Stavros beach is situated 17km northeast of Chania on the farthest point of Cape Akrotiri, is known for its distinct, camel-shaped mountain, Vardies. This towering landmark gained recognition in the film “Zorba the Greek” as the backdrop for Anthony Quinn’s iconic Sirtaki Dance in 1964. Once a quaint fishing hamlet, Stavros has since transformed into a bustling tourist hub, complete with numerous hotels and top-tier tourist facilities. The area’s popularity is further boosted by its two stunning beaches.
The primary beach lies to the village’s east, nestled at the base of the Vardies mountain and adjacent to the scenic harbour. It forms a protected, semi-circular lagoon with pristine white sands and shallow, turquoise waters. The contrast between the rugged mountain and the tranquil beach provides a unique and enchanting swimming experience. As anticipated, the beach is well-equipped with all the necessary amenities.
200 meters northwest of the main beach, you’ll find Stavros’ secondary beach, a mix of sandy stretches and rocky areas. It’s less developed and cleaner than its counterpart, but its exposure to the elements can lead to wavy seas. The peninsula separating the two beaches holds historical significance, housing remnants of an ancient quarry that provided limestone for Chania’s Venetian-era Walls (13th- 17th century).
Beyond beaches, Stavros offers an array of other services including accommodation, eateries, mini markets, shops, cafes, and regular bus connections to Chania city.
Get directions to Stavros beach
There are various activities you can do at Stavros beach such as swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and beach volleyball.
Yes, Stavros beach is suitable for families with children as the water is calm and shallow, making it safe for kids to swim.
Yes, you can go fishing at Stavros beach, but you need to obtain a fishing license first.
Yes, there are hiking trails near Stavros beach that offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and coastline.
Yes, you can rent a boat or kayak at Stavros beach and explore the nearby coves and beaches.
Yes, Stavros beach offers a beautiful sunset view that you can enjoy while relaxing on the Stavros beach or having a drink at one of the nearby bars.
The water colour of the Stavros beach is blue and green.
The Stavros beach has sand.
The water at the Stavros beach is shallow.
The surface of the sea at the Stavros beach is usually calm.
The Stavros beach has normal crowds.
The Stavros beach has accommodation options, food/water nearby, umbrellas/beds, sports, showers, and a Blue Flag.
The Stavros beach can be accessed by bus services and a paved road.
Find below list of things to do near Stavros beach:
This ride takes an electric mountain bike through the villages and dirt roads of the Chania hinterland, the inland country behind the coast that almost no visitor sees. The e-bikes flatten the climbs, so the route suits beginners while still covering real terrain rather than a promenade. Daring Trails runs it over 3 hours 30 minutes from €115, including bikes, helmets, guides and a van transfer at both ends.
The day is a transfer, a fitting and a guided ride. Four parts make it up.
First you meet the guide and are fitted to an electric mountain bike with a helmet and gloves. Second is the ride itself, through the picturesque villages inland from Chania on sections of dirt road, with the guide adapting the route to the group’s skill and fitness rather than running a fixed itinerary. Third is an optional stop at a village cafe or taverna for a quick lunch, agreed with the guide rather than scheduled. Fourth is the transfer back to the start in a 9-seater van, and a beer with the guides at the end.
The operator describes the ride as beginner-friendly, and the guides are locally classified.
The ride works the country inland from the city.
The €115 covers the bike, the kit, the guiding and the transport.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this ride for what it reaches. The Chania hinterland, the villages and olive terraces in the valleys behind the coast, is the part of the region visitors drive past on the way to a beach. An e-bike is the right tool for it: the gradients that make these roads hard work on a normal bike disappear, and you cover far more ground than you would walking.
What the reviews describe is careful guiding. An American group named Akilas and Nondas, praising how much care they took over everyone’s safety and comfort. A British rider called the route beautiful and the bikes excellent, and made the point that matters most here, it suits all levels of ability because the guide adapts it to you. Another American group called it a unique way to see areas they would never otherwise have reached.
The mountain cafe stop comes up more than once as a highlight rather than a break.
Two things to be straight about, and the first one is important.
The review base is very small. Five reviews is not enough to judge an operator on, and while all five are positive, that tells you far less than a mid-range score across hundreds would. Treat this as promising rather than proven.
This is a hinterland mountain-bike ride, not a city tour. The route runs dirt roads and villages inland rather than the Venetian harbour and the old town. If you want Chania’s streets, a walking tour is the right product.
Water and food are not included, on a 3.5-hour ride in a Cretan climate. That is the one inclusion we would expect and do not find.
Bring water and snacks, dress for the season, and carry any allergy medication.
The tour runs 3 hours 30 minutes including transfers, and the van carries the group both ways. Sports clothing appropriate to the season is required.
Bring snacks, water, insect repellent and any personal medication. Smoking, alcohol and drugs are not permitted on the tour, and medical and emergency insurance is not covered.
The tour runs 3 hours 30 minutes, including the van transfers at both ends.
The ride is beginner-friendly. Guides adapt the route to the group’s skill and fitness, and the electric assistance removes the climbs.
The electric mountain bike, helmet and gloves are all included, along with the guides and the transfer van.
No, snacks, meals and water bottles are excluded. Bring your own, and a cafe stop can be agreed with the guide.
No, the route runs the hinterland villages and dirt roads, inland from the city rather than through it.
A stop at a village cafe or taverna is possible, agreed with the guides on the day rather than scheduled in advance.
Check dates and prices for the Chania electric mountain bike tour.
Andreas, an experienced soap maker, will provide you all the details and information to produce your own soap.
In 1.5 hours you will learn to make your own soap and gain experience in soap making. In a fully equipped laboratory you will have the opportunity to do the entire soap production process.
For the preparation of your own soap, we use ingredients that come from our land and at the end of the activity you take a soap with you.
By completing the workshop you will be in a position when you return home to produce soap for your own use.
Alma de Creta run this guided street-food tour through the old town of Chania, using the city’s food to tell its history. The walk moves through the historic neighbourhoods and market alleys, with a guide connecting what you are eating to the Venetian and Ottoman periods that shaped it, and to the Mediterranean diet that grew out of them.
The tour walks the old town and eats as it goes, with the history carried in the food rather than delivered at monuments. Three threads run through it.
First is the street food itself, the produce, the ingredients and the everyday dishes sold in the city’s alleys and markets rather than plated in restaurants. Second is the history, from Venetian and Ottoman Chania through to the modern city, told through what people cooked and traded in each period. Third is the Mediterranean diet, explained as the practical result of local ingredients and growing conditions rather than as a health slogan, how traditional produce and culinary practices actually fed generations here.
Alma de Creta also run private tours from Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno and Elounda, shore excursions from Chania-Souda, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos ports, and tailor-made itineraries for groups and individuals.
The walk stays inside the old town and its market streets.
We recommend this tour for the way it frames the food. Plenty of Chania food walks hand you a plate and name the dish. This one connects what you are eating to who was ruling the city when it appeared, Venetian, Ottoman, modern Greek, which turns a tasting into an explanation of why Cretan cooking looks the way it does.
The Mediterranean diet angle is genuinely worth having explained on the ground. It is one of the most talked-about and least understood things about this island, and standing in a market in Chania while somebody walks you through the actual ingredients is a better introduction than any amount of reading.
Alma de Creta is a Chania-based operator with a broad programme, private tours from four bases, shore excursions from three ports, and tailor-made itineraries, so if the street-food walk suits you, there is a route to a longer day with the same team.
The listing carries a strong TripAdvisor standing across a substantial number of reviews, which is the signal we would read for an operator of this size.
Two practical notes.
Confirm the current itinerary, start time and price directly with the operator, since the tour programme is set by them and changes with the season.
This is a walking tour through old-town alleys, so comfortable shoes and sun protection matter more than they sound in a city setting.
Book direct, come hungry, and ask about the periods behind each dish.
The tour is a guided walk through Chania old town. Alma de Creta also run private tours, shore excursions from Chania-Souda, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos ports, and tailor-made itineraries.
Contact Alma de Creta directly for current dates, prices and the meeting point: almadecreta.com, info@almadecreta.com, +30 693 239 9091.
It is a guided street-food walk through Chania old town, using the city’s food to explain its Venetian, Ottoman and modern history.
The guide connects the food to the history of the city and the Mediterranean diet, explaining how local ingredients and practices shaped daily life in Crete.
Yes, private tours from Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno and Elounda, shore excursions from three ports, and tailor-made itineraries for groups and individuals.
The walk covers the historic neighbourhoods and market alleys of Chania old town.
Contact the operator directly by phone, email or through their website.
Yes, the whole tour is on foot through the old town, so wear comfortable shoes.
Crete Local Adventures run this evening walk through the bohemian side of Chania: the back streets of the Venetian old port, the alternative bars and craft cooperatives most visitors never find, a sunset viewpoint known locally, and a garden dinner with a sommelier-led wine tasting. The tour lasts 4 hours and starts at 17:00. It runs as a shared group capped at 12, or privately.
The route moves from the old port to a viewpoint to a garden table. Five stages fill the four hours.
First you meet in front of the Kydon hotel, the main local meeting point in the city, where your guide waits with a Crete Local Adventures sign. Second, the walk goes into the windy cobblestone back streets of the Venetian old port, with the stories behind the buildings, the famous locals and the rebellions, and a look at the alternative bars worth returning to later. Third is a stop at a cooperative dedicated to locally produced crafts and food, which supports producers and artisans directly. Fourth is the sunset, watched from a spot the guides describe as known only to locals. Fifth is dinner in a garden: a wine tasting presented by a qualified sommelier, then a three-course gourmet organic meal, organic ice cream, and raki to finish.
The guides close by sharing tips for the rest of your stay in Crete.
The whole evening happens inside Chania and its old port.
The price covers the guiding, the tasting and the meal.
Included:
Shared places are priced per person with a maximum of 12 in the group; the private option is priced per person with a minimum of 2. The tour runs in English and suits all ages.
We recommend this one because of what it refuses to do. Almost every evening tour in Chania walks the harbour front, which is beautiful and which every visitor has already seen by day. This one goes deliberately behind it, the cobbled back streets, the workshops, the cooperative, the bars locals actually drink in, and treats the harbour as the view rather than the route.
The wine handling is the second reason. A sommelier-led tasting of Cretan varieties, followed by a three-course organic dinner in a garden, is a serious food and wine evening rather than a taverna stop bolted onto a walk. Cretan wine is genuinely under-known, and having somebody qualified explain the local grapes is the difference between drinking it and understanding it.
Group size matters here too. Capping the shared tour at 12 keeps a walking tour through narrow alleys workable, and the private option adds pick-up.
Two things to weigh.
This is an evening that ends late and involves both walking and drinking. Comfortable shoes, and no plans for early the next morning.
Our listing records 4.9 out of 5 across 73 ratings, a good score on a reasonable base, but check the operator’s own recent reviews if a specific detail matters to you.
Meet at the right hotel, wear real shoes, and note the bars for later.
The tour starts at 17:00 and runs 4 hours. Meet in front of the Kydon, The Heart City Hotel, at the entrance, check the exact point on the operator’s map link before setting out.
The shared tour takes a maximum of 12 people; the private tour needs a minimum of 2 and includes pick-up. The tour runs in English and is open to all ages.
Contact Crete Local Adventures directly: cretelocaladventures.com, +30 698 067 9166.
The tour runs 4 hours, starting at 17:00 and finishing after dinner and raki.
Meet in front of the Kydon, The Heart City Hotel, where the guide waits with a Crete Local Adventures sign.
A three-course gourmet organic dinner is included, along with a sommelier-led wine tasting, organic ice cream and raki.
The shared tour is capped at 12 people, and a private option is available for groups of 2 or more.
Pick-up is offered on the private option only. Shared guests meet at the Kydon hotel.
The tour runs in English and is open to all ages.
I am passionate about running and building communities and from these 2 things, Cretan Wild was born. My goal is to get as many people out as possible in nature and explore the beauty of this island that I love so much.
At Cretan Wild we aim to provide a safe and fun environment to explore this island, whether its through running, hiking, biking or any other outdoor activity. We want to share our love for the island and all it encompasses from the people, the culture, the food and of course the stunning landscapes
The trails we share with you range from the family friendly to the more adventurous of spirit and will take you from the sea to the highest mountains, through the gorges and quaint villages.
While there is a selection of our most popular trails uploaded here, there are many thousand more on this island and we can tailor make packages to suit your every need including multi day tours and retreats. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, I would love to chat with you about how I can help you make the most from your Cretan experience
Crete Private Guide run this private walking tour of Chania old town, covering about 3 kilometres in 4 hours from the Agora covered market. The route takes in the Venetian fortifications, the Arsenals, both cathedrals, the old synagogue, the Turkish mosque, the Chania gardens and the Egyptian lighthouse, with food tastings along the way and a wine tasting of four local varieties at the end. Marketed as The 4 Winds, it runs in Greek, English and French with private transport included.
The tour starts at 09:00 and walks a loop of the old town, stopping to eat and drink as it goes. Five parts make it up.
First is the Agora, the covered market, which the tour visits rather than passes. Second is the old town circuit: the Venetian fortifications, the Arsenals where the galleys were built, the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox cathedrals, the old Jewish synagogue, the Turkish mosque, the Chania gardens and the Egyptian lighthouse. Third are the tasting stops, made in conversation with locals rather than at set counters, loukoumades, pasteli, tsikoudia, frappé, graviera and mizithra cheeses, olives and paximadi among them. Fourth, the guide takes you to chosen spots for photographs and video. Fifth is a wine tasting at a selected venue, with four local wines from area wineries made from Cretan grape varieties.
The whole route covers roughly 3 kilometres on foot.
Everything is inside the old town of Chania.
The tour is priced per group rather than per head, and covers everything on the route.
Included:
Group pricing runs from €360 for one person to €930 for eight, which works out from about €115 per person on the larger group sizes. The tour covers the Chania and Rethymno regions; pick-ups more than 25 kilometres from Chania city centre carry an additional €20 to €100 depending on distance and group size.
We recommend this tour for the range it covers in four hours. The Agora, the Venetian arsenals, two cathedrals, a synagogue, a mosque and the lighthouse is the full religious and civic layering of Chania, Venetian, Ottoman, Jewish and Greek, and most old-town tours pick two of those and leave the rest. Doing it at walking pace with tastings threaded through is a better way to absorb it than a lecture at each stop.
The food is specific rather than generic. Loukoumades, pasteli, tsikoudia, graviera and mizithra, olives and paximadi are what Cretans actually eat and drink, and tasting them in conversation with the people selling them is the part visitors remember.
Being private throughout is the third reason. You set the pace, the guide answers your questions rather than the group’s, and transport from your accommodation is built into the price.
Two things to weigh.
The published rating rests on a very small number of reviews, so treat it as encouraging rather than settled and speak to the operator before booking.
It is a walking tour in an exposed old town, starting at 09:00 and running four hours. Comfortable shoes are a requirement rather than a suggestion, and summer heat builds quickly on the route.
Wear real shoes, come hungry, and check the pick-up distance before you book.
The tour starts at 09:00 at the Agora covered market and runs 4 hours over about 3 kilometres. Private transport from and to your location is included within the Chania and Rethymno regions.
This is a walking tour, so wear comfortable shoes. Pick-ups more than 25 kilometres from Chania city centre carry an additional charge.
Contact Crete Private Guide directly: creteprivateguide.com, info@creteprivateguide.com, +30 690 650 5872.
The tour runs 4 hours and covers about 3 kilometres on foot.
The tour starts at 09:00 at the Agora, the covered market in Chania old town, which it visits as its first stop.
Tastings include loukoumades, pasteli, tsikoudia, frappé, graviera and mizithra cheeses, olives and paximadi, sampled in conversation with local sellers.
Four different local wines are included, all from wineries in the area using Cretan grape varieties.
Yes, it is private and priced per group, from €360 for one person to €930 for eight.
The tour is offered in Greek, English and French.
Find below the list of hotels near Stavros beach:
Located in a flowered garden, 30 metres from the beach of Stavros in Crete, Alexis Apartments offers self-catering accommodation with free WiFi and furnished balcony or patio overlooking the Cretan Sea, the mountains or the garden.
All the air-conditioned apartments at the Alexis offer a kitchenette with cooking facilities and a seating area. Each has a private bathroom comes with a bath or shower.
Chania Town and the scenic Venetian Port are within 15 km from the property. Souda Port is 17 km away.
Featuring mountain views, Art_emis casa provides accommodation with a balcony and a coffee machine, around 80 metres from Gold Coast Beach. It features a terrace, sea views and free WiFithroughout the property.
This apartment comes with 2 bedrooms, a kitchen with an oven and a fridge, a flat-screen TV, a seating area and 2 bathrooms equipped with a shower. Towels and bed linen are featured in the apartment.
Stavros Beach is 90 metres from the apartment, while Sunset Beach is 500 metres away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 9 km from Art_emis casa.
from
€144
/night
Boasting garden views, Levanda Home features accommodation with a patio and a coffee machine, around 100 metres from Stavros Beach. The air-conditioned accommodation is 100 metres from Gold Coast Beach, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi.
The holiday home with a terrace and mountain views has 2 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Towels and bed linen are available in the holiday home.
The holiday home features a barbecue and a garden, which can be enjoyed by guests if the weather permits.
Sunset Beach is 500 metres from Levanda Home, while The Holy Monastery of Agia Triada is 8.2 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 9 km from the accommodation.
from
€115
/night
Boasting mountain views, Villa Amina features accommodation with a private beach area, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a terrace, around a few steps from Gold Coast Beach. This beachfront property offers access to free WiFi and free private parking.
The villa has 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony with sea views.
The villa offers a barbecue. Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at Villa Amina, while cycling can be enjoyed nearby.
Stavros Beach is 300 metres from the accommodation, while Sunset Beach is 700 metres from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International, 9 km from Villa Amina, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€469
/night
Featuring garden views, Niso Home by Plakoures Home provides accommodation with a private beach area, a garden and barbecue facilities, around 300 metres from Stavros Beach. The air-conditioned accommodation is 60 metres from Sunset Beach, and guests benefit from complimentary WiFi and private parking available on site.
The apartment with a patio and mountain views features 1 bedroom, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a fridge, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Towels and bed linen are provided in the apartment.
Gold Coast Beach is 400 metres from the apartment, while The Holy Monastery of Agia Triada is 8.5 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 9 km from Niso Home by Plakoures Home.
NaTa Home, a property with a garden, is set in Stavros, less than 1 km from Gold Coast Beach, a 12-minute walk from Stavros Beach, as well as 7.9 km from The Holy Monastery of Agia Triada. The air-conditioned accommodation is 300 metres from Sunset Beach, and guests benefit from complimentary WiFi and private parking available on site.
The villa with a terrace and garden views features 3 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and 2 bathrooms with a bath. Towels and bed linen are featured in the villa.
House-Museum of Eleftherios Venizelos is 13 km from the villa, while Archaeological Museum of Chania is 13 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 9 km from NaTa Home.
Find below list of beaches near Stavros beach:
Maherida Beach (also spelled Macherida) is a small, secluded white sand beach with turquoise water on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 14km northeast of Chania and 1km west of Chorafakia village, near Tersanas. Maherida sits in a calm southwest-facing bay enclosed by sharp rocks, and it stays undeveloped and quiet, with no sunbeds, umbrellas, or tavernas at the beach itself. The cove is family friendly and nudism friendly, and its clear shallow water suits swimming and snorkeling.
The name comes from the Greek word “machairi,” meaning “knife,” a reference to the knife-like shape of a rocky cape at the northern end of the bay. A second theory traces the name to the Gladiolus flower, known in Greek as “macherida,” which grows in the area.
Maherida is a small, wild cove rather than an organized resort beach. White sand meets turquoise water at the heart of a southwest-facing bay, and sharp rocks enclose the shore on either side. The sea surface here is usually calm, and the water clarity is exceptional because the currents frequently change direction and sweep away any rubbish.
The beach has not been developed, though some residential building has gone up nearby in recent years. Its seclusion makes it a popular spot for nudists, and it is one of the preferred beaches for the gay community in Chania. The crowd is usually quiet, which is much of the appeal for visitors who want a calm swim away from busier organized beaches.
The coastline around the cove is a habitat for wild species. Close to the main road, among the rocks, lies the Macherida pond, a crater-like pool fed by saltwater springs. This pond shelters water snakes, turtles, and seagulls, and it is worth a look on the way to or from the sand.
Maherida Beach is reached from Chania by a paved road across the Akrotiri peninsula, roughly 14km to the northeast. The cove lies 1km west of Chorafakia, near the coastal village of Tersanas, and the map coordinates are 35.57353, 24.07667 for Google Maps or Waze navigation.
Public transport reaches the area as well. The city bus route to Stavros passes through Tersanas and runs close to Maherida beach, so travelers without a car can get within a short walk. A small parking area sits near the beach, and it can fill up during peak season. The most flexible way to reach this quiet cove and the other Akrotiri beaches is with your own vehicle, which you can arrange through Crete Locals car rental partner.
Maherida is an undeveloped beach with no facilities on the sand. There are no sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, toilets, lifeguards, or snack bars at the cove, so plan to be self-sufficient for the day.
Key points to prepare for before you go:
Accommodation and some food and water options are found in the surrounding area and nearby villages, including Stavros and Kalathas. You can compare hotels, villas, and apartments close to the cove on the Crete Locals places to stay listings.
Maherida Beach is suitable for swimming, with usually calm, shallow, turquoise water that is clear enough to see the seabed. The bay faces southwest and stays sheltered, which keeps conditions gentle on most days. No lifeguards are on duty, so swimmers should take their own care.
The clarity and the rocky edges of the bay make Maherida ideal for snorkeling and spearfishing. Snorkelers can explore the sharp rocks that enclose the cove, where fish gather in the clear shallows. Divers and swimmers who want to reach the bay by sea can also arrive on a Chania private sailing cruise, which anchors at Maherida for a swim and snorkel stop.
Maherida suits travelers who prefer a quiet, natural cove over a lively organized beach. The calm shallow water and family friendly setting work well for families with children, provided you bring your own shade, food, and water. Couples and solo visitors looking for seclusion will find the cove peaceful, and it is nudism friendly for those who want it.
The beach is best for snorkelers, swimmers, and anyone comfortable spending a self-catered day at a wild beach. It is a natural pairing with the nearby Akrotiri coves for a slower beach day, and you can plan a wider route through the Crete Locals beaches guide.
Two well-known Akrotiri beaches sit within a short drive of Maherida. Tersanas Beach lies about 0.9km away, a small white sand beach in a natural harbour with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, and snack bars that make it a good family option, described in full on the Crete Locals Tersanas Beach page. Kalathas beach lies about 2.3km away and is very well organized, with umbrellas, water sports, restaurants, hotels, and lifeguards, covered on the Crete Locals Kalathas beach page.
Boat trips, guided tours, and airport transfers round out the area. The gulf of Chania sailing cruises stop at Maherida and the protected island of Agioi Theodoroi, and you can browse more tours and day trips on the Crete Locals things to do page.
Maherida Beach is on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 14km northeast of Chania and 1km west of Chorafakia village, near Tersanas.
Yes, Maherida Beach is suitable for swimming. The water is usually calm and shallow, but there are no lifeguards on duty, so swim with care.
No, Maherida Beach is undeveloped and has no sunbeds, umbrellas, tavernas, showers, toilets, or lifeguards. Bring your own umbrella, food, and water.
Yes, a small parking area sits near Maherida Beach. It can get crowded during peak season.
Maherida Beach is reached by a paved road across the Akrotiri peninsula, and the Stavros city bus route passes nearby through Tersanas.
Yes, Maherida Beach is family friendly and ideal for snorkeling and spearfishing, thanks to its calm, clear, shallow water. There are no facilities for children, so come prepared.
The best time to visit Maherida Beach is during the summer, from June to September, when the weather is warm and sunny.
Hotels, villas, and apartments are available near Maherida Beach in the surrounding area and nearby villages such as Stavros and Kalathas.
Tersanas is a charming coastal village situated 13km northeast of Chania, tucked away in a small cove on the west side of Cape Akrotiri. While it serves as the harbour for the neighbouring village of Chorafakia, Tersanas is a well-developed area and a popular holiday destination.
The beach at Tersanas is nestled within a natural harbour that faces southwest. With its white, fine sand and crystal-clear shallow waters, it’s a small beach that can get crowded, especially on weekends. Visitors can take advantage of the available sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, and snack bars. Its calm waters and proximity to tourist facilities make it perfect for families, and there are buses from Chania that stop at Tersanas.
The seaside village of Kalathas is located 12km northeast of Chania city, in a natural bay at Cape Akrotiri, which is open to the north winds. Current Kalathas is a relatively new village, which has been inhabited by residents of Chania who wanted to live away from the city centre.
The beach in front of the village is beautiful, with fine sand and shallow crystal clear water. Opposite Kalathas, there is a small island which you can easily reach by swimming.
The beach is very well organized with umbrellas, water sports, restaurants, hotels, lifeguards, mini markets, etc.
West of the main bay, beyond the rocky end, there is a secluded sandy bay. This is not organized and is ideal for those who do not like crowded places.
Tip: If you continue towards the far right of the beach, you will find a rather remote beach with usually hardly any people should you wish to avoid the crowded part of the beach.
Katholiko Bay, nestled in northwest Crete, is just a 30-minute drive from Chania. This captivating destination promises an adventurous hike that showcases numerous caves, a historic abandoned monastery, a stunning Avlaki gorge, and finally culminates at the picturesque Katholiko Bay. This beach once served as a port for the Katholiko Monastery, where monks used to dock and mend their boats. Its strategic location also made it a prime target for pirate invasions, leading to the monastery’s abandonment in the 16th century.
To embark on this adventure, start at the Gouverneto Monastery. A 30-minute trek will lead you to the deserted Katholiko Monastery. Venture below the bridge, traverse the Avlaki gorge, and in another 20 minutes, the mesmerizing beach awaits. While it’s a rocky haven devoid of sand, the crystalline waters more than compensate. With towering cliffs enclosing the beach, it’s an ideal spot for cliff-diving enthusiasts. Note that the area lacks shade, but there’s a quaint cave on the mountainside for some respite.
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