Kamilári
Kamilari is a village above the Messara plain on the south coast of Crete, and 5 beaches lie within 7 km of it. Kamilari stands inland, looking out over the olive groves of the Messara valley towards the Libyan Sea, so the nearest sand is 2.9 km away at Kalamaki. Every beach within reach belongs to the long beachfront of Messara Bay or to the coast just south of it, which runs from Kokkinos Pirgos down past Matala.
Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport to Kamilari, and the village lies south-west of Heraklion city. People have lived at Kamilari since the Minoan era, and the village keeps its narrow streets, stone houses and courtyards, so a stay here mixes an inland base with a different beach each day.
Things to do in and around Kamilari
Six outings lie within 11 km of Kamilari, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- See the Kamilari domed tomb. The tomb lies 1.3 km from the village, which has been inhabited since the Minoan era.
- Swim at Kalamaki. The beach fronts the seaside hamlet of Kalamaki, 2.9 km away, and runs 2.5 km along Messara Bay. The stretch in front of the village has sunbeds, umbrellas, eateries, a lifeguard, a playground and water sports.
- Walk to ancient Kommos. Kommos lies 3.5 km from Kamilari and once served as the port of Phaestus, and the remains of that ancient harbour still sit on the sand.
- Spend a day at Matala. Matala, 5.8 km away, is known for the caves carved into its rock face and for the hippie community that lived in them in the 1970s. The bay is enclosed and looks out on the Paximadia islands.
- Walk over to Red Beach. Red Beach lies 6.4 km from Kamilari and 800 m south of Matala, reached on a marked trail over Kastri hill in 15 to 25 minutes or by boat from Matala harbour. Its rust-red sand comes from the local geology and there is no road to it.
- Hike the Apolychnos gorge. The gorge opens 10.5 km from the village, a few kilometres north of Mires among olive groves. It runs about 3 km from near Panagia village to the settlement of Agios Antonios, also called Vrelis, and the exit end sits beside the main road from Mires.
Beaches near Kamilari
Five beaches lie between 2.9 km and 6.4 km from Kamilari, and the whole of this coast is open to the prevailing westerly winds.
- Kalamaki sits 2.9 km away and is the closest, a 2.5 km strip of Messara Bay in front of a small seaside hamlet between Matala and Kokkinos Pirgos. A flat rock bed lies under the sand at the water’s edge, and north-west winds often raise large waves, so entry can be awkward.
- Kommos lies 3.5 km away, the southernmost and remotest end of the Messara Bay beachfront, 2 km north of Matala and close to Pitsidia. Loggerhead turtles nest here, and the seabed is rocky in places.
- Matala is 5.8 km away, where the Messara plain meets the Asterousia Mountains, the most widely known beach in the south of the Heraklion prefecture. Matala was the port of Phaestus and later a port for Gortyn under the Romans.
- Red Beach lies 6.4 km away, red sand and blue-green water 800 m south of Matala, remote and unorganised. It has no road access, so it stays quiet even in high season.
- Kokkinos Pirgos sits 6.4 km away at the port of Timbaki, a long sandy beach that runs south-east towards Kommos for several kilometres. The name comes from a tower of red soil at the mouth of the Geropotamos river.
Where to eat in Kamilari
Eating in Kamilari means village tavernas and cafés, with 2 of them inside the village and the rest within 2.5 km.
- Nm Sweet Corner sits 100 m from the centre, in the village itself.
- Slow Drop, 100 m from the centre, is a coffee house.
- Taverna Kipos is a taverna with apartments 500 m out.
- Bougainvillea Restaurant stands 2.2 km from the village.
- Taverna Agios Ioannis serves taverna cooking, 2.4 km out.
- Taverna Sigelakis lies 2.4 km from the village.
Getting to Kamilari
Drive to Kamilari from Heraklion, heading south-west across the island towards Matala. Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport to the village. Our Kalamaki page puts that beach 65 km south-west of Heraklion by road and our Matala page puts Matala at 68 km, and Kommos is signposted off the Matala road near Pitsidia.
Three neighbouring settlements sit within 6 km of the village. Pitsidia, 2.1 km away at 80 m above the sea, is reckoned the oldest village in this part of Heraklion and its name is thought to come from Pisidia in southern Asia Minor, the region the Byzantine soldiers who settled here had marched from. Timbaki lies 4.7 km away, and Matala village 5.7 km. Rooms in Kamilari itself are listed on our Kamilari village page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kamilari have a beach?
Kamilari sits inland and has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 7 km. Kalamaki, 2.9 km away, is the closest, and Matala and Red Beach are both under 7 km out.
Which is the nearest beach to Kamilari?
Kalamaki is the nearest beach to Kamilari, 2.9 km away. The part of it facing the hamlet is organised, with sunbeds, umbrellas, a lifeguard, a playground and water sports, while the stretch running south-east towards Kommos is more isolated and is a favourite with nudists.
Is the sea rough at the beaches near Kamilari?
The whole Messara Bay beachfront is exposed to the prevailing westerly winds. Kalamaki takes large waves when the north-west wind blows, and the seabed turns rocky in places at both Kalamaki and Kommos, so check the water before you walk in.
How do you get to Red Beach from Kamilari?
Drive the 5.8 km to Matala, then walk the marked trail over Kastri hill, which takes 15 to 25 minutes each way. Boats also run to the cove from Matala harbour, and there is no road to it.
What is Kamilari known for?
Kamilari is known for its Minoan past and its traditional architecture. The village has been inhabited since the Minoan era, its domed tomb stands 1.3 km away, and the nearby community of Metohi was home to Epimenidis, counted among the seven wise men of the ancient world.
Which airport is nearest to Kamilari?
Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport to Kamilari. The village lies south-west of Heraklion city, on the southern side of the island above the Messara plain.
Location
Kamilári is located at Kamilári, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
