Almyrida (alternative spellings Almirida, Almeirida) is a lovely fishing village and seaside resort to the east of Souda Bay on the Greek Island of Crete. Located around 25 km west of the town of Chania, Almirida Beach Resort offers the visitor many pleasant experiences. Almyrida Fishing Harbour and the village has a variety of friendly Kafenions, traditional tavernas, café bars and shops, dotted throughout the fishing village. In the evening, village life revolves around the waterfront tavernas and bars....More on Almyrida Georgioupolis Rethymnon The town of Rethymno (alternative spellings Rethymnon or Rethimno) lies in central Crete, in the prefecture of the same name. East of Chania and west of Heraklion, the town is a brilliant mix of old and new. It has a young and vibrant nightlife, largely due to the student population who study at the University of Crete. In the daytime you cannot fail to be submerged into its history - a monument and testimony to bygone days and differing cultures. Some of the best beaches in Crete are found in and around the town including Rethymno Town Beach. As is the norm in Crete, Rethymno (pronounced RETH-im-no) has an abundance of places to eat and drink. Traditional tavernas serving a variety of recipes that make up the Cretan Diet sit along up-market restaurants serving international foods to suit all tastes. Small cafes, coffee shops and chic cocktail bars tempt the passer by as you wander around this impressive but very laid-back town. You may need an extra notch put into your belt after a visit here....More on Rethymnon Bali ....More on Bali
Hersonissos is hot, hot, hot! It is 27 kilometres east of Heraklion Town, on the northern coast and with neighbours like sparkling Stalis and manic Malia it is a very popular resort. There is so much choice in accommodation, ranging from rooms for rent, budget studios right through to luxury hotels. There are lots of places to eat and drink and fantastic nightlife. Hersonissos certainly has plenty to offer....More on Hersonissos Stalis Stalis, also known as Stalida, is around 30 kilometres east from Heraklion Town. We love Stalis because it has something for everyone. The beach is very long with soft golden sand and is gently shelving making it perfect for families with young children. The choice of places to stay, shop, eat and drink are plentiful and wide ranging. Whether you want a full English breakfast all day, everyday or some real Cretan cuisine including rabbit Stifado or lamb Kleftiko you'll find it in Stalis. You'll find cheap rooms to rent or top luxury hotels with everything in between. You'll also find cheap fast food outlets and fancy restaurants too....More on Stalis Malia ....More on Malia Sissi Sissi (alternative spelling Sisi) is a charming resort with a small scenic port and sandy beach. The seaside village is just 25 km from the pretty town of Aghios Nikolaos in the Lassithi region of Crete. Several attractive beaches are within easy walking distance of the village....More on Sissi Elounda Elounda (alternative spellings Elounta) is a stunning example of a coastal village on the beautiful Greek Island of Crete. Elounda is close to the cosmopolitan town of Agios Nikolaos in the Lassithi prefecture. It is a quaint fishing village with gentle tourism. The village has a clock tower and a lovely church, typical of the Greek Orthodox religion with many icons, gold chandeliers and colourful frescos adorning the pretty church. Several attractive beaches are in and around the area and there are many top class luxury hotels close to Elounda....More on Elounda
Agios Nikolaos (alternative spellings Aghios Nikolaos, Ayios Nikolaos) is the capital town of the prefecture of Lassithi on the Greek Island of Crete. This lovely town retains a traditional, quaint and tranquil fishing town lifestyle, which hasn't lost any of its charm despite the vibrant tourist industry. The pretty town lies east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. The town has a wonderful international marina and port with many large yachts mooring here. You'll often see large cruise liners at the harbour, unloading their cargo of tourists and day trippers, to fill the bars and restaurants around the lake and the bay. You can enjoy a gentle stroll around this beautiful marina and harbour, enjoying the sights and sounds of a busy port....More on Agios Nikolaos Istron - Kalo Horio Istron is just 10 km from the cosmopolitan town of Aghios Nikolaos in the Lasithi region of Crete. Surrounded by lush vegetation, with many olive and citrus groves and allotments bursting with produce, it's a real working village, characterised by gentle tourism, and there are several attractive beaches within easy walking of the village of Kalo Chorio. There are three attractive bays here, all within easy walking distance of each other, and close to the tavernas and shops. One beach is pebbly, but the other two have very beautiful beaches and little coves with fine sand or sand with a few pebbles. The water is crystal clear! Each of the beaches has its own Kantina serving snacks. Of particular note is Aghios Panteleimonas Beach with its tiny white washed church, which is actually on the beach itself....More on Istron & Kalo Horio Sitia Sitia (sometimes spelt Siteia) lies in the far east of Crete, in the prefecture of Lassithi (sometimes spelt Lasithi!) east of Agios Nikolaos and northeast of Ierapetra. The town is a pleasure to visit and to stay in. It has an uncrowded laid-back atmosphere to it and it is easy to feel really relaxed here. Sitia harbour, with its small fishing boats bobbing on the water has a wide pretty waterfront promenade lined with palm trees, cafes and tavernas, and ends in a long stretch of clean sandy beach. Enjoy a stroll along the promenade, a cool drink at any one of the charming cafes, and feel the stress of everyday life slip away....More on Sitia Makrigialos Makrigialos (alternative spellings Makrygialos, Makri Gialos, Makriyialos) is a wonderful coastal village on the south coast of the Greek Island of Crete. Close to the towns of Ierapetra and Sitia in the Lasithi region, Makrigialos is a lovely place to spend some time. Despite its small size the village of Makriyialos does offer a choice of accommodation making it a perfect place to stay for a holiday in southern Crete. The long, sandy Makrigialos Beach has a selection of hotels, studios, comfortable apartments and rooms for rent along it....More on Makrigialos Ierapetra Ierapetra (alternative spellings Irapetra, Iearapetra) is the southernmost town of Europe. It lies on the south coast of the Greek Island of Crete in the region of Lassithi and faces gloriously the Libyan Sea, It is a significant port with a majestic fortress. There are a number of brilliant beaches around the town including Achlia Beach. Ierapetra is around 36 kilometres south of Agios Nikolaos and lies southwest of Sitia. Mild winter temperatures and low rainfall together with more than 340 sunshine days a year make Ierapetra not only a tourist destination but also a lovely place to live....More on Ierapetra Matala ....More on Matala Agia Galini Plakias ....More on Plakias Loutro ....More on Loutro Sougia ....More on Sougia
Paleochora
Car Rental It’s a good idea to book your hire car in advance. During the height of the season in July and August, when demand is at its peak, booking is essential. There are many online services available for getting around in Crete by hire car. One that stands out is holidayautos.co.uk We really do recommend hiring a car to get around Crete, to enjoy your stay fully. If you're staying in one of the featured beach resorts you can easily get to the many attractions such as the centrally located Minoan settlement of Knossos and the archaeological museum at Heraklion by car. In the east you can access the Lassithi Plateau, the gogeous towns of Agios nikolaos and Sita, Vai beach and the island of Spinalonga. To the west you can get to the famous Samaria Gorge, visit Lake Kournas and the lovely harbor towns of Chania and Rethymnon along with a trip to Elafonissi Island and the Monastery of Arkadi. There are many companies that offer car hire on Crete, but we think it's a good idea to book in advance with nationally recognised companies who offer the right insurance.
To help you get around and get the most from this lovely Greek Island of Crete you'll most likely need a detailed map of Crete and a good guide book. Here is good buy:
If you love Crete then you'll love the romantic Greek island of Santorini. Visit our sister site of Simply Santorini. Com for all you'll need to know about Santorini.
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