Best things to do in Karteros in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Karteros is a coastal village on the north coast of Crete, 5.6 km east of Heraklion and 2.5 km from Heraklion airport. The village sits on a wide bay of fine golden sand that runs roughly 3 km east from the mouth of the Karteros Gorge. Karteros and Amnissos are the two neighbourhoods of that bay, and they have grown together as the area developed.
Hersonissos lies 16.7 km east and Agios Nikolaos 48.9 km. Karteros suits a first or last night on Crete because of the airport. 7 beaches sit within 12 km, Ancient Amnisos is 300 m away, and 2 gorges reach the coast within 7 km.
Things to do in and around Karteros
6 outings lie within about 7 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Visit Ancient Amnisos. The site stands 300 m from the village, in the Amnissos neighbourhood that shares the bay with Karteros, and it is covered on our Ancient Amnisos page.
- Swim at Karteros beach. Fine golden sand, a little pebble in places and shallow water with almost no rocks make the bay 800 m from the village an easy swim. It faces open sea and catches the northerly wind, so the surface turns wavy towards the eastern end, as the Karteros beach page explains.
- Move on to Vathianos Kambos. Several linked bays of golden sand and shallow water lie 3 km east, with small piers built to break the waves, hold the sand and protect swimmers through July and August.
- Spend a day at Kokkini Hani. The resort 5.5 km away takes its name from Kokkinis’s Inn, where a man called Kokkinis put up travellers heading for Heraklion in the early 1900s. Its sandy beaches sit behind artificial mini piers and stay open to the public even where they front hotels, which the Kokkini Hani page sets out.
- Go into Heraklion. The largest city on Crete and the capital of the region, 5.6 km west, holds the market and the museums, and the Minoan civilisation flourished here more than 5,000 years ago; the Heraklion city page covers it.
- Walk the Astrakiano Gorge. The gorge and its neighbour Kounaviano converge near Skalani village and empty onto Karteros beach, with a combined length of about 21 km and easy trails that suit families. The entrance is 6.7 km from Karteros, and the Astrakiano Gorge page describes the route past the Astrakiani Kamara bridge to the Neraidospilios pond and water caves.
About the village and its setting
Karteros takes its name from a battle. The name honours the Byzantine general Krateros, who landed on this bay in 824 AD in a failed attempt to free Crete from the Saracens. That bay is the one the village still sits on, running 3 km east from the gorge mouth.
Two things shape the village today: the airport 2.5 km away and Heraklion 5.6 km west. The settlement runs into Amnissos along the same shore, so the bay reads as one continuous front rather than two villages. Behind it, the Astrakiano and Kounaviano gorges drain out of the Mount Jiouktas area and finish at this beach, and the gorge mouth marks the western end of the sand.
Beaches in and around Karteros
7 beaches lie within 12 km of Karteros, and the closest one starts 800 m from the village. Most of them face north into the open sea.
- Karteros begins 800 m away, a 3 km bay of fine golden sand with shallow, nearly rock-free water, wavier at its eastern end.
- Vathianos Kambos lies 3 km away, several continuous bays named after the village of Vathia inland, with piers holding the sand against the summer waves.
- Kokkini Hani sits 5.5 km away, sandy with shallow turquoise water, umbrellas, lifeguards and water sports, set among the crops of a fertile plain.
- Gournes stands 6.2 km away, part of the 23 km run of continuous beachfront that starts at Vathianos Kambos and ends at Malia.
- Gouves is 8.7 km away at the foot of Mount Ederi, sandy and quieter than Malia or Hersonissos, with umbrellas, sunbeds and lifeguards.
- Ammoudara lies 10.9 km away, in the Heraklion area.
- Aposelemis sits 11.5 km away, the furthest of the 7 from the village.
The north wind is the common factor along this coast. It raises chop at Karteros, Gournes and Vathianos Kambos alike, and the piers at Vathianos Kambos and Kokkini Hani were built to break those waves and hold the sand.
Where to eat in Karteros
Eating in Karteros means beach bars, a souvlaki house and a bakery, all within about 1 km of the village.
- Kritikos Fournos Daily is a bakery in the village itself.
- Souvlakoupoli Karteros serves souvlaki 500 m out.
- Avlogyros stands 500 m from the village.
- Yabanaki Beach Bar sits on the beach, 700 m away.
- Coconut Beachbar & Resto is a beach bar and restaurant 1.1 km out.
Getting to Karteros
Karteros lies on the coast immediately east of Heraklion airport, 2.5 km from the terminal, so arrivals reach it without crossing the city. Heraklion is 5.6 km west and Hersonissos 16.7 km east along the same coastline.
Agios Nikolaos sits 48.9 km east, far enough to be a day out. Inland, the resort of Kato Gouves is 9.2 km away and rents cars and motorbikes on site, and the village of Archanes lies 11.2 km away.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Karteros in Crete?
Karteros lies 5.6 km east of Heraklion, on the north coast of Crete in the Heraklion region. Hersonissos is 16.7 km further east.
How far is Karteros from Heraklion airport?
Heraklion airport sits 2.5 km from Karteros, and the beach runs directly beside it. Heraklion city is 5.6 km west of the village.
Does Karteros have a beach?
Karteros beach starts 800 m from the village and runs about 3 km east. The sand is fine and golden with some pebble, and the water is shallow with almost no rocks.
Where does the name Karteros come from?
The name honours the Byzantine general Krateros. Krateros landed on this bay in 824 AD in an attempt to free Crete from the Saracens, and the attempt failed.
Can you walk a gorge from Karteros?
Yes, the Astrakiano Gorge ends at Karteros beach. It joins the Kounaviano gorge near Skalani, the pair run about 21 km in total, and the trails are easy enough for children. The Agia Anastasia Gorge, 6.8 km away, is the other option, though the descent takes about three hours and rubbish from nearby sheepfolds is a known problem.
Where Karteros is
Best things to do in Karteros in 2024 is located at Karteros. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
