Best things to do in Prina in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Prina is an inland village in the Lasithi region of eastern Crete, 10.4 km north-west of Ierapetra and 11 km south of Agios Nikolaos. Prina sits inland between the north and south coasts of eastern Crete. The village has no shoreline of its own, and the nearest beaches are the Istron bays on the north coast, about 6 km away.
Sitia airport is the nearest terminal to the village, 40 km away. Prina works as a quiet base for the villages, gorges and beaches of the Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos hinterland rather than as a resort in itself.
Things to do in and around Prina
Six outings lie within about 10 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Drive up to Kalamafka. The village of Kalamafka lies 3.6 km away at 480 m, on the Kalo Horio to Prina road. The Kastelos hill above it looks over the county of Ierapetra and the Libyan Sea, and the cave called 40 Chambers, with the small chapel of Timios Stavros inside, sits at the top.
- Walk the Havgas gorge. The Havgas gorge at Kalamafka lies 4.2 km away, between the peaks of Megali Korfi (1,103 m) and Kokies (993 m). Its stream, the Kapsous, is the main tributary of the Kalamavkianos river, and the canyon is short but full of unusual rock formations.
- See the Priniatikos Tower. The Priniatikos Tower stands 5.6 km from the village.
- Swim at Voulisma. The Blue Flag beach 6.1 km away, Voulisma, is known locally as Golden Beach. It shelves gently into shallow, calm water, which makes swimming easy for children.
- Visit Anatoli. The village 6.9 km away sits at 600 m and is visible from the plain below. Anatoli is nicknamed the village of the rising sun for the way the sun lights it, and its residents founded the coastal settlements of Stomio, Nea Anatoli and Ammoudares while working the glasshouse crops in the 1970s.
- Hike the Kritsa gorge. The 4 km route starts near the stone bridge at Kritsa, 9.5 km away, ends at Tapes village and narrows to 1.5 m in places. Skip the Kritsa gorge after rain, because the ponds that form in it block the path.
About the village and its setting
Prina is an inland settlement in the hinterland between Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos, and its position on the Kalo Horio to Prina road is what defines it. That road carries traffic from the north coast up to Kalamafka, so the village sits on the link between the Mirabello coast and the mountain villages behind Ierapetra.
The country around the village is one of upland villages rather than resorts. Kalamafka, 3.6 km away, has 617 residents across its own settlement and the hamlets of Kamara and Psathi, and it is ringed by plane, pine and olive forest with a spring and small waterfalls. Anatoli, 6.9 km away, has produced men of letters, notaries and university professors, and the town of Kritsa lies 7.8 km off. Eating places start 3.4 km outside Prina, so a car matters here.
Beaches in and around Prina
Prina has no beach of its own, and 5 lie within 8 km on the north coast around Istron. They differ mainly in how organised they are and how easy the access is.
- Agios Panteleimon lies 5.6 km away at Istro, part sand and part pebble, named after a small church nearby and quieter than neighbouring Voulisma.
- Voulisma sits 6.1 km away next to Istron village, a Blue Flag beach of fine golden-white sand in a sheltered cove at the southern end of Mirabello Bay, organised in summer with sunbeds, umbrellas, a beach bar, a lifeguard and showers.
- Vathi is 6.6 km away, a man-made white-sand beach in a protected cove that is not visible from the main road and is managed by the Daios Cove resort, reached by a concrete path and staircase.
- Pilos lies 7.1 km away in a steep bay 1 km east of Istron village, widely called Istron Bay after the hotel above it, with umbrellas, a canteen and a small pier, reached by a path west of the hotel.
- Listi Spilios sits 7.7 km away on the old road to Sitia and Ierapetra, rocky with sandy patches, and equipped with umbrellas, a snack bar, water sports and a beach volleyball court.
Where to eat near Prina
Eating near Prina means driving, because the closest kitchens sit between 3.4 km and 6 km outside the village.
- Taverna Oasis (Garefalakis) serves taverna cooking, 3.4 km from the village.
- Exochiko lies 5.1 km out.
- Sweety Cafe and Bakery serves coffee and baked goods, 5.2 km out.
- Valeria Pizza and Pasta serves pizza and pasta, 5.6 km out.
Getting to Prina
Reach Prina on the road that runs inland from Kalo Horio on the north coast and carries on to Kalamafka. Agios Nikolaos lies 11 km north and Ierapetra 10.4 km south-east, so the village sits between the two coasts with roughly 10 km to each.
Sitia airport is 40 km away and is the nearest terminal to the village. Hersonissos lies 36.8 km north-west, which puts Prina within a day trip of the central north coast.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Prina in Crete?
Prina lies 10.4 km north-west of Ierapetra and 11 km south of Agios Nikolaos, inland in the Lasithi region of eastern Crete.
Does Prina have a beach?
Prina is inland and has no beach, but 5 lie within 8 km on the Istron coast. Agios Panteleimon at 5.6 km is the closest, and Voulisma at 6.1 km is the closest organised beach.
How far is Prina from the nearest airport?
Sitia airport sits 40 km from Prina and is the nearest terminal to the village.
Which gorge is closest to Prina?
The Havgas gorge at Kalamafka is the closest, 4.2 km away. It runs between the Megali Korfi and Kokies peaks and is short enough to fit into a morning, while the longer Kritsa gorge lies 9.5 km away.
Is Prina a good base without a car?
A car makes a real difference in Prina. The beaches sit 6 km to 8 km north, the gorges 4 km and 9.5 km away, and the nearest eating places 3.4 km out, so nothing beyond the village itself is within walking distance.
Where Prina is
Best things to do in Prina in 2024 is located at Prína. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
