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The Karteros Bay, situated at the exit of the synonymous Karteros Gorge, lies 7km east of Heraklion and stretches 3.5km to the east. It pays homage to the Byzantine General, Krateros, who in 824AC attempted to liberate Crete from the Saracens by landing his ships on the bay’s beach, but unfortunately, he was defeated. The bay encompasses two villages, Karteros and Amnissos, which have now merged due to the area’s rapid evolution. The area’s development can be attributed to its proximity to Heraklion and the presence of an exquisite beachfront featuring fine golden sand.
You’ll find numerous hotels, eateries, and beach bars in close proximity to the bay. Karteros Bay is exposed to the northern winds, and as a result, the water tends to be wavy. The water is shallow with almost no rocks, except for a few areas. The least crowded part of the beach is situated next to the “Nikos Kazantzakis” airport, 7km west of Heraklion, known as Florida. This part got its name from an old tavern that no longer exists and is the most serene of all the beaches. Compared to the easternmost beaches, Florida has fewer umbrellas and facilities. The river from the Karteros Gorge empties into Florida, creating a small wetland on the beach, which dries up during the summer. It’s certainly worth a visit, especially in the spring.
While in Florida, you should stop by the old Church of St. John and St. Nikon Metanoite, constructed within a large cave. Moreover, don’t be startled if you spot horses on the beach as it’s home to the Heraklion Riding Club.
Karteros beach lies 7km east of Heraklion, Crete.
Yes, Karteros beach is suitable for swimming. However, it is important to pay attention to the water conditions and any warning signs.
Yes, there are water sports activities available at Karteros beach, including jet skiing, parasailing, and windsurfing.
Yes, the town of Karteros is located near the Karteros beach and offers a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Yes, Karteros beach is family-friendly and offers a variety of activities for children, including a playground and shallow waters for swimming.
Yes, there is a parking area available at Karteros beach for visitors.
Unfortunately, Karteros beach is not fully accessible for people with disabilities due to the uneven terrain and lack of facilities.
The water colour of the Karteros beach is blue.
The Karteros beach has sand as its sand type.
The water at the Karteros beach is shallow.
The sea surface at the Karteros beach is usually wavy.
The Karteros beach has normal crowds.
The Karteros beach has accommodation options, food/water nearby, umbrellas/beds, sports, lifeguard, and showers.
The Karteros beach can be accessed through bus services and a paved road.
No other information is available about the Karteros beach.
Find below list of things to do near Karteros beach:
Every day we organize safari with Quad, Buggy1000cc, Monster800cc and Jeep.
Our adventure starts in the small village of Karteros, where we will have a 30-minute briefing on safety and instructions on operating ATVs.
(Only Quad ) We start by passing a deep stream at the end of which we will come across a cave of historical importance, where we will stop for a while.
(Only Jeep & Buggy) Our next stop will be in the forest near the church of St. Irene, where we will visit the old church and enjoy the countryside.
***The route is subject to change due to unfore seen circumstances
(Only Quad )Τhen we will climb to the highest hill in the area where we will enjoy the panoramic view of the area of Heraklion.
Αnd we return through the village of Passa in the direction of Karteros gorge.
(Only Jeep & Buggy)We will continue to the Mt. Juktas Ecological Park in Archanes, an extraordinary archaeological site of Fourni where we will see the Municipal Contemporary Theater and enjoy the panoramic views.
***The route is subject to change due to unfore seen circumstances
After we will continue our route and explore the Gorge of Karteros. All the way through our journey we will have the opportunity to take photos of some of Crete’s most amazing scenery, and our guide will share information about each location we visit.
We’ll have lunch at an Greek tavern.
To finish our adventure, we will make our last stop at Karteros beach for a swim (if the weather is good).
Note: the remaining time is for the round tour.
Choose the pick up and the dropp off point based on your needs.
Τhe fleet of our company consists of premium class cars and serves the entire island of Crete every day. if the point you receive or the point of delivery is not shown in our price list, contact the service department of our company to receive an offer.
Website : www.groundtransportationservices.gr
Email : gtscrete@gmail.com
Our company is based in Crete and provides a wide variety of ground transportation services throughout the island while being the most reliable partner for every incoming visitor or travel agent. Our highly trained staff as well as our remarkable fleet are available to satisfy even the most demanding guests with responsibility,comfort and safety.
Play your way through the city of Heraklion as Sherlock Holmes with this self-guided tour for your smartphone. See the sights in a fun and interactive way while walking around the city. All you need is a phone with an internet connection.
Book the game and be sent you all the information you need via email. Explore the city, unlocking assignments and finding characters who are willing to help. But the information comes at the price of solve their puzzles, taking on photo challenges, and chasing down culprits.
Get closer to solving the murder of Balthazar while bonding with friends and family. See the sights with freedom and flexibility with a tour you can stop and resume along the way. Have the option to play with other groups to have a more competitive experience that is perfect as a teambuilding activity.
Enjoy a roundtrip tour to Santorini. Travel comfortably on a modern boat and in air-conditioned buses while learning about this island’s history and mythology. Capture pictures of Santorini’s famous Aegean architecture and narrow, winding streets.
Travel to Heraklion port where you will depart on a high-speed boat for Santorini. Enjoy ocean views on the 2.5-hour cruise to the island and pickup a snack from the bar onboard.
Arrive at Port Athinios and hop aboard the bus for the guided tour. Travel 40 minutes to Oia, where you will admire the blue and white houses built over the cliffs. Learn about the city before enjoying free time to admire the volcanic caldera at your own pace.
Next, travel 30 minutes to Fira, the main town of Santorini, built on the edge of a 300-meter cliff. Check out its narrow streets, white vaulted houses, and bright blue domes.
Have the option to take a cruise from Fira in a wooden boat to the volcano and hot springs (for an additional charge) or spend more time exploring the city. Return to Port Athinios where your guide will help you board the return ferry.
Take in the late-afternoon views on the boat before arriving at Heraklion port.
Experience the world-famous island of Santorini on this day trip from Heraklion. Admire the views from a height of 1,312 feet at the town of Fira and be enchanted by the glamourous streets of Oia. Dive into the sights along the way with the help of your guide.
Be picked up from several conveniently-located meeting points on Heraklion and sit back and relax in a climate-controlled bus on the drive to the port of Heraklion. Hop aboard a spacious boat and take in sea views on the 2-hour ferry ride to port of Athinios in Santorini.
Take a bus to the picturesque Fira, which is a town of whitewashed houses built on the edge of the island’s towering caldera, there you will have free time of about 1,5 hour to explore the area. Head to the town of Oia, the most breathtaking village on Santorini which attracts thousands during the sun set. You will have free time there as well , about 1,5 hour , to admire the breathtaking view and explore the area
Having finished this exquisite excursion, be transported back to the port of Athinios and sail back to Heraklion while reflecting on your unforgettable trip.
Experience an evening of live entertainment, taste traditional Cretan food, and take part in local produce workshops on this lively excursion.
Begin your outing by visiting a farm in Sissi Village. Head to an 18th-century olive oil mill and learn about the award-winning mill’s family history. Then head to a honey workshop and see the local honey-making process and learn about bees’ activities.
Taste the famous alcoholic beverage called Raki. Learn more about how it is produced and discover the ritual deeply rooted in Cretan Culture.
Delight in learning about homemade Olive Oil soap and hearing about its health benefits for the skin. Have the chance to purchase high-quality local produce directly from the seller after tasting or learning about them.
Later on, begin your gastronomical adventure with a wine tasting. Sip on outstanding wines from local Cretan grape varieties and taste distinct flavors. Learn all about the wine’s production, which dates back to the ancient Minoan Civilization.
Tuck into a delicious homemade Cretan meal cooked in a wood-fired oven. Enjoy seasonal greens, fava beans, and salad from the owner’s garden accompanied by a wide variety of appetizers and french fries.
Finally, appreciate live entertainment and spend a joyful night like a Cretan, dance to Greek rhythms, hear a wonderful orchestra, and see traditional dancing.
Head back to the bus for your journey back to your accommodation.
Find below the list of hotels near Karteros beach:
Set in Karteros, a few steps from Karteros Beach, Pnoe Breathing Life – Adults Only offers accommodation with a fitness centre, free private parking, a garden and a restaurant. This 5-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. The property is allergy-free and is situated 1 km from Amnissos Beach.
The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a coffee machine, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with a shower. At Pnoe Breathing Life – Adults Only all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.
Continental and American breakfast options are available every morning at the accommodation.
There is an on-site bar and guests can also make use of the business area.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum is 8.1 km from Pnoe Breathing Life – Adults Only, while Venetian Walls is 8.7 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 2 km from the hotel.
from
€543
/night
Quietly located in a 9,000 m2 plot, in Karteros Village, BlueGreen Villa features a 75-m2 outdoor pool with hydromassage jets, 2 furnished terraces with mountain view and BBQ facilities. Free WiFi and on-site parking are also included. Heraklion City is 5 km away.
Divided in 2 levels, the lower level includes a seating area, 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and a storage room. The upper level has a spacious living room with dining area and fireplace, 3 more bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.
This villa comes with a separate air-condition unit in every room. Flat-screen Tv with satellite channels in all bedrooms. For your convenience, you will also find a washing machine, a dishwasher and coffee maker for espresso and filter coffee.Towels are provided.
Organised beaches, a mini market and horse riding facilities can be found at a distance of 700 metres from BlueGreen Villa. Heraklio Airport lies 3 km away, while the archaeological site of Knossos 4.5 km away. There is also an aquarium at 8 km and a golf course 17 km away.
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, sea view and a patio, Sea view villa with private pool close to the beach is set in Karteros. This beachfront property offers access to a terrace and free private parking.
The villa is located on the ground floor and has 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, an oven, a washing machine, a microwave and a toaster. Towels and bed linen are offered in the villa.
The villa offers a hot tub. Guests can relax in the garden at the property.
Amnissos Beach is 700 metres from Sea view villa with private pool close to the beach, while Karteros Beach is less than 1 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 2 km from the accommodation.
from
€371
/night
Offering free WiFi and sea views, Luxury Villa Karteros is an accommodation set in Karteros. This villa features air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony.
The villa with a patio and pool views features a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, and a bathroom with a hot tub.
The property has a hot tub and a fitness centre. An outdoor swimming pool is available for guests to use at the villa.
Heraklio Town is 5 km from Luxury Villa Karteros.
Located in Karteros and only less than 1 km from Amnissos Beach, United blue Resorts – Blue view provides accommodation with mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking. The property was built in 2020 and has air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony.
The villa with a terrace and sea views features 2 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a toaster, and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower. Towels and bed linen are provided in the villa.
Staff at the villa are available to provide guidance at the 24-hour front desk.
Guests can relax in the garden at the property.
Karteros Beach is 1.1 km from United blue Resorts – Blue view, while Heraklion Archaeological Museum is 8.7 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 2 km from the accommodation.
Right on its private area of Amnisos Beach with free sun loungers, Unique Blue! Resort and Villas Adults Only features an outdoor pool. Facilities include a fitness room with hammam. Free Wi-Fi is provided.
Bright and spacious, all air-conditioned rooms open to a balcony with views over the Cretan Sea or the hotel’s garden. Each includes a mini fridge and TV with satellite channels. The private bathroom is fitted with bathrobes, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Enjoying panoramic views of the Cretan Sea, the main restaurant of Unique Blue! Resort and Villas Adults Only serves Greek and international dishes in buffet style. Drinks and snacks are prepared at the beach bar.
For leisure moments, there is a games room with billiards. Small gifts and the essentials can be found at the on-site mini market.
Unique Blue! Resort and Villas Adults Only is located 5 km from Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport and 7 km from the city of Heraklion. Free, private parking is provided on site.
Find below list of beaches near Karteros beach:
Situated 15km east of Heraklion lies the well-liked tourist resort of Vathianos Kambos. It derives its name from the nearby village of Vathia, found just a few kilometers to the south. The region is known for the Vathianos River that drains into the area and dries up during the summer. It is characterized by several contiguous bays with golden sands and shallow waters. Due to its north-facing beach front, the area experiences regular wave activity in the months of July and August, leading to the construction of numerous small piers that help to break the waves, retain the sand, and safeguard swimmers.
The most developed beach of Heraklion is found in the westernmost part of Vathianos Kambos, within the Estavromenos settlement. It is widely recognized as Arina, named after a local hotel. This extensive sandy beach attracts thousands of locals who flock there daily for a swim. The beach is teeming with umbrellas, bustling beach bars, and offers a plethora of beach sports options.
Moving east of Arina, you’ll come across the small bay of Agii Theodori. Here, you can still find the carved Minoan shipyard visible in the sea. Further on, you’ll encounter the successive coves of Vathianos Kambos, hidden from the main road due to the hotels interspersed between them. These bays are somewhat protected due to the presence of small piers. Only a handful of locals are privy to these secluded beaches, which extend all the way to Kokkini Hani.
Situated 15km west of Heraklion and to the west of Vathianos Kambos, Kokkini Hani is a thriving resort, nestled amidst numerous crops grown in the region’s fertile plain. Its name, meaning “Kokkinis’s Inn,” harks back to the early 1900s when an inn run by a man named Kokkinis provided a resting place for weary travellers en route to Heraklion.
The resort boasts numerous beaches, safeguarded by artificial mini piers. Characterized by sandy shores and shallow turquoise waters, these beaches, though located in front of hotels, are open for public access. The resort is replete with shops and restaurants, and the beaches are well-equipped with umbrellas, lifeguards, and water sports facilities, providing all the necessary tourist infrastructure. In comparison to Malia and Hersonissos, Kokkini Hani’s nightlife is rather subdued.
Close to Vathianos Kambos, on Kokkini’s eastern side and near the coast, lies the small archaeological site of Niros Villa. This mansion from the Late Minoan Times served as the dwelling of a high-ranking Minoan priest, presumably overseeing the local Minoan harbour. Open to the public, this site offers visitors a glimpse of the architecture of a Minoan religious structure from 4000 years ago. Excavations at the villa have unearthed several large bronze axes – the emblem of the Minoans, along with jars, offering tables bearing raw clay, and a host of other smaller artefacts.
Located 16km east of Heraklion, between Kokkini Hani and Kato Gouves, lies the tourist resort of Gournes. The area of Gournes, originally a separate village, is now part of a 23 kilometer stretch of unified beachfront that begins in Vathianos Kambos and ends in Malia. The fertile plains of Gournes are abundant with vegetable crops and olive groves.
The name ‘Gournes’ is derived from the Latin word ‘urna’ which means water troughs for livestock. However, there is another theory suggesting that the name comes from the Minoan larnakes (urns) that were found in the area.
The beaches of Gournes, like most on Crete’s north coast, are exposed to north winds. The beachfront is dotted with small artificial piers constructed to absorb wave impact and to preserve the sand. This has resulted in the formation of several sandy coves between these piers. The area’s long beach, located on the west part of Gournes, is well organized with lifeguards and umbrellas.
As you head east, the coast becomes rockier and you’ll come across a small torrent. A kilometer further east, you’ll find the former American Airbase of Gournes, which was abandoned in the early 1990s. Despite the derelict buildings, the area is home to the International Exhibition Center of Crete, the Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the City Hall, and the Aquarium. There is also a small port and the longest beach of Gournes, a beautiful sandy stretch that extends to the beaches of Gouves. Particularly noteworthy is the well-organized municipal beach of Gouves, located west of the Old Base boundary.
During your visit to Gournes, don’t miss the chance to see the old church of the Annunciation in the old village and the picturesque church of Agios Ioannis Pezetis with its ancient frescoes. An excavated Minoan settlement and cemetery nearby have revealed many vases, figurines and seals. One of the most popular attractions in Gournes is the Cretaquarium. Once the largest aquarium in southern Europe, it continues to attract thousands of visitors daily and is located within the former U.S. base.
Kato Gouves, often referred to as Gouves, is a sought-after holiday destination nestled 18km east of Heraklion, at the base of Mount Ederi. Historically, the valley of Kato Gouves was a fertile ground for vegetables, olives, and cereals, cultivated by the inhabitants of Ano Gouves. Today, it’s been transformed into a tourism hub, featuring numerous hotels. Unlike the bustling resorts of Malia and Hersonissos nearby, Gouves offers a tranquil vacation experience, making it an ideal spot for families and the elderly. The sandy beaches here are loved by families, and are conveniently close to all necessary amenities.
Gouves beach is well-equipped with facilities such as umbrellas, sunbeds, lifeguards, water sports, and diving centres, alongside showers and changing rooms. The sea, featuring fine sand and shallow waters, is exposed to the common north winds. As a result, there are several small piers and marinas in the vicinity where you can enjoy a swim, shielded from the waves. The coastal road of Gouves runs parallel to the coastline, simplifying the task of locating your perfect beach spot! Enjoy an evening stroll on this road while admiring the sunset. The road also boasts numerous cafes and restaurants, offering panoramic sea views. Furthermore, Gouves’ main road houses a number of supermarkets, shops, pharmacies, clinics, and ATMs.
One must-visit spot is the Church of St. Constantine, nestled in a quaint pine forest adjacent to the sea. Its picturesque seaside location makes it a popular wedding venue, especially for couples from Heraklion. If your visit falls on a Saturday, you’re likely to witness a traditional Greek wedding or baptism. Beyond the shoreline, 2km to the north, lies the village of Ano Gouves. Its narrow streets, churches, and coffee shops exude a traditional charm. Further north, you can explore the Cave of Agia Paraskevi near the village of Skotino. To the east, Mount Ederi stands tall, home to radars used by the Americans for the operation of the erstwhile US air base in Gournes.
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