Best things to do in Kastelli town in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Kastelli is an inland town in the Pediada, the rural district of the Heraklion region, lying south of Hersonissos and south-east of Heraklion. More than 2,000 people live here, which makes Kastelli a working town with modern amenities and public services rather than a resort, and the smaller settlements of the surrounding countryside look to it for everyday errands.
Heraklion airport is the nearest terminal to the town, and Agios Nikolaos lies east. Kastelli works as a base for the archaeology of the Pediada plain: a Minoan settlement, an ancient city, a monastery and a hilltop citadel all sit within 5 km, and two long gorges begin about 10 km out.
Things to do in and around Kastelli
6 things to do around Kastelli lie within about 11 km of the town, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk to the Minoan settlement. The Minoan settlement of Kastelli lies 200 m from the town centre, close enough to reach on foot from anywhere in Kastelli.
- See the Kallergis monastery. The monastery stands 3.6 km from the town, and our page on Kallergis Monastery near Kasteli covers the visit.
- Visit the ancient city of Lyktos. The site sits 3.7 km from Kastelli; read what remains there on the Ancient Lyktos page.
- Climb to the Smari citadel. The hilltop site 4.5 km away is known both as Smari Citadel and as the Acropolis of Smari.
- Walk the Aposelemis gorge. The canyon starts 9.7 km from Kastelli and ends near Hersonissos at the settlement of Agrianá, known locally as Adrianna; the Aposelemis Gorge page has the route.
- Hike the Roza gorge. This branch of the larger Ambelos Gorge begins 10.4 km from the town, near the Panagia Kera Kardiotissa Monastery in the Ano Kera region, and is walked on a marked trail along the sides rather than in the riverbed, as the Roza Gorge page explains.
About the town and its setting
Kastelli is a town of more than 2,000 people set in the rural area of the Pediada, and that population supports a level of service most Cretan villages do not carry. Modern amenities and public offices stay open through the year for residents and visitors alike.
The town runs its own cultural calendar. Concerts, exhibitions and theatre plays are organised through the year by the municipality, the school and the cultural centre, and the August Feast of Xenitemenou honours the town’s ex-patriots with folklore performances, concerts and exhibitions.
Around the town the land is farming country, dotted with villages older than their size suggests. Diavaide, 800 m away, has a population of 120 and stands at 355 m above sea level, and documents in the Ducal Archives at Chandax place it here by at least 1378.
Villages near Kastelli
4 villages lie within 5 km of Kastelli, and the nearest of them is walking distance from the edge of town.
- Diavaide lies 800 m away, a village of 120 people at 355 m elevation whose Byzantine church of Agios Georgios Sfakiotis carries a fresco of Saint George and Saint Demeter riding horses through the sea among sea creatures. Diavaide sits far from the coast, yet it took part in all the major battles of Crete’s fight for freedom.
- Kastamonitsa sits 4.1 km from Kastelli.
- Agia Paraskevi stands 4.2 km from Kastelli.
- Askoi follows at 4.5 km from Kastelli.
Gorges near Kastelli
4 gorges lie between 9.7 km and 12.4 km from the town, and the 2 nearest are the ones with a described route.
- Aposelemis Gorge starts 9.7 km away and is the longest canyon in the northern part of the Heraklion prefecture. Water shows in parts of the canyon only after heavy rainfall, though phyllite rock keeps the river flowing higher up through the wet months. Despite its length and its closeness to Heraklion it stays little visited.
- Roza Gorge begins 10.4 km away and is named for the pink tint of its walls, since roz means pink. It joins the rural road through the Ambelos Gorge near the village of Gonies, and oleander in the riverbed marks where surface water gathers after rain.
- Embasa Gorge lies 10.8 km from Kastelli.
- Agia Anastasia Gorge sits 12.4 km from Kastelli.
Where to eat in Kastelli
Eating and drinking in Kastelli happens in the centre, where the cafés sit about 100 m apart.
- Cafe – Bar Καστελλι Πεδιαδος is a café and bar in the centre, 100 m out.
- Niki’s Coffee pours coffee in the centre, 100 m out.
Getting to Kastelli
Reach Kastelli by leaving the coastal towns and climbing inland onto the Pediada, south of Hersonissos and south-east of Heraklion. Heraklion airport is the nearest terminal. Agios Nikolaos lies east of the town, which puts Kastelli between the two regions.
A car earns its keep here. Ancient Lyktos, the Smari citadel, the Kallergis monastery and the two gorges all sit between 3.6 km and 10.4 km out on country roads. The exception is Diavaide, 800 m away and easy to reach on foot.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kastelli in Crete?
Kastelli lies in the Pediada, south of Hersonissos and south-east of Heraklion. The town falls within the Heraklion region and sits inland, away from the coast.
Which airport is closest to Kastelli?
Heraklion airport is the closest airport to Kastelli. The town sits south-east of Heraklion city on the Pediada plain, and Agios Nikolaos lies east.
Does Kastelli have a beach?
Kastelli has no beach, because it is an inland town in the rural Pediada. Hersonissos, to the north, is the nearest of the major towns, and the villages around Kastelli, Diavaide among them, are described as lying far from the sea.
What is Kastelli known for?
Kastelli is known for its year-round events and for the archaeology on its doorstep. The municipality, the school and the cultural centre put on concerts, exhibitions and theatre plays, and the August Feast of Xenitemenou celebrates the town’s ex-patriots with folklore performances, concerts and exhibitions. A Minoan settlement sits 200 m from the centre and the ancient city of Lyktos 3.7 km out.
Can you walk a gorge from Kastelli?
Yes, 2 gorges start about 10 km from Kastelli. The Aposelemis canyon, 9.7 km out, is the longest in the northern part of the Heraklion prefecture and finishes near Hersonissos at the settlement of Agrianá. The Roza gorge, 10.4 km out, is walked on a marked trail along its sides rather than in the riverbed.
Where Kastelli town is
Best things to do in Kastelli town in 2024 is located at Kastélli town. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
