Anissarás
Anissaras is a coastal resort on the north coast of Crete, about 2 km west of Hersonissos in the Heraklion region. Anissaras sits west of Cape Sarandaris and 21 km east of Heraklion, and large hotels, most of them all-inclusive, take up nearly all of its frontage. Small sandy beaches with rocky seabeds line the shore in front of those hotels, each with umbrellas and sunbeds that go mainly to hotel guests.
Heraklion airport lies 18.2 km west of the resort. Anissaras works as a quiet hotel strip beside a busy one, with the shops, eateries and nightlife of Hersonissos 2 km east, and a shoreline whose rocky seabed draws snorkellers, though regular waves can make plain swimming harder.
Things to do in Anissaras
Six outings sit within 7 km of the resort, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Snorkel over the rocks. The seabed in front of the hotels is rocky along most of the front, 500 m from the resort centre, and the Anissaras beaches page sets out which strips are sandiest.
- Dive from the Sarandaris dock. A concrete dock on the rocky western side of Cape Sarandaris suits diving, 600 m away beside the St George Sarandaris chapel, and a staircase drops from there to a sunbathing spot; the Sarandaris coves page covers the whole run.
- Walk into Hersonissos. The resort town 2.2 km east is one of the island’s busier holiday bases, with beaches by day and entertainment every evening, as the Hersonissos guide describes.
- Visit the Lychnostatis Folklore Museum. The museum stands 4.3 km east, beside the coves running from Hersonissos port to Drapanos Cape that the Drapanos beaches page covers.
- Hike the Aposelemis gorge. The Aposelemis canyon is the longest in the northern part of the Heraklion prefecture, lies 5.7 km away and ends at the settlement of Agriana near Hersonissos, between imposing vertical walls.
- Drive along to Stalis. The resort of Stalis lies 6.3 km east, built along a single coastal road, and its name comes from the Greek verb stalizo, a place of rest, after the shepherds who once stopped there.
About Anissaras and its setting
Anissaras is a resort rather than an old Cretan village, and the hotels define its shape. Anissaras has one coastal road, which begins at the Analipsi end of the shore and stops before the large hotel complex, so the place reads as a strip rather than a settlement with a centre.
Two older places sit on either side. Analipsi, 2.9 km west, is a village named after the Ascension of Christ church and set in a fertile valley of olive groves. It was called Svourou Metohi in the early 20th century, after the Turks who owned land there, and after Crete’s liberation from the Ottomans it passed to the shepherds of Agios Georgios in the Lasithi Plateau as winter grazing. Hersonissos, 2.2 km east, keeps three traditional villages behind its resort centre: Piskopiano, Koutouloufari and Old Hersonissos.
Beaches in and around Anissaras
Anissaras beaches are small sandy strips in front of the hotels, and their seabeds are generally rocky, which makes them popular with snorkellers. Regular waves can pose a challenge, so swimmers after sheltered water head to the coves under Cape Sarandaris. The beach nearest Analipsi is the longest in the area and notably sandier than the rest.
- Sarandaris coves lie 600 m east, also known as Limanakia, running from Cape Sarandaris to Hersonissos harbour. The cape shields them from the strong north-west winds, so the water stays calm, and the rocky seabed suits swimming and snorkelling.
- Hersonissos sits 2.3 km east, known for calm seas that are a rarity on this northern coast because of the prevailing northern winds. The quietest stretches lie west of the port under Cape Sarandaris, while the busiest and most organised sit east of it.
- Analipsi is 2.9 km west, the shore of a village that stays less touristy and more peaceful than the resorts on either side of it.
- Drapanos lies 4.3 km east, a run of coves that starts 2 km from Hersonissos port and reaches Drapanos Cape. Star Beach is the liveliest of them and one of the island’s busiest spots, while the small sandy and pebbly coves further east stay quiet, some of them cooled by freshwater springs in the sea.
Where to eat in Anissaras
Eating in Anissaras means a cluster of restaurants and bars within a kilometre of the resort centre, most of them close to the hotel strip.
- The Green Cafe Bar Restaurant sits 100 m from the centre.
- Yamanis is 300 m out.
- Saradari Restaurant lies 400 m out, towards the cape.
- The Big Blue sits 400 m from the centre.
- Cretan Tavern serves Cretan taverna cooking, 700 m out.
- Ya Seafood Restaurant serves seafood, 1 km out.
Getting to Anissaras
Follow the Anissaras coastal road, which starts at the Analipsi end of the shore and runs along the coast to the large hotel complex. Hersonissos lies 2 km east and holds the nearest shops and port, Heraklion 21.4 km west and Agios Nikolaos 34.4 km east.
Heraklion airport sits 18.2 km west of Anissaras on the same coast road. Stalis is 6.3 km east and lies about 3 km from both Hersonissos and Malia, so the resort belt is reachable without a long drive.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Anissaras in Crete?
Anissaras lies on the north coast of Crete, about 2 km west of Hersonissos and 21 km east of Heraklion. The resort sits immediately west of Cape Sarandaris, inside the Heraklion region.
What are the beaches at Anissaras like?
Anissaras beaches are small sandy strips with rocky seabeds, set in front of the hotels. Umbrellas and sunbeds are laid out along them and go mainly to hotel guests, and the rock underwater makes the shore popular with snorkellers.
How far is Anissaras from Heraklion airport?
Heraklion airport is 18.2 km west of Anissaras. Heraklion city lies 21.4 km west and Agios Nikolaos 34.4 km east.
How far is Anissaras from Hersonissos?
Hersonissos centre is 2.2 km east of Anissaras along the coast. The resort town carries the shops, eateries and nightlife, and three traditional villages stand behind it.
Where is the calmest swimming near Anissaras?
The Sarandaris coves, 600 m east, hold the calmest water nearby. Cape Sarandaris blocks the strong north-west winds that reach the open beaches, and the coves run from the cape along to Hersonissos harbour.
Location
Anissarás is located at Anissarás, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
