Best things to do in Agioi Deka town in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Agioi Deka is a small town on the Messara plain in the Heraklion region of Crete, about 43 km south-west of Heraklion by road. About 820 people live here, and the town stands on the ruins of ancient Gortyn, where the Holy Ten Martyrs were put to death. Farming still supports most households, with vines and olive trees the main crops, and the area holds the oldest olive grove on the island. Rolling hills and green valleys surround the town.
Heraklion airport lies 37.1 km away, with Hersonissos 48.4 km north-east and Rethymno 55.3 km north-west. Agioi Deka is a base for the archaeology and the gorges of the Messara rather than a beach resort, and the town keeps cafés and tavernas of its own within a few hundred metres of the centre.
Things to do in and around Agioi Deka
Six outings lie within about 13 km of the town, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Take coffee in the town. Traditional Cretan kafeneia sit 100 m to 200 m from the centre, among them The Shelter.
- Walk into ancient Gortyna. The archaeological site of Gortyna lies 1.3 km from Agioi Deka, on the same ground the town itself was built over.
- Follow the Apolychnos gorge. The 3-kilometre ravine runs from near Panagia village to the traditional settlement of Agios Antonios, also called Vrelis, through country thick with olive groves; the Apolychnos gorge starts 6.9 km away, and its exit is easy to reach because it sits beside the main road from Mires.
- Spend a day at Zaros. The town 9.5 km away stands at 340 metres and is known for Lake Votomos, for trout at the taverna I Limni, and for water mills that have worked since the 16th century; Zaros also bottles the spring water the district is known for.
- See the Tripiti gorge. The gorge cuts through the Asterousia mountains south of Vassiliki village, 10.8 km from Agioi Deka, and runs more than 4 km down to a pebble beach; Tripiti narrows by the church of Saint Paraskevi at 655 m, and its upper waterfalls need canyoneering equipment.
- Hike the Rouvas gorge. The route lies 12.3 km from the town, near Zaros, and Rouvas is a well-known hiking destination in the country around Zaros.
About Agioi Deka and its setting
Agioi Deka is a farming town on the Messara plain, and agriculture rather than tourism sets the rhythm of the year. Vines and olive trees are the main crops, the oldest olive grove in Crete stands in the surrounding country, and the population of about 820 keeps the town at village scale.
History sits directly under the streets. The town was built on the ruins of ancient Gortyn, the place where the Holy Ten Martyrs were martyred, and the archaeological site of Gortyna lies 1.3 km away, so the ancient city and the modern town occupy the same ground.
Three inland neighbours sit within 10 km. Zaros, 9.5 km away, has about 3,400 residents who work in olive oil, sultanas, vegetables and spring water, and it holds a lake, a gorge, monasteries and archaeological sites of its own. Agia Varvara and Megali Vrissi both lie 9.7 km out.
Beaches in and around Agioi Deka
Agioi Deka has no beach of its own, and no beach lies within 10 km of the town. The town stands well inland on the plain, so swimming here means a drive rather than a walk.
The nearest shore this page can point to is Tripiti, a pebble beach at the foot of the Tripiti gorge in the Asterousia range. That gorge begins 10.8 km from Agioi Deka, south of Vassiliki village, and a dirt road runs along its eastern side for several kilometres before dropping into the riverbed at the sea’s edge. The Tripiti gorge carries water from the valley east of Miamou village through the Agiosavvitis river, and its lower section is the part that leads to the beach.
Where to eat in Agioi Deka
Eating in Agioi Deka means traditional kafeneia and small tavernas, the nearest 100 m from the centre. Everything below sits inside the town or within 6 km of it.
- Emilia’s Cafe is in the town, 100 m from the centre.
- The Shelter is a traditional Cretan kafeneion, 100 m out.
- Aloni is another traditional Cretan café and tavern, 200 m out.
- Cafe & Restaurant Traditional lies 1.4 km from the centre.
- Kafeneio “O Manis” sits 5.1 km out.
- Lanotte is at Moires, 6 km away.
Getting to Agioi Deka
Agioi Deka sits on the Messara plain south-west of Heraklion, about 43 km from the city by road. Agia Varvara lies 9.7 km away, and the main road through Mires runs close by, passing the exit of the Apolychnos gorge a few kilometres north of that town.
Heraklion airport lies 37.1 km away, Hersonissos 48.4 km north-east and Rethymno 55.3 km north-west. A car is worth having: the gorges start 7 km to 14 km out, the coast is further still, and Agios Charalambos Gorge, 13.7 km away, is the furthest of the four walking routes near the town.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Agioi Deka in Crete?
Agioi Deka lies about 43 km south-west of Heraklion by road, on the Messara plain, in the Heraklion region.
Does Agioi Deka have a beach?
Agioi Deka is an inland town with no beach, and none lies within 10 km. Tripiti, the pebble beach at the foot of the Tripiti gorge, is the closest shore this page covers, and the gorge itself starts 10.8 km from the town.
How far is Agioi Deka from Heraklion airport?
Heraklion airport sits on the far side of Heraklion from Agioi Deka, so the transfer runs a little longer than the drive to the city itself.
What is Agioi Deka known for?
Agioi Deka is known for standing on the ruins of ancient Gortyn, where the Holy Ten Martyrs were martyred. The town is known for its farming too: vines and olive trees are the main crops, and the oldest olive grove in Crete grows in the surrounding area.
How many people live in Agioi Deka?
About 820 people live in Agioi Deka. Most of them work in agriculture, which keeps the town closer to a working village than to a resort.
Can you walk a gorge from Agioi Deka?
The Apolychnos gorge, 6.9 km away, is the nearest and the easiest to reach. It runs about 3 km from Panagia village to Agios Antonios, and the road from Mires passes its exit. Three more follow: Tripiti at 10.8 km, Rouvas at 12.3 km and Agios Charalambos at 13.7 km.
Where Agioi Deka town is
Best things to do in Agioi Deka town in 2024 is located at Agioi Deka town. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
