Best things to do in Livadia in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Livadia is a village on the west coast of Crete, about 31 km south of Kissamos and 72 km south-west of Chania. The village offers limited tourist amenities, and its own coves begin 300 m away. Those coves are rocky and wave-washed, as most beaches on the western side of Crete are, so they rarely appear on a visitor’s itinerary and stay a favourite of local people and anyone who wants solitude.
Chania airport is the nearest airport to Livadia. The village is for walking, snorkelling and quiet: the E4 European hiking path runs through it along the coast, and the Elafonissi corner of the island starts about 4 km away at Stomio beach.
Things to do in and around Livadia
Six outings lie within 6 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Snorkel the Livadia coves. The coves start 300 m from the village, along a rocky and often wavy shore with few facilities. On calm days the water is clear enough for snorkelling, and the coves stay quiet because they sit off the usual itinerary.
- Walk the E4 along the coast. Livadia stands directly on the E4 European hiking path, the coastal trail that begins at the village of Sfinari, so a stretch of it can be picked up from the village itself.
- Cool off at Keramoti. A stream fed by mountain springs runs alongside the pebbly beach 1.4 km away, and it and the underwater springs bring the sea temperature down. Keramoti has no facilities and is reached on a rough dirt track from Keramoti village.
- Visit the cave of the elves. Xotikospilio, 2.6 km away, is named after a local legend that elves live in the small cave beside the beach, and a tiny chapel stands inside it. The cove at Xotikospilio was the site of a massacre on Good Friday 1824, when Turkish forces killed women and children sheltering there after the Elafonissi slaughter.
- Hike the Kambos Gorge. The canyon 5 km from Livadia is the most westerly gorge on Crete, fed by the small Koutroulis massif and reached by a short detour west off the main road. The trail through Kambos runs under plane trees beside a year-round river, passes striking rock formations and ends at a natural spring, from where the path rejoins the road towards the subterranean churches of Agia Ekaterini.
- See the Chrisoskalitissa monastery. The monastery stands 5.8 km from the village, with Stomio beach 1 km to its north. Panagia Chrisoskalitissa sits at the edge of the wider Elafonissi area and pairs with a swim at Stomio.
Beaches near Livadia
Five beaches lie within about 4 km of Livadia, and none of them is organised. Pebbles, rock and cool water are the pattern, and several approaches are dirt track.
- Livadia coves lie 300 m away, rocky and exposed to the swell, used mainly by people staying in the village, and good for snorkelling when the sea is flat.
- Keramoti sits 1.4 km away, a medium-sized pebble beach with rocky sections, secluded and without amenities, and too rugged for most families.
- Xotikospilio is 2.6 km away, about 1.5 km north-west of Keramoti village, a rugged cove of large round pebbles with the cave and its chapel beside it.
- Gylisma lies 3.8 km away, also called Kambos or Afratolaki, coarse pebbles near Kambos village. High waves make it poor for swimming on windy days, the rocky seabed suits snorkelling, and the access is a 4.5 km poorly maintained dirt track.
- Stomio sits 4.2 km away, 1 km north of the Chrisoskalitissa monastery and part of the wider Elafonissi area. Large pebbles and patches of sand, cold deep water, no amenities and a small tavern close by. The name means “mouth”, after the river from the village of Vathi that reaches the sea here.
Gorges near Livadia
Four gorges lie within reach of Livadia, and the nearest two carry the walks.
- Kambos Gorge is 5 km away, the westernmost gorge on the island.
- Sirikari Gorge lies 55 km west of Chania and 17 km south of Kissamos, in green country full of canyons and streams. It splits into 2 parallel routes, Tsichliano and Kioliano, and both end at Polirinia, an ancient town whose walls still stand in a hilltop citadel above Kissamos bay.
- Topolia and Pelekaniotis is the next two gorges out, in that order.
Where to eat in Livadia
Eating in Livadia comes down to a handful of village places, the nearest about 100 m from the centre.
- Gialites Taverna is 100 m from the centre.
- Petroula’s Orange Juice Bar lies 1.9 km out.
- Krystalia Cafe sits 4.8 km out.
- Oasis is 5.6 km out.
Getting to Livadia
Livadia sits on the western coast route that leads down towards Elafonissi. Kissamos lies about 31 km north and Chania about 72 km north-east, and Chania airport is the nearest airport to the village.
A car is the practical way to use the village as a base, because several beaches either side of it are reached by dirt track. Keramoti village sits 1.4 km away, Kambos 5 km, and the Chrisoskalitissa monastery 5.8 km along the coast.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Livadia in Crete?
Livadia lies on the west coast of Crete, about 31 km south of Kissamos and 72 km south-west of Chania. The village belongs to the Chania region, on the coast road down to Elafonissi.
Does Livadia have a beach?
Livadia has coves rather than a single beach, and they begin 300 m from the village. The shore is rocky, often wavy and unorganised, so it draws local people and snorkellers rather than sunbed crowds.
Which airport is closest to Livadia?
Chania airport is the closest airport to Livadia. Chania city itself lies about 72 km north-east of the village, and Kissamos is the nearest town at roughly 31 km.
Is Livadia on the E4 path?
Livadia sits directly on the E4 European hiking path. The coastal section of the trail begins at Sfinari village and follows this shoreline past the Livadia coves.
Are the beaches near Livadia suitable for families?
Most beaches near Livadia are not suited to families. Keramoti is too rugged for young children, Gylisma takes high waves on windy days, and Stomio has cold, deep water. Calm days change the picture, and the rocky seabeds then make good snorkelling for confident swimmers.
What can you walk near Livadia?
The Kambos Gorge, 5 km from Livadia, is the nearest walk. Its trail runs under plane trees beside a year-round river and ends at a natural spring. The E4 path through the village and the Sirikari Gorge, closer to Kissamos, are the other two walks here.
Where Livadia is
Best things to do in Livadia in 2024 is located at Livadia. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
