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Telonio Beach, beginning east of Kissamos’ main pedestrian road and extending to the Kissamikos stadium approximately 1km east, is the most westerly section of a long stretch of beach that reaches from Kissamos to Nopigia. Telonio is situated adjacent to Kissamos’ most vibrant area, where the former Customs’ Office and the current bustling seaside pedestrian road with its numerous taverns and cafes can be found. The beach itself is a mix of pebbles and sand, often characterized by waves and shallow water. Despite being close to the town, it is typically unorganized. Telonio used to be the most frequented beach in the area decades ago, but now Mavlos Molos holds that title. Telonio remains an excellent choice for those who desire tranquility yet also want the convenience of nearby amenities.
Get directions to Telonio beach
Telonio beach is located in the city of Kalamata, in the Peloponnese region of Greece.
Yes, Telonio beach is suitable for swimming. The water is clear and calm, making it safe for swimmers of all levels.
Yes, there are several water sports available at Telonio beach, including windsurfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
Yes, Telonio beach is family-friendly. The water is shallow and calm, making it safe for children to swim. There are also several playgrounds and picnic areas nearby.
The best time to visit Telonio beach is during the summer months, from June to September. The weather is warm and sunny, and the water is perfect for swimming.
Yes, there is parking available at Telonio beach. There are several parking lots nearby, as well as street parking.
Yes, there are several restaurants and cafes near Telonio beach. They offer a variety of Greek and international cuisine, as well as drinks and snacks.
Yes, Telonio beach is accessible for people with disabilities. There are ramps and other facilities available to make it easier for them to access the Telonio beach.
The water colour of the Telonio beach is blue.
The Telonio beach has sand as its sand type.
The water at the Telonio beach is shallow.
The surface of the sea at the Telonio beach is usually wavy.
The Telonio beach is usually quiet.
The Telonio beach has accommodation options and food/water nearby.
The Telonio beach can be accessed through bus services and a paved road.
No, there is no other information available about the Telonio beach.
Find below list of things to do near Telonio beach:
Come and experience a Greek Night with traditional cuisine, traditional Cretan dances and learn more about the history of Cretan food and culture. Our outdoor seating venue is located in the center of Kissamos in an old cobble stone road.
At night you will see an old church close by being lit up while we eat, laugh and dance!
Break a Plate with us while dancing like a local!
** Starting time: 18H00 / 6 PM
We will kick off the evening with local Cretan Beer & Wine tasting at 6pm
(Please be at the venue 10 minutes prior, to secure we start on time)
This Experience is held at The Greek Cook Out. The Venue was first an old Greek Prison and is now transformed into an experience to dance, enjoy Cretan cuisine, and make new friends.
Welcome to our table, the longest dinner table in Greece – 15,3m
We can’t wait to meet you!
Terra Creta is a working olive mill in the Kolymbari region west of Chania, and this one-hour tour walks you through production from harvest to bottling, ending with a guided tasting of three oils. The estate sits in the heart of Kolymbari’s groves, one of the recognised olive-growing areas of western Crete. Tickets start at €10, and the tour holds a 4.73 rating across 446 reviews.
The hour moves from grove to press to glass. Three parts make it up.
First is the facility itself, a modern mill where you see the equipment and the guide explains the sequence from harvesting through extraction to bottling, along with what actually separates extra virgin from the rest. Second is the storage and handling advice, which the staff give as practical guidance rather than sales patter. Third is the tasting: three different Terra Creta oils, served with finger foods and water, with bread for dipping.
The shop afterwards stocks the oils, balsamic vinegar and Greek olives in travel-safe packaging, and takes cards as well as cash.
The estate sits inland from the north coast, between Kolymbari and the olive villages behind it.
The €10 covers the tour and the tasting.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this as the cheapest hour of real education available in Crete. Ten euros buys a guided walk through a working mill and a three-oil tasting, and 446 reviewers averaging 4.73 agree it delivers. A New Zealand visitor called it educational and good value in the same breath; an American couple said they learned exactly what they wanted to about the process.
What the reviews keep coming back to is the guides’ enthusiasm. An Estonian reviewer wrote that their guide was extremely passionate about olive oil and it was a joy to see. A Polish guest praised the way they talked about the place and the production, noting you rarely get to see a real factory. Americans who cook with olive oil said the tour changed how they use it.
The tasting is generous rather than token. One Polish reviewer described unlimited opportunity to try different oils with bread, and a Finnish guest mentioned plenty of oil and olives to take home.
Three things to know before you go, and the first one decides which month you should book.
The mill only runs from October to February. Outside those months the machinery stands still, so a summer visit is a tour of the facility and the process rather than a working press. That is not hidden, but it changes what you see.
Parts of the site may be closed in summer. The operator states that some areas inside and outside the mill may be inaccessible between April and September for building expansion and machinery upgrades.
The pace can feel quick. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says some travellers find the delivery rushed with little time for questions, and asks for slower explanation. At one hour with a full tasting, that is the trade-off.
Visit in autumn if you can, arrange your own transport, and ask your questions early.
The meeting point is Epar.Od. Rapaniana-Vouves, Kolymbari 730 06. You reach it by taxi in about 25 minutes from Chania or Kissamos; no hotel pick-up is provided.
The mill operates only from October to February, and some areas may be inaccessible between April and September because of building work. The shop takes cash and cards.
The tour takes one hour, covering the facility, the production process and a three-oil tasting.
The mill presses only from October to February. Outside that window you tour the facility rather than watching production.
The tasting covers three different olive oils served with finger foods, water and bread for dipping.
No transport is included. The estate is about 25 minutes by taxi from Chania or Kissamos.
Wheelchair access is provided, though some areas may be closed between April and September for building work.
The shop sells oils, balsamic vinegar and olives in travel-safe packaging, and accepts both cash and cards.
Check dates and prices for the Terra Creta olive oil experience tour.
Start your day of adventure from Falasarna Big Beach. From here you will set-off on a jet ski ride to Balos Lagoon that will last an exhilarating 25-minutes. Feel comfortable in the presence of a guided boat that will follow you throughout your tour.
Stay at Balos Lagoon for 1-hour to swim, take photos, and relax on the turquise shallow watrers. On our way back we will also have a quick pass from the island of Gramvousa, to take some nice photos of the shipwreck. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing one of the three time slots. Morning one for the calmness that area offers as you wil be reaching Balos Lgoon before the crowds,in between at 14.00, or join the 17.00 group as the temperature is ideal that time of the day.
This evening trip pairs a 110-minute horse ride near Falasarna with drone photography and a tavern dinner on the sand. Falasarna faces west, which makes it the best sunset on the north coast of Crete, and the ride is timed so you are in the saddle as the light goes. HappyTravellersTours runs it over 6 hours from €250 including hotel pick-up, and it holds a 4.9 rating across 17 reviews.
The evening moves from stable to saddle to table across about 6 hours. Three parts make it up.
First you choose a trail, and the choice is made on riding ability rather than preference. Beginners take the countryside route through green trails, local herbs and mountain views as the sun starts to drop. Experienced riders take the coastal route along the shoreline with an unobstructed view of the sunset, beach rides are restricted to experienced riders for safety. Second, a drone follows the ride, producing photos and video you keep. Third, the evening ends at a beachfront tavern with a tasting of local dishes, eaten with your feet in the sand.
The ride itself lasts 1 hour 50 minutes, which is long for a holiday trek.
The evening happens on the far west coast of the Chania regional unit.
The €250 covers transport, the ride, the photography and dinner.
Included:
Not included:
A liability waiver is required, and the tour runs for a minimum of 2 people.
We recommend this for the timing more than the horses. Falasarna is the sunset on this side of Crete, west-facing, unobstructed, and far enough from Chania that most visitors never get there for the evening. Being on the beach at that hour, on a horse, with somebody else driving you home, is a well-designed evening.
The reviews are unusually consistent about why it works, and the answer is one person. The guide, Yannis, is named in almost every review we read, by guests from the United States, Canada, France, Finland, Japan and the UK. What they describe is not horsemanship but hosting: tailoring the evening to what people wanted, taking the drone footage himself, showing people around, and being, in one American reviewer’s words, an extremely passionate and genuine local. Every dimension, guiding, transport, value, scores a flat 5.0 out of 5.
Beginners are well handled. One American guest rode for the first time and rated the day five stars, which is the split the operator’s own trail system is designed around.
Two things to be straight about.
The review base is small. Seventeen ratings is not many, and a 4.9 across 17 tells you far less than a 4.5 across 500 would. Nothing negative recurs in what is published, but there is not much published to go on.
Be honest about your riding level, because the operator asks you to and the reason is safety. Beach rides are restricted to experienced riders; declaring yourself experienced when you are not puts you on a beach at speed on an unfamiliar horse.
Wear long trousers, declare your real riding level, and expect a late finish.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included, and the whole evening runs about 6 hours. A liability waiver is required, and rides are at your own responsibility.
Bring comfortable clothes, long trousers and closed-toe shoes, plus a hat and sunscreen.
The ride itself lasts 1 hour 50 minutes, inside an evening that runs about 6 hours including transfers and dinner.
Beach rides are for experienced riders only. Beginners take the countryside trail, which the operator restricts for safety reasons.
Dinner at a beachfront tavern is included, served as a tasting of local dishes with your feet in the sand.
Drone photos and video are included, shot during the ride and given to you afterwards.
Wear long trousers and closed-toe shoes, which the operator requires, plus a hat and sunscreen.
The tour requires a minimum of 2 people to go ahead.
Check dates and prices for the Falasarna sunset horse riding with dinner.
This package handles the whole Balos day from your hotel door: minibus transfer from Chania or Rethymno to Kissamos port, boat tickets collected by your guide rather than queued for, then roughly 2.5 hours at Balos lagoon and 2 hours on Gramvousa island. Quality Travel runs it over 9 hours from €40.15, with a 4.30 rating across 2,888 reviews, and it ranks 15th among all GetYourGuide experiences in Greece.
The day is a transfer, a ferry and two long stops. Four stages fill the 9 hours.
First is the pick-up in an air-conditioned car or minivan from a point near your hotel and the drive west to Kissamos port. Second, your guide meets you at the Cretan Daily Cruises office and hands over the tickets, so you board without queueing. Third is Gramvousa: a 20-minute climb to the Venetian castle on its 137-metre rock, a swim by the chapel of Agioi Apostoloi, and the pirate-cove history the island is known for. Fourth is Balos, reached about 20 minutes further on, where white and in places pink sand meets the turquoise lagoon.
The order of the two stops depends on the day’s itinerary.
The route crosses the north-west of the island from the Chania coast.
The fare covers the transfer, the guiding and the boat, with extras sold separately at the port.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this version over buying the ferry ticket alone for one reason: the stop times are stated and they are long. Two and a half hours at Balos and two on Gramvousa is more than most Balos packages give you, and time at the stops is the single most common complaint about every other operator on this route. Here it is written into the listing.
The second reason is the ticket handover. Your guide meets you at the Cretan Daily Cruises office and gives you the tickets directly, which removes the port queue on the busiest boat departure in western Crete.
Reviewers consistently praise the guides by name, Dania and Donia both appear, described as attentive, organised and informative throughout the drive. A British reviewer called the coach and ferry transport well organised and the whole trip excellent. A Romanian guest praised the guide’s organisation in every way.
Three things to know, because this scores 4.30 and the complaints cluster tightly.
The morning wait at the port is the recurring problem. Three separate French reviewers raised it: a 90-minute wait with no explanation, arriving at 09:10 for a boat that leaves at 10:55, and a 90-minute wait described as simply too long. Pick-ups run early to cover the whole coast, and the boat leaves when it leaves.
Seating on the boat is tight. A Polish reviewer found it a bit short on seats though still possible to find a place, and another warned about crowds when disembarking. The boat is the large Kissamos ferry, shared with everyone else on that sailing.
Group timekeeping varies. One British reviewer wished the guide had stayed with the group to manage people who were late back to the boat.
If you have your own car and would rather not pay for the transfer, the boat ticket alone from Kissamos port costs about the same as this whole package.
Be early at the pick-up point, bring the €1 coin, and plan for the port wait.
Personalised pick-up information arrives by separate email from Quality Travel around 20:00 the day before, check your spam folder. The bus waits a maximum of 5 minutes at the pick-up point.
Bring comfortable and hiking shoes, sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, water, beachwear, cash and a credit card. Pets are not permitted.
You get about 2.5 hours at Balos and 2 hours on Gramvousa, which is longer than most packages on this route.
Pick-up and drop-off are included by air-conditioned car or minivan, from a point near your hotel in the Chania or Rethymno area.
No, your guide hands over the tickets at the Cretan Daily Cruises office, so you board without the port queue.
Reviewers report waits of up to 90 minutes. Pick-ups run early to cover the coast, and the boat departs at its fixed time of 10:35 or 10:55.
Lunch is an optional extra, offering a choice of main with a small Greek salad and a bottle of water.
The Kissamos municipality environmental fee, payable in cash by every visitor to Balos and Gramvousa.
Check dates and prices for the Balos and Gramvousa cruise with transfer.
This cruise sails from Kolymbari around the Rodopou peninsula to two beaches you cannot drive to: Menies, on the site of the ancient sanctuary of Diktynna, and Chironisia bay, reachable only from the sea. Smile Cruises runs it for 4 hours with snorkelling gear and a guide included, from €40, departing at 10:15 and 14:30. The tour holds a 4.51 rating across 663 reviews.
The boat rounds the Rodopou peninsula, the northernmost finger of Crete, and stops twice. Both stops are for swimming, and both reward a snorkel.
First is Menies beach, which sits on the site of ancient Diktynna, where the most important temple to the goddess Britomartis once stood. Remains of the Roman temple are visible on land, along with an abandoned 9th-century monastery of St George. In the water sits the sunken base of a gun carriage from the Second World War, shallow enough to snorkel down to. Second is Chironisia bay, a small hidden inlet with deep blue water and small caves you can swim into with the gear provided.
The boat anchors about 6 metres offshore at Menies, so reaching the sand means a short swim in shallow water.
The route covers the Rodopou peninsula west of Chania, and two of its points have their own page here.
The fare covers the boat, the guiding and the snorkelling kit, and food and drink are sold on board rather than included.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this cruise because it reaches two places a hire car cannot. Menies is at the end of a rough track that eats rental tyres, and Chironisia has no land access at all, so the boat is not a convenience here, it is the only sensible way in. That is a genuinely different proposition from the beaches you can park at.
What reviewers consistently praise is the time in the water. Guests describe plenty of swimming and snorkelling at both stops, and several say the trip length is exactly right, long enough to feel like an outing, short enough to leave the rest of the day free. One family travelling with children aged 8 and 10 reported the snorkelling as the highlight of their trip. Another group went ashore at Menies and found goats on the beach.
The archaeology is a real bonus rather than a marketing line. A Roman temple site and a 9th-century monastery sitting behind an empty beach is unusual, and no other boat trip out of Chania puts you there.
Three caveats worth knowing.
The boat gets crowded. GetYourGuide’s own summary of the verified reviews says travellers find the boat busy and would prefer fewer people on board, and that is the single most repeated criticism. It scores 4.4 out of 5 on guiding, its weakest dimension.
The commentary is hard to hear. Multiple reviewers mention a poor speaker system on deck, and one French guest noted nobody spoke French. If the history is your reason for coming, read about Diktynna before you board.
The snorkelling is variable. One reviewer rated the underwater life as less spectacular than expected, with few fish at the first spot. The clear water is reliable; the fish are not.
Take the morning boat, bring water shoes, and read up on Diktynna before the guide starts talking.
Look for the Smile Cruises boat at the port of Kolymbari. Departures leave at 10:15 and 14:30, and hotel pick-up runs from between 1 hour and 10 minutes before departure depending on where you are staying, the exact time comes by email.
Bring comfortable shoes, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and beachwear. The tour does not run in poor weather, and the boat anchors 6 metres off the shore at Menies, so you need to be comfortable swimming in shallow water.
The cruise runs 4 hours, split between the sail around Rodopou and two swim stops.
The boat leaves from the port of Kolymbari, west of Chania, where the Smile Cruises vessel is moored.
Menies is reachable overland only by a rough track, and Chironisia bay has no land access at all, which is why both are visited by boat.
Snorkelling equipment is included, and the sunken WWII gun carriage at Menies is the main thing to look for with it.
No food or drink is included, though both are available to buy on board.
Children snorkel happily on this trip, with reviewers reporting 8 and 10-year-olds enjoying it, though everyone needs to swim the short distance from the anchorage to the beach.
Check dates and prices for the Menies beach and Chironisia bay cruise.
Find below the list of hotels near Telonio beach:
Situated a few steps from Telonio Beach, Beach House offers a private beach area, a garden and air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and free WiFi.
The apartment provides guests with a terrace, sea views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and a private bathroom with shower and a hair dryer. A fridge, a stovetop and kitchenware are also available, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.
Guests at Beach House can enjoy tennis on site, or hiking in the surroundings.
Mavros Molos Beach is 700 metres from the accommodation, while Kissamos / Kasteli Port is 4.2 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 50 km from Beach House.
from
€95
/night
Mandy Suites lies in the centre of Kissamos, 5 metres from the sea. It offers a bar, swimming pool and modern accommodation with garden, pool or sea views.
All of the studios and apartments at Mandy Suites feature private bathrooms and kitchenettes with fridge. Each has a TV, while air conditioning is available upon surcharge.
Guests can enjoy relaxing moments under the Cretan sun, at the hotel’s sun terrace. Free sun beds and umbrellas are provided at the on-site pool.
The recently renovated Mandy Suites benefit from free parking facilities and free Wi-Fi throughout.
Revekka Rooms is just 20 metres from the cosmopolitan Telonio Beach and 100 metres from the centre of Kissamos Town. It offers air-conditioned accommodation with balconies and city views. Free WiFi internet access is available.
Decorated with wooden furnishings, all accommodation types feature an LCD TV, electric kettle and fridge, as well as a safety deposit box. They also have a private, en-suite bathroom with a shower.
A breakfast with local homemade products is served daily at the Cellar, the beachfront restaurant 60 metres from the property, offering views to Kissamos Bay. Guests can also enjoy traditional Cretan and international dishes during lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and ice creams. A playground for children is also featured here.
Staff can arrange transfers, car hires, guided tours and excursions. Guests are offered discount coupons on several venues.
Revekka Rooms is a 25-minute drive from the city of Chania and a 40-minute drive from Chania airport. Free private parking is available on site.
Located in Kissamos and within 200 metres of Telonio Beach, Argo Rooms-Papadakis features a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. The property is around 500 metres from Mavros Molos Beach, 3.7 km from Kissamos / Kasteli Port and 16 km from Ancient Falassarna. The accommodation provides an ATM, a concierge service and organising tours for guests.
At the hotel, rooms are equipped with a desk. Complete with a private bathroom equipped with a shower and a hairdryer, guest rooms at Argo Rooms-Papadakis have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning, and selected rooms come with a terrace. At the accommodation each room has bed linen and towels.
Guests at Argo Rooms-Papadakis can enjoy a continental breakfast.
Agios Dimitrios Church is 27 km from the hotel, while Platanias Square is 28 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International, 51 km from Argo Rooms-Papadakis, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€42
/night
Located 400 metres from Telonio Beach, Lysithea Apartments – brand new, stylish & central offers air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and free WiFi.
The aparthotel provides guests with a terrace, mountain views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge and a stovetop, and a private bathroom with shower and a hair dryer. Kitchenware is also featured, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.
A car rental service is available at Lysithea Apartments – brand new, stylish & central.
Mavros Molos Beach is 1.1 km from the accommodation, while Kissamos / Kasteli Port is 4.2 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International, 50 km from Lysithea Apartments – brand new, stylish & central, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Limosa Luxury Residences has quiet street views, free WiFi and free private parking, situated in Kissamos, 400 metres from Telonio Beach. The accommodation is air conditioned and features a hot tub.
The villa provides guests with a terrace, pool views, a seating area, satellite flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven, and a private bathroom with walk-in shower and bathrobes. A microwave, a toaster and fridge are also available, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.
Limosa Luxury Residences offers a seasonal outdoor pool.
Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the accommodation, while snorkelling and hiking can be enjoyed nearby.
Mavros Molos Beach is 600 metres from Limosa Luxury Residences, while Kissamos / Kasteli Port is 3.6 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International, 51 km from the villa, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€186
/night
Find below list of beaches near Telonio beach:
The Livadia beach, commencing 1km east of the Kissamos stadium and concluding at Korfalonas beach, is a small 2km stretch of the extensive beach that originates from Kissamos and finishes at Nopigia in the Rodopos Peninsula. The beach, like its neighbours, is characterized by its sandy terrain with occasional pebbles. It is exposed to the wind, making the water typically shallow and wavy.
Despite being not highly organized, it features several spots with umbrellas, small hotels, and restaurants. Its expansive length gives an impression of emptiness. On calm days, it is an ideal choice for those seeking a tranquil spot to swim yet remaining in proximity to urban conveniences.
Situated directly in front of the town of Kissamos, and 36km west of Chania, you’ll find Mavros Molos beach, also known as the ‘black jetty’. This long bay is historically significant, with remnants of the ancient port of Kissamos discovered here. As the primary beach of Kissamos town, it attracts the highest number of swimmers in the region. Its fine sand and shallow waters make it an ideal spot for families and children. Adjacent to the beach, a variety of cafes, restaurants and hotels can be found. Facilities such as umbrellas, sunbeds, lifeguard services and showers are available for beachgoers. Additionally, tamarisk trees offer natural shade.
To the west of the main beach, Mavros Molo’s features a smaller, pebbly and rocky cove. This secluded spot rarely gets crowded, making it perfect for snorkelling.
Korfalonas beach, nestled between Livadia and Drapanias beaches, is situated 4.5km to the east of Kissamos and 32km to the west of Chania city. The beach takes its name from a nearby settlement of the same name, found a few kilometres to the south of the beach.
The beach of Korfalonas is characterized by its long stretch of sandy shore and shallow waters, forming a central part of the extensive beach that extends from Kissamos to Cape Rodopos. Despite its seclusion, it offers basic amenities such as umbrellas, showers, and nearby taverns and hotels.
Korfalonas is a perfect destination for those seeking a tranquil vacation, with its essential facilities close at hand. Adjacent to the beach, visitors may observe some deserted factories and antiquated buildings.
Damialis beach, situated 37km west of Chania and a short 1.5km north of Kissamos, can be easily accessed via the main road that connects Kissamos to Falassarna. This petite cove boasts pristine deep waters, eye-catching rocks, and tiny pebbles, all while being well-shielded from strong winds. Though the beach is not equipped with facilities, visitors can seek shade under the tamarisk trees. A springboard on the rocks also adds to the charm of the beach.
The beach derives its name from the picturesque St. John Damialis church, nestled inside a cave above the beach. A brief path from the church crosses the road via a small tunnel, leading straight to the beautiful beach.
A mere 200m south of Damialis, one can discover the three to four small coves of Delfini, or Dolphin, named after a local hotel. These secluded beaches are tranquil, though occasionally, streams may deposit rubbish on the shores.
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