Kalamaki

Kalamaki is an organised sandy beach 6 km west of Chania, on the north coast of western Crete. Kalamaki serves as the beachfront extension of Galatas village, which sits in a fertile plain of citrus and olive groves and once lived on farming before tourism took over the local economy. The beach marks the western end of a long stretch of sand that begins 1 km eastwards at Agii Apostoli.

Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Kalamaki suits a visitor who wants a full-service beach 6 km from a city, with fine sand, gentle water and 6 more beaches within 4 km.

Things to do at and around Kalamaki

6 outings sit within 10 km of Kalamaki, listed below from nearest to furthest.

1. Swim off the main sand. Kalamaki beach is organised along its length, and a tiny secluded cove sits next to its western edge for anyone who wants to be away from the loungers.
2. Walk east to Glaros. Glaros beach, 1 km away in the Makris Tihos area, is the coastal front of Kato Daratsos village and carries fine sand and a stand of tamarisk trees that give shade without a sunbed. Glaros is flanked by Kalamaki on its western side and by the Agii Apostoli beaches on its east.
3. Shelter at Agii Apostoli when the north wind blows. The 2 beaches of Agii Apostoli, 1.7 km away, are shielded by a small peninsula that also holds a park and the chapel of the Holy Apostles. The second cove is semicircular, with green-hued water, fine sand and rock formations at either side.
4. Spend a day at Chrissi Akti. Chrissi Akti, or Golden Beach, lies 2.4 km away in the Daratso area of Kydonia and takes its name from its fine golden sand. The water is shallow and clear, it stays calm on most days, and the beach holds a Blue Flag.
5. Explore Chania old town. The city 6 km east keeps its Venetian and Turkish monuments, its harbour and its lighthouse, and the old town of winding streets is the core of it. Chania is the capital of the Chania prefecture and the second most populated city on Crete.
6. Drive the Therisso Gorge. The canyon, also named after Eleftherios Venizelos, runs 6 km between vertical cliffs and heavy greenery and is accessible by car. Pair the drive with Therisso village at the foot of the White Mountains, 15 km from Chania, where just over 100 people live and whose inhabitants shaped modern Cretan history.

Kalamaki beach

Kalamaki beach is a well-equipped beach of fine sand with gentle water. Kalamaki carries beach umbrellas, showers, lifeguard cover, accommodation, dining, beach bars and water sports, so a day here needs nothing brought in. The shoreline forms the western end of the long beach that starts at Agii Apostoli 1 km east, so the sand runs on towards Chania.

The resort behind the sand is the seafront of Galatas, a village of the citrus and olive plain that now lives on tourism rather than on its groves.

Beaches near Kalamaki

6 beaches lie within 4 km of Kalamaki, strung along the coast west of Chania.

• Glaros lies 1 km east, fine sand with tamarisk shade, 5 km west of Chania and open to the north wind.
• Stalos sits 1.4 km west, 7 km from Chania between Kalamaki and Agia Marina, a sandy and well-equipped beach that takes a Blue Flag each year. Pano Stalos, the traditional village 150 m to the south, sits among green hills and rock formations.
• Agii Apostoli follows 1.7 km east, 2 beaches 3 km west of Chania with soft sand, full amenities and ample parking.
• Chrissi Akti opens 2.4 km east, an organised Blue Flag beach of golden sand, about 2.5 km west of Chania.
• Agia Marina runs 3.1 km west, the next beach along the coast beyond Stalos.
• Nea Chora closes the run 3.8 km east, the last of the 6 before Chania.

Where to eat at Kalamaki

Eating at Kalamaki happens on or just behind the beach, with the nearest tables 100 m from the sand.

• Restaurant Porto Kalamaki stands 100 m from the beach.
• Salavantes Garden Restaurant & Bar sits 300 m back.
• Virage Café & Bar is 400 m away.
• Siroccos Restaurant lies 1.1 km off.
• Golden Bay Bar Restaurant follows at 1.2 km.

Getting to Kalamaki

Kalamaki is reached from the coast west of Chania, with the city 6 km east of the beach. The resort strip of Kato Daratso lies between the two, less than 4 km west of Chania town, on the shore of the inland village of Daratsos and part of the Nea Kydonia municipal unit.

Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Kalamaki. Proximity to the city is what fills this coast: Glaros beach next door is popular for exactly that reason, and Chrissi Akti, 2.4 km east, is an easy trip from the city centre by road or on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Kalamaki beach in Crete?

Kalamaki beach lies 6 km west of Chania city, on the north coast of western Crete. The beach is the seafront of Galatas village and belongs to the run of resort beaches west of the city.

Is Kalamaki beach organised?

Kalamaki beach is fully organised. Beach umbrellas, showers, lifeguard cover, accommodation, dining, beach bars and water sports all sit on the front, and a small secluded cove at the western edge gives an alternative to the loungers.

Which Kalamaki is this?

This is the Kalamaki in the Chania region, 6 km west of Chania city. The beach stands next to Galatas and Kato Daratso, with Stalos 1.4 km west and Glaros 1 km east.

What is the sand like at Kalamaki?

Kalamaki has fine sand and gentle water. The beach forms the western end of a sandy stretch that begins 1 km east at Agii Apostoli.

Where can you go when the north wind picks up?

Move east to the Agii Apostoli bays, 1.7 km away. A small peninsula shelters them from the north wind, which is the reason people leave the open beaches at Glaros and Kalamaki when the waves build.

Can you walk a gorge from Kalamaki?

2 gorges sit inland from Kalamaki, the Cyclamen Gorge and the Therisso Gorge. The Cyclamen Gorge drops from the Aletrouvari settlement at 300 m to Vandes at 50 m on the northern slopes of the White Mountains, takes about 2 hours from Aletrouvari or 1 hour from Agios Georgios, and is not a route for a first-time hiker.