Towns & Villages

Ammoudara: 4km west of Iraklio is popular resort for tourists and Cretans alike, with a long sandy beach, good nightlife, eating establishments and hotels to entice them.

Ano Viannos: situated about 60km south from Iraklio, this village on the slopes of Mt. Dikti is charming with steep lanes shaded by trees and lined with flowers. It has a local Museum of Folklore that has displays of costumes, musical instruments and old presses for olive oil. In the local Church of Agia Pelagia , frescos in adorn the wall. It is a strenuous walk up to the church but worth it. Wonderful views over can be enjoyed from the top of the village.

Arhanes: situated 16km south from the capital, Arhanes is in the largest grape growing district in Greece and noted for its wine. Archaeologists think that a Minoan palace or a large villa lays buried under the house of the town, due to archaeological finds in the area. The town has a good archaeological museum where artefacts from the sites at, Fourni about 1km northwest of the town, where “Larnakes” (coffins), and musical instruments were found, also from Anemospillia, which was a sacrificial site, here bulls were sacrificed and also humans. A skeleton of a young man, found with a knife in his chest, also the bodies of a man and women, presumably a priest and priestess have been unearthed.

Arvi: this villageis for those who seek tranquillity and like to watch bananas grow. A few tourists find there way her in July and August, a pebbly/sandy beach lies along the side of the main road. For those needing a bit of exercise, a fifteen-minute walk takes you to the Monastery of Agiou Androniou.

Hersonisos: also on the north coast west of Malia, and like Malia is a thriving and hectic summer resort, with all the amenities the package tourist want. A long sandy beach that gets very busy, nightlife galore, a host of bars and restaurants also organised tours to the major archaeological sites on the island. Here is Aqua Splash Water Park , with a variety of pools and water slides to keep children of all ages happy. The museum of Rural life has on display, a range of old agricultural artefacts plus and an oil mill to show you what is like before the introduction of modern farming methods. The Cretan open air museum also has exhibits from Cretan history

Kalamaki: this village is slowly becoming a tourist resort, due the kilometres of beach either side of the village; along the beachfront are some decent tavernas.

Kamilari: is an ideal place to get away from the hectic life on the beaches. This charming village situated in the hills, in a field nearby is a Minoan Tomb from 1900 BC. Models made from clay showing funeral rites are now on show in the Archaeological Museum in Iraklio.

Lendas: drivingsouth from Gortys a road that offers wonderful scenery over the hills, plains and the Libyan Sea , you come to the village of Lendas . Tourism has arrived at Lendas, but it has not taken control, and the village retains some of its old world charm. The archaeological site of Lebena is just outside the village, once a health spa for the Romans, today only a couple of columns from a temple and a mosaic floor remain visible.

Malia: On the north, coastis a full-blown tourist resort, with a plethora of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Not the place for a quiet relaxing holiday though the south side of the town (Old Malia) is quieter, but if you like, the hectic lifestyle then Malia is ideal. The town has lots to offer the fun loving tourist; water sports a long sandy beach for sun bathing and other activities and tours to the surrounding villages that offer breathing space from the hectic lifestyle.

Matala: was in ancient times a port for the cities of Gortys and Phaestos. Today it is a busy summer resort, with a beautiful 200m long beach with a fringe of pine trees, to the north of the beach steep cliffs, with rows of caves whose origins are lost in the mists of time. Archaeologists think they were a burial site from a time long forgotten. During the 1960s, the caves were a popular hang out for hippies, until the smell of unwashed bodies and hash forced the local council to fence off the area, today you can visit the caves only during the day. There is a less crowed beach at Kokkini Ammos, but do not be shocked if you see some nudists sunbathing.

Vathypetro Villa: 5km south of Arhanes, this Minoan villa from 1600 BC belonged to a wealthy man. On the site are several storerooms were looms and wine making equipment were discovered.

Vori: this is a charming village with its whitewashed houses surrounding the main square. A Museum of Ethnology , in the village has an interesting display of Cretan flora and fauna along with diverse farming tools, weavings and woodcarvings.

Zaros: this traditional town famous for its spring water lies 46km south of Iraklio. The area, settled since Minoan period and the water supplied the Roman city of Gortnya . There are several monasteries and small hamlets in the hills around the town. Moni Agiou Nikolaou, west from the town is still the home to several monks, and further along the road is Moni Agiou Andoniou Vrondisiou with its 16 th century fountain and frescos from the 14 th century.