Best things to do in Saktouria in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Saktouria is an inland village in the Rethymno region of Crete, set in the hills above the Libyan Sea, 5.1 km north of the seaside village of Agios Pavlos. Agios Pavlos lies 58 km south of Rethymno city and belongs largely to people from Saktouria, who reach it by a scenic drive down from the village. A second paved road runs from Saktouria to Triopetra, so the village sits at the head of the two approaches to this coast.
Heraklion is the nearest airport to Saktouria. The village works as a base above the beaches rather than on them, with 5 stretches of coast within 6 km and the resort of Agia Galini 7.2 km east.
Things to do in and around Saktouria
Things to do around Saktouria begin with a monastery 1.9 km away and reach 2 canyons about 9 km off, and the 6 below run from nearest to furthest.
- Visit Saint Anthony Monastery at Katevati. The monastery stands 1.9 km from Saktouria, the nearest of the places we cover to the village.
- Drive down to Agios Pavlos. The village sits 4.9 km away on a sheltered cove, reached by asphalt road, with small hotels, taverns and a cafe-bar beside the beach. Alatsogremni and its dunes lie west of Agios Pavlos, with the rock formations of Apoplystra between the two.
- Swim at Triopetra. One of the 2 paved roads to the beach starts at Saktouria, 5.8 km away below Mount Siderotas. A peninsula splits Triopetra into 2 beaches, and the 3 rocks beside it give the place its name.
- Spend a day in Agia Galini. The resort lies 7.2 km east on the southern shore of Amari. Its name translates as “Holy Tranquility”, and Agia Galini grew from a fishing community into a resort through the tourism boom of the 1960s and 1970s.
- See the Kinigospilios canyon. The canyon lies south of the almost abandoned village of Chordaki, 8.3 km from Saktouria, and carries water off the slopes of Mount Kedros from winter to late spring. Ropes and canyoning equipment are needed to pass the 8 waterfalls in Kinigospilios, so it is a technical descent rather than a walk.
- Look into the Smiliano Gorge. The 2.5 km canyon, also called Kalamafka, runs from near Vrysses village to a point north of Ano Meros, 9.8 km from Saktouria. The Lygiotis river fills the gorge in winter, when entry is risky even for experienced canyoners, while a dirt road from Drygies reaches a trail on the sloping wall above it.
Beaches in and around Saktouria
Beaches around Saktouria lie on the Libyan Sea between 3.1 km and 5.8 km south of the village, and most of them are pebble and rock rather than long sand. Five are listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Louros lies 3.1 km away between Agios Georgios and Agios Pavlos, a rocky shore holding small pebbly beaches. The coastal road above them looks out to the 2 Paximadia islets, Armenopetra suits snorkelling and spearfishing, and Agios Markos, also called Ligiolakos, keeps calm water that local families favour.
- Agios Georgios sits 4.6 km away in a quiet valley 3 km west of Agia Galini, where 2 small pebbly bays are separated by a rocky shore. The mild weather allows swimming through the year, and the eastern beach, Lichnistis, has a few rooms, a tavern and umbrellas. The Monastery of St George stands 500 m north.
- Agios Pavlos is 5.1 km away in a sheltered bay near the tip of Cape Melissa, with emerald deep water over a rocky seabed. Taverns and rooms sit near the sand, sunbeds, umbrellas and pedal boats are for hire, and the church of Saint Paul stands above the bay.
- Agios Pavlos Sandhills lie 5.4 km away at the southern end of the Akoumiani Gialia coastline, between Cape Melissa to the south and the Akoumianos river to the north. Large sand dunes give the beach its local name, Alatsogremi, or “salt cliffs”, the water is deep, and its seclusion means beachwear here is a loose idea.
- Triopetra sits 5.8 km away below Mount Siderotas, reached by paved road from Saktouria or Akoumia. The name means “Three Rocks”, after the rocks off the peninsula that divides the beach in two, and it began as a winter refuge for people from Akoumia who built huts by their olive groves.
Where to eat in Saktouria
Saktouria has a cafe in the village itself, and the rest of the kitchens within reach sit between 3 km and 6 km away.
- The Stones Cafe is the village kafeneio, 100 m from the centre.
- Cupaki lies 3.5 km out.
- Sleepy Dragon Cafe sits 5 km out, near Agios Pavlos.
- Taverna Hill Of Calm is 5.5 km out.
- Snack Bar Cafe Platanos stands 5.6 km out.
- Taverna Apanemia lies 5.7 km out.
Getting to Saktouria
Getting to Saktouria means driving the mountain roads of southern Rethymno, and 2 of them run from the village down to the sea. One is the scenic descent to Agios Pavlos, 4.9 km away, and the other is the paved road to Triopetra, 5.8 km away. Heraklion is the nearest airport.
Agia Galini is the larger settlement close by, 7.2 km east, and a car is the practical way to use Saktouria.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Saktouria in Crete?
Saktouria lies inland in the Rethymno region, in the hills 5.1 km north of Agios Pavlos on the Libyan Sea. Agios Pavlos sits 58 km south of Rethymno city, and Agia Galini is 7.2 km east of the village.
Does Saktouria have a beach?
Saktouria sits inland and has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 6 km. Louros is the nearest at 3.1 km, and Agios Pavlos, 5.1 km away, is the one with taverns, rooms and sunbeds at the sand.
How do you get from Saktouria to Triopetra?
A paved road runs from Saktouria down to Triopetra, 5.8 km away. The other paved approach to that beach starts at Akoumia, and most of the land and hotels there belong to descendants of Akoumia families.
Are there gorges near Saktouria?
Two canyons lie within 10 km of Saktouria, and both are technical rather than easy walks. Kinigospilios is 8.3 km away and needs ropes for its 8 waterfalls, while the Smiliano Gorge, 9.8 km away, fills with water in winter and is entered from a trail above its sloping wall.
Which airport is closest to Saktouria?
Heraklion is the closest airport to Saktouria. Agia Galini, 7.2 km east of the village, is 68 km southwest of Heraklion city.
Where Saktouria is
Best things to do in Saktouria in 2024 is located at Saktoúria. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
