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Agia Paraskevi
Hidden away on the south coast between Agia Galini and Moni Preveli and a good 2 hours drive from Chania Airport, the tiny hamlet of Agia Paraskevi, stands high on the hillside looking over the Lybian Sea. Virtually abandoned for 25 years, the village has over the past decade been slowly restored and brought back to life and now provides the setting for a unique holiday experience and the ultimate place to unwind ...More about Agia Paraskevi >> |
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Almirida/Plaka 
22 km east of Chania, the pretty little seaside village of Almirida has two gently shelving sandy beaches fringed by sleepy waterside tavernas as well as a small fishing harbour and little rocky coves, with the sea a marvellous melange of colours from deep aquamarine to a pastel turquoise. A decade ago Almirida was just a fishing village and a weekend watering hole for locals from Chania. Times change of course and Almirida has grown with a number of villas, apartments and a few hotels. Curiously enough though, the Greeks still come at weekends, the fishermen still fish and the waterside tavernas still have a laid back unhurried atmosphere where you can sit for hours lingering over a meal. ...More about Almirida >> |
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Armeni
The charming village of Armeni is notable for its large shady plain trees lining the main street where you will find a choice of simple cafenions and three excellent tavernas. There is also a small mini -market and a well stocked delicatessen with wonderful local cheeses, yoghurt and charcuterie. Fresh bread is delivered to the cafenion every morning ...More about Armeni >> |
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Chania
The focal point of Western Crete is the handsome town of Chania with its bustling covered market, fascinating old quarter steeped in history and the remarkable, picturesque Venetian harbour where dining by night at one of the many tavernas and soaking up the almost mediaeval atmosphere is an unforgettable experience. Beyond the harbour is a good sandy beach fringed by some excellent fish tavernas. Chania is an ideal centre from which to explore Western Crete and to walk the famous Samaria Gorge. ...More about Chania >> |
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Douliana
20km east of Chania with truly spectacular views of Crete's White Mountains, this idyllic little village perched atop a hill overlooking Souda Bay is surrounded by olive groves and terraced farmland criss-crossed by drystone walls and ancient Byzantine donkey paths. ...More about Douliana >>
Gavalochori
In the centre of the scenic Apokoronou Peninsular, 3.5 km inland from Almirida and at the end of a green and wooded valley leading down to the sea, the beguiling little village of Gavalochori has enjoyed something of a renaissance over the past 10 years. This is in part thanks to a woman's co-operative where they make and sell local handicrafts such as lace and silk products. Many of the houses have been renovated in traditional fashion and the village has a pleasant air of both rural charm and posperity ...More about Gavalochori >> |
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Georgioupolis / Vrisses
Although Georgioupolis with its sandy beaches is now a thriving seaside resort it still retains a pleasing rural ambience and leisurely pace of life. Numerous tavernas and cafes surround the bustling village square whilst in little side streets you will find a number of small shops. In Vrisses, huge Plane trees line the road where you will find mini-markets, a bank and a bakery (do try the cheese pies). ...More about Georgioupolis / Vrisses >> |
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Kalamaki
5 kilometres west of Chania, this small resort boasts a number of sheltered sandy beaches. There are a number of small local supermarkets as well as numerous tavernas scattered along the beach. ...More about Kalamaki >> |
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Kalives
18 km east of Chania and strung along the edge of Souda Bay, Kalives is still very much a Greek village that has taken tourism in its stride and the bustling main street reflects the status quo with local shops, mini markets, tavernas and cafes happily doing business with all and sundry. ...More about Kalives >> |
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Kefali
Kefali stands at the head of the beautiful Vathi valley leading down to both the legendary monastery of Chrissoskalitisa and the beaches of Elafonisi where the sand is tinged pink at the waters edge by coral fragments and a wade across the shallow blue lagoon brings you to a desert island of spectacular sand dunes and rock formations. ...More about Kefali >> |
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Kerames
Turning off the road after passing through Spili, you are entering a different world. As you wind towards the coast, first climbing upward towards the tiny village of Akounda, with its wonderful old wash house hidden away amongst its tiny streets, followed , Ardaktos then turning and winding before you cross over the ridge and catch site of the Libyan sea stretching below. Then begins the downward stretch of the journey, passing through more tiny villages where life continues in much the same way as it has for centuries, then at last, Kerames balancing on the hillside. ...More about Kerames >> |
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Loutro
Tiny, blue-shuttered whitewashed houses, nestling beside a sapphire and turquoise sea. Sleepy waterside tavernas with rugged mountain backdrops, the gentle tinkling of goat bells and a sense of timelessness and peace. Set around a sheltered bay, with its pebbled beach disappearing into crystal clear water, Loutro has the somewhat unique attraction of no roads, no cars and just the odd donkey. ...More about Loutro >> |
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Maleme
16 km west of Chania, this very fertile corner of Crete was famously the setting for the epic Battle of Crete in the last world war. Today the countryside is dominated by sweet smelling orange groves and whispering plantations of bamboo which fringe the mile upon mile of almost deserted pebbly beaches.. ...More about Maleme >> |
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Megala Horafia
Some 12 km from Chania and perched atop a thyme-covered hillside overlooking the islands of Souda Bay the hamlet of Megala Horafia, boasts a church or two, plus a local kafenion, 3 tavernas and a thriving economy based on sheep and honey! The panoramic views of the distant mountains are quite remarkable. ...More about Megala Horafia >> |
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Nopigia
This little village, slightly rough around the edges in a typical Greek fashion, is the perfect place for those amongst us, who enjoy the quiet life and a drink in the evening with the local fishermen, combined with days exploring the utterly unspoilt surrounding countryside. One of Nopigia's best kept secrets, is that although the beach itself is most definitely pebbly, as you enter the water your grateful feet will find soft, luxuriant sand, gently shelving out to sea for as far as you can walk. ...More about Nopigia >> |
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Palekastron
One of our discoveries many years ago now, this unsophisticated little Cretan village, 25 km east of Sitia, has been relatively unaffected by the inroads of tourism despite its superb nearby beaches. Nevertheless, with the advent of the Marina Village Hotel, changes slowly took place and today the village boasts a number of small pensions, almost a dozen tavernas and a couple of lively bars. ...More about Palekastron >> |
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Paleohora
Known as the jewel of the Libyan Sea this laid back village stands on a promontory fringed on one side by a long sandy beach, whilst on the other side a pretty harbour borders a pebble beach that stretches off into the wild blue yonder. ...More about Paleohora >> |
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Platanias
11 km West of Chania, Platanyas is the major village of the area with two banks and numerous shops and cafes strung along the bustling coast road. Here you will find superb home grown fruit and vegetables and a real Greek butcher as well as a baker and probably, there's a candlestick maker somewhere? ...More about Platanias >> |
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Sfinari
17km from Kastelli, betwixt the rugged mountains and the endless blue sea, on the western tip of Crete, Sfinari nestled in the olive green hillsides, a haphazard scattering of white houses ...More about Sfinari >> |
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Spilia
A thirty minute drive west of Chania, Spilia is one of many small and timeless Cretan villages happily set back just far enough from the coast road to remain virtually untouched by tourism. It nevertheless gets a mention in some guide books for its impressive church, Panagia Mertiotissa. ...More about Spilia >>
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Stalos
7 km west of Chania, the village of Lower Stalos fringes a long, sandy beach with the island of Theodorou, said to be a petrified sea monster, rising from the sea just a short distance off shore. 1km inland the small village of Upper Stalos nestles serenely on the hillside amidst a patchwork of vineyards and olive groves. Here you will find a slower pace of life as well as a couple of the best local tavernas in the area. ...More about Stalos >> |
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Tavronitis
30 km west of Chania, the village of Tavronitis stands at the point where the north coast road sends an exploratory spur southwards to Paleohora. Tourism still remains pretty low key and the village retains an authentic ambience with particularly friendly shopkeepers delighted to have the opportunity to practise their English. ...More about Tavronitis >> |
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Topolia
Tumbling down one side of the valley just below the entrance to the impressive Topolia Gorge, the village straddles the road that runs south to Paleochora or west to Elafonisi and is remarkably pretty with its church and steeple and myriad white houses, set against the green of the valley. ...More about Topolia >>
Vamos
At the centre of the leafy Apokoronou peninsular, there is good walking in the area following byways from unspoilt village to unspoilt village and even down to the coast. Within a radius of 11 kms are some of the prettiest beach resorts of the
North West coast, including Kalives, Almerida and Georgioupolis. Inland, Vrisses and the foot hills of the
White Mountains. ...More about Vamos>> |
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Varipetro
If you would like to stay somewhere within striking distance of Chania and are looking for peace and quiet in a Cretan Garden of Eden with Noahs Ark thrown in for good measure, then this is just you've been looking for. 500m from the tiny village of Varipetro and reached by a track through olive groves ...More about Varipetro >> |
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