Best things to do in Kokkini Hani in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Kokkini Hani is a coastal resort on the north coast of Crete, about 15 km east of Heraklion by road and 12 km west of Hersonissos. The resort sits among the crops of the fertile plain that runs behind this shoreline, and its name means “Kokkinis’s Inn”, after the inn a man called Kokkinis kept here in the early 1900s for travellers on the road to Heraklion. Shops and restaurants fill the resort today, and its beaches lie 800 m from the centre.
Heraklion airport lies 7 km away, and Agios Nikolaos 44.5 km east. Kokkini Hani works as a beach base within reach of the city, with 4 more beaches, two gorges and the Gouves resorts all inside 11 km.
Things to do in and around Kokkini Hani
Six outings lie within about 11 km of the resort, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at the resort beaches. The Kokkini Hani beaches start 800 m from the centre, carry umbrellas, lifeguards and water sports, and stay open to the public even where they front a hotel.
- Walk the Agia Anastasia gorge. The route begins inland at Kenourgio Horio, 160 m above sea level, and ends at the coastal village of Gournes; the gorge takes its name from the cavernous chapel of Saint Anastasia near its entrance, and the nearest point of it lies 3.1 km away.
- Spend a day at Gouves. Kato Gouves, 4.6 km east, is a coastal resort with organised beaches, a sports centre, shops and small marinas, and Gouves stays quieter than Malia and Hersonissos further along the coast.
- Drive to Karteros beach. The bay 5.4 km west runs about 3 km east from the mouth of the Karteros Gorge and takes in the Karteros and Amnissos neighbourhoods; Karteros is named after the Byzantine general Krateros, who landed here in 824 AD in a failed attempt to free Crete from the Saracens.
- Hike the Astrakiano gorge. Astrakiano and Kounaviano are two green gorges that meet near Skalani and drain onto Karteros beach; the Astrakiano route starts 8.2 km away, crosses the Astrakiani Kamara bridge, and is easy enough for families.
- Visit Heraklion. The city lies about 15 km west along the coast road, and Heraklion is close enough for an afternoon without moving your base.
Beaches in and around Kokkini Hani
Kokkini Hani has several beaches of its own, 800 m from the centre, and 4 more lie within 6 km. The resort’s own shore is sandy with shallow turquoise water, and artificial mini piers protect it; sunbeds, umbrellas, lifeguards and water sports run along the front, and the stretches that sit in front of hotels stay open to everyone.
This whole coastline faces north, which shapes the swimming. Beaches nearby, among them Gournes, are exposed to the north wind, and the piers built along several of them are there to break the waves and hold the sand in place.
- Gournes lies 1.5 km east, part of a 23-kilometre run of unified beachfront that begins at Vathianos Kambos and ends at Malia. The name comes either from the Latin urna, the water troughs used for livestock, or from the Minoan larnakes found in the area.
- Vathianos Kambos sits 1.7 km away, a run of contiguous bays with golden sand and shallow water, named after the village of Vathia a few kilometres inland. Small piers break the July and August waves here, and the westernmost part holds the most developed beach in the Heraklion area.
- Gouves is 4 km east at the foot of Mount Ederi, sandy and equipped with umbrellas, sunbeds and lifeguards. Families make up much of the crowd, and the valley behind it grew vegetables, olives and cereals before the hotels arrived.
- Karteros opens 5.4 km west beside the airport, a wide bay of fine golden sand with a little pebble in places and almost no rock underfoot. The bay faces open sea and catches the northern winds, so the surface is often wavy, especially towards its eastern end.
Where to eat in Kokkini Hani
Eating in Kokkini Hani needs no car at all. The kitchens, cafés and bars sit inside the first 400 m of the resort, and the range covers taverna cooking, grills, pizza and beach bars.
- Hatzis Restaurant stands in the resort centre.
- Taverna Pratsínis serves taverna cooking, 200 m out.
- Mateo Cafe offers coffee and snacks, 200 m out.
- Arkadi Restaurant is 300 m from the centre.
- Zorbas Beach & Bar sits on the shore, 400 m out.
- Ideal Greek Taverna-Pizzeria cooks Greek dishes and pizza, 400 m out.
Getting to Kokkini Hani
Kokkini Hani sits on the coastal road east out of Heraklion, about 15 km from the city. Heraklion airport lies 7 km west, Hersonissos 12 km east and Agios Nikolaos 44.5 km east, so the resort sits between the airport and the eastern resort strip. Drivers heading for the hill villages follow the National Road towards Agios Nikolaos, the same road that reaches Pano Gouves at its 17.3 km mark.
Most of a short stay is walkable here. The beaches are 800 m out and the restaurants inside 400 m, so only the gorges, Karteros and the city need a car.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kokkini Hani in Crete?
Kokkini Hani lies about 15 km east of Heraklion by road and 12 km west of Hersonissos, on the north coast of Crete in the Heraklion region.
Does Kokkini Hani have a beach?
Kokkini Hani has several beaches, the nearest 800 m from the centre. They are sandy with shallow turquoise water, artificial mini piers shelter them, and the sections in front of hotels are open to the public.
How far is Kokkini Hani from Heraklion airport?
Heraklion airport sits 7 km west of Kokkini Hani, with the airport bay of Karteros in between.
What does the name Kokkini Hani mean?
Kokkini Hani means “Kokkinis’s Inn”. A man named Kokkinis ran a roadside inn here in the early 1900s, where travellers on their way to Heraklion could rest.
Is the sea calm at Kokkini Hani?
Artificial mini piers shelter the beaches at Kokkini Hani, and the water off them is shallow. The coast as a whole faces north and catches the north wind, which raises chop at neighbouring beaches such as Gournes and Karteros, particularly in July and August.
Can you walk a gorge from Kokkini Hani?
The Agia Anastasia gorge runs 3.1 km from the resort and ends at Gournes on the coast. The descent takes about three hours through oleander along a streambed, though litter and waste from nearby sheepfolds have been a long-standing problem on the route.
Where Kokkini Hani is
Best things to do in Kokkini Hani in 2024 is located at Kokkíni Khánion. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
