Best things to do in Litsarda in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Litsarda is a village in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region, set in the hills south-east of Chania between Souda Bay and the Bay of Georgioupolis. Litsarda has two well-known neighbours within 3 km: Kefalas, a hilltop village our page places about 30 km east of Chania, and Gavalochori, 26 km south-east of the city. Neither has a beach, so the coast is a short drive in either direction.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. The village makes a base for the Apokoronas villages and for the coves on both sides of the Drapanos peninsula, with 7 beaches inside 9 km and 8 tavernas and cafés within 3.5 km.
Things to do in and around Litsarda
6 outings lie within 6 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Find Blumosifi’s well. The old cistern known as Blumosifi’s Well stands 2.1 km from Litsarda.
- Walk the lanes of Kefalas. The hilltop village 2.5 km away sits on the slopes of the Drapanos peninsula and looks out over the Bay of Georgioupolis, the Lefka Ori and, on a clear day, Rethymno. A cluster of churches gives Kefalas its nickname, and the village has no beach of its own.
- Explore Gavalochori. The village 2.6 km away keeps Venetian stone arches, churches, an olive oil factory and Roman tombs, and a complex about 1 km outside it holds 24 Venetian wells among trees with twisted branches. Gavalochori takes its name from the Gavalas family, who lived here under Venetian rule.
- Visit the folklore museum. The Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is 2.6 km from Litsarda.
- Swim off the dock at Ombros Gialos. The bay 4.4 km away is rocky rather than sandy, and its little harbour dock drops straight into deep blue-green water. Ombros Gialos is unorganised, with one well-known fish tavern and no sunbeds or beach bars.
- Spend a day at Almyrida. The resort 5.5 km away has 2 shallow sandy beaches split by a rocky peninsula with a white chapel on it, backed by tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre. The islet of Karga lies just off Almyrida beach.
About the village and its setting
Litsarda is a small inland village in Apokoronas, the stretch of the Chania region that runs east from Souda Bay towards Georgioupolis. Litsarda sits among the olive groves and open countryside that characterise this part of Crete.
Those neighbours carry most of the area’s history. Gavalochori, 2.6 km away, is named after a family of the Venetian period and still shows Venetian stone arches, Roman tombs and an olive oil factory, and a set of 24 Venetian wells survives about 1 km outside it. Kefalas, 2.5 km away, is a Byzantine-era hilltop village known for its churches and for a view that takes in the Bay of Georgioupolis, the White Mountains and Rethymno.
Tavernas and cafés are the other thing this cluster of villages has in quantity. 8 of them lie within 3.5 km of Litsarda, attached to the neighbouring villages rather than to the coast.
Beaches in and around Litsarda
Litsarda has no beach of its own, because the village sits inland in the hills. 7 beaches lie within 9 km, split between the south shore of Souda Bay to the north-west and the long sandy bay at Georgioupolis to the east.
- Ombros Gialos lies 4.4 km away on the east coast of the Drapanokefala peninsula, a small rocky bay with a harbour dock, deep clear water and a single fish tavern.
- Kalivaki sits 5.4 km away at the mouth of the Almyros river, the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, sheltered from the wind with shallow, noticeably cool water that suits children.
- Almyrida is 5.5 km away on the south shore of Souda Bay near Cape Drapanos, 2 shallow sandy bays that stay calm on windless days, with tavernas and sunbeds behind them.
- Georgioupolis lies 5.9 km away, 2 km of sand and dunes with shallow water, lifeguards, umbrellas and showers, at the western end of a 10 km shoreline. Currents make it one to treat carefully on windy days.
- Kera sits 6 km away on the southern shore of Souda Bay under tall cliffs, soft sand with the odd pebble, shallow and clear but unorganised, looking out to Karga island and the long rock called Karavos.
- Koutalis is 7.2 km away.
- Kavros lies 9 km away, the eastward continuation of the Georgioupolis sand.
Where to eat near Litsarda
Eating near Litsarda means village tavernas and mezedopolia rather than a seafront row, the nearest of them 1.7 km out.
- Gaidaros Cooperative Cafe sits 1.7 km away, the closest of the group.
- Ortaki Tavern is 2.5 km out.
- Library Tavern lies 2.8 km out.
Getting to Litsarda
Drive to Litsarda from the north-coast road, turning inland into Apokoronas. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Our page for Kefalas, 2.5 km away, puts that village about 30 km east of Chania, and Georgioupolis on the coast is 38 km east of Chania and 21 km west of Rethymno.
A car is the sensible way to use the village, because the beaches, museums and tavernas are scattered across several settlements. Walkers can pick up the Diktamos Gorge, which starts 21 km east of Chania near Katochori at 300 m and runs 8 km down to Faragi village near Stylos, a route of about 3 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Litsarda in Crete?
Litsarda is an inland village in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region, south-east of Chania city. Kefalas lies 2.5 km away and Gavalochori 2.6 km, and our pages place those two about 30 km east and 26 km south-east of Chania.
Does Litsarda have a beach?
Litsarda has no beach, because it is an inland village. 7 beaches lie within 9 km, with Ombros Gialos nearest at 4.4 km, then Kalivaki at 5.4 km and Almyrida at 5.5 km.
Which beach near Litsarda is good for children?
Kalivaki, 5.4 km away, is the sheltered choice for children. It sits at the mouth of the Almyros river, out of the wind, with shallow water that runs cool. Georgioupolis has lifeguards and shallow sand but currents on windy days, and the 2 bays at Almyrida stay calm when there is no wind.
What is there to see near Litsarda?
Two historic villages, a folklore museum and a set of Venetian wells lie within 3 km of Litsarda. Gavalochori has Venetian arches, Roman tombs and an olive oil factory, Kefalas has its churches and its view, and the folklore museum and Blumosifi’s well are both about 2.5 km out.
Which airport is nearest to Litsarda?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Litsarda. The village lies south-east of Chania city, inland from the north coast.
Where Litsarda is
Best things to do in Litsarda in 2024 is located at Litsarda. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
