Best things to do in Agriana in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Agriana is an inland village in the Heraklion region of Crete, 3.9 km west of Hersonissos. The village is known locally as Adrianna, and the Aposelemis Canyon, the longest canyon in the northern part of the Heraklion prefecture, ends at the settlement. Agriana stands 2.6 km back from the coast at Analipsi, with the resorts of Anissaras and Gouves either side of it.
Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport to the village. Agriana sits behind one of the busiest stretches of the north coast: 5 beaches lie within 4.3 km, a gorge finishes at the village itself, and the nearest place to eat is 500 m away.
Things to do in and around Agriana
Six outings lie within 7 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the Aposelemis Gorge. The canyon ends at Agriana and runs south from it, and Aposelemis carries vertical rock walls, with water in parts of it only after heavy rain.
- Swim at Analipsi. The village 2.6 km north is named after the Ascension of Christ church, and Analipsi stays less touristy than the resorts on either side of it.
- Watch birds at the Aposelemis wetland. The river mouth 2.8 km north-west forms a pond that migratory and rare birds use, and Aposelemis beach beside it is sandy and shallow.
- Climb to Pano Gouves. The hill village 3 km west stands at 100 m on the western slopes of Ederi hill, and Pano Gouves is the traditional settlement above the coastal resort of Kato Gouves.
- Dive off the dock at Sarandaris. The coves 4.1 km north-east run from Cape Sarandaris to Hersonissos harbour, and Sarandaris has a concrete dock beside the chapel of St George for divers and snorkellers.
- Spend an evening in Hersonissos. The resort 4.1 km east has the bars, cafés and shops the inland villages do not, and Hersonissos keeps its calmest water west of the port.
About the village and its setting
Agriana is a small inland settlement in the Heraklion region, set between the coastal resorts and the hill villages of the Pediada. The Aposelemis river runs down to it through the canyon that shares its name and reaches the sea 2.8 km north-west, where it forms one of the significant wetlands of northern Crete. Water shows in the gorge only after heavy rain, though the river holds water higher up through the wet months because of the phyllite rock there.
Villages rather than resorts fill the ground south and west. Kalo Chorio stands 4 km south at 320 m, on the National Road to Agios Nikolaos, and the Maza hilltop south-east of it reaches 457 m; a town is believed to have stood there between the 10th and 8th centuries BC. Lagou lies 6.9 km south. A second walk, the Agia Anastasia Gorge, starts 6.5 km west at Kenourgio Horio and drops to the coast at Gournes in about three hours, though rubbish from nearby sheepfolds spoils parts of it.
Beaches in and around Agriana
Agriana has no beach of its own, and the 5 nearest lie between 2.6 km and 4.3 km away, north and east. Cape Sarandaris divides them: long sand to the west, smaller and calmer coves to the east.
- Analipsi lies 2.6 km north, the nearest shore to the village. Analipsi sits in a fertile valley of olive groves and was called Svourou Metohi in the early 20th century; after liberation the land went to shepherds from the Lasithi Plateau as winter grazing.
- Aposelemis sits 2.8 km north-west, where the river meets the sea between Analipsi and Gouves. A wetland pond backs the sand, the water runs shallow and cool, and only a handful of umbrellas and sunbeds stand on it.
- Anissaras is 3.9 km north-east, west of Cape Sarandaris. Small sandy beaches front a line of large hotels, the seabed is rocky enough to suit snorkellers, and waves are regular. The stretch nearest Analipsi is the longest and the sandiest.
- Sarandaris coves follow at 4.1 km north-east, also called Limanakia, running from the cape to Hersonissos harbour. Cape Sarandaris blocks the strong north-west wind, so the water here stays calm, and a staircase leads down to a rocky sunbathing spot.
- Hersonissos stands 4.3 km east. The beaches west of the port lie in the shelter of Cape Sarandaris and stay quiet; east of the port the sand is narrow, fully organised and busy through the season.
Where to eat in Agriana
Eating starts inside Agriana itself, 500 m from the centre, and widens towards Analipsi 2 km north. The range covers taverna cooking, cafés and roadside canteens.
- Aspalathos Restaurant Agriana stands in the village, 500 m south.
- Kantina Droulos sits 1.7 km north.
- Orange Cafe lies 1.9 km north, beside Barbantonis.
- Sirtaki Restaurant is a Greek tavern 2 km north.
Getting to Agriana
Reach Agriana from the coast road, turning inland at Analipsi 2.6 km north or across from Hersonissos 3.9 km east. The National Road to Agios Nikolaos passes the villages above, with the turning for Pano Gouves at the 17.3 km mark and the Kalo Chorio crossroads at km 16.7.
Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport, and Heraklion city lies west along the coast. A car helps, though less than in most inland villages, because the beaches are 3 km to 4 km away and the resorts of Gouves and Hersonissos sit on the coast road either side of the turning.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Agriana in Crete?
Agriana lies in the Heraklion region of Crete, 3.9 km west of Hersonissos and 2.6 km south of the coast at Analipsi. The village is also known as Adrianna, and it sits at the end of the Aposelemis Canyon.
Does Agriana have a beach?
Agriana is inland and has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 4.3 km. Analipsi, 2.6 km north, is the nearest, and the coves at Sarandaris hold the calmest water because the cape shelters them from the north-west wind.
How far is Agriana from Hersonissos?
Hersonissos lies 3.9 km east of Agriana. The resort holds the bars, cafés and shops of this part of the coast, and its quieter beaches sit west of the port.
Can you walk a gorge from Agriana?
Yes, the Aposelemis Canyon ends at Agriana itself. It is the longest canyon in the north of the Heraklion prefecture, it has steep vertical walls, and it stays little walked despite sitting close to Heraklion.
Which airport is nearest to Agriana?
Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport to Agriana. The approach runs along the north coast through Gouves and Analipsi.
Where Agriana is
Best things to do in Agriana in 2024 is located at Agrianá. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
