Best things to do in Sirikari village in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Sirikari is an inland village in the Chania region of western Crete, set south of Kissamos at the head of the Sirikari gorge. Sirikari stands where the gorge begins, and the route splits there into two parallel paths: Tsichliano to the west, and Kioliano, also called Sirikariano, to the east. Both end at Polirinia, the site of the ancient town of the same name. A forest of tall chestnut trees stands close to the village, in country full of canyons and streams.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Sirikari is walking country rather than beach country: 4 gorges lie within 8 km of the village, the ancient site of Polirinia 5.2 km away, and 8 beaches within 10 km on the coasts of the Kissamos district.
Things to do in and around Sirikari
Six outings lie within about 5 km of the village, listed here from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the Sirikari gorge. The route starts at the village and divides into two parallel paths that both finish at Polirinia. The gorge runs through a green belt of canyons and streams, and a chestnut forest grows near its head.
- Visit the museum at Vlatos. The museum stands 3 km from Sirikari, the closest indoor stop to the village.
- Go into the Agia Sofia cave. The cave sits 3.8 km away, just above the main road where the narrow part of the Topolia gorge begins.
- Hike the Topolia gorge. The canyon starts near Strovles at 450 m and comes out near Topolia at 150 m, 4.1 km from Sirikari. Its narrowest section, between Katsomatados and Topolia, has very high, steep walls, and the River Tyflos runs through it from Mount Dikeos. Rare and endemic Cretan plants grow along the gorge and through the wider area.
- Look round Topolia village. The village 4.2 km away stands at 307 m, with the Topolian gorge to the east and Kissamos Bay to the west. Topolia sits on the road to Elafonissi and has a history running back to the second Byzantine period, with Roman coins and ceramics found nearby.
- Climb to ancient Polirinia. The site lies 5.2 km from Sirikari, and both branches of the gorge end there. The walls of Polirinia survive in reasonable condition in the citadel, on a hill looking over Kissamos bay.
Beaches in and around Sirikari
Sirikari has no beach of its own, and the 8 nearest lie between 7.1 km and 9.8 km away. Those figures are straight lines across the ridges: two of these beaches are reached only on rough dirt tracks, and every drive here runs considerably longer than the distance shown.
- Sfinari lies 7.1 km away, sand speckled with pebbles in front of Sfinari village, at the mouth of a deep valley below green mountains. Tamarisk trees give natural shade, a handful of places offer rooms and food, and calm days suit snorkelling. Sfinari draws people who want quiet, and there is no nightlife.
- Kokkina Grema sits 7.3 km away, the Red Cliffs beach, named after the reddish soil of the northern peninsula. It is at the exit of a small gorge from Platanos village and shapes the bay of Lygia. The shore is rugged and pebbly and suits camping and solitude rather than families, since it has no facilities and no shade. Bring an umbrella, and expect a poor dirt track from Platanos.
- Platanakia is 7.9 km away, a secluded cove guarded by towering cliffs at the mouth of the Kambos gorge, often deserted even in high summer. The shore mixes sand and stones, and trees near it give shade. From Kambos village it is a two-hour walk down the gorge, past plane trees and a river that runs all year.
- Gylisma stands 8.5 km away, also called Kambos or Afratolaki, a stony beach of coarse pebbles near Kambos village. High waves make it awkward for swimming on windy days, so local people use it when the sea is calm, and the rocky seabed suits snorkelling. A 4.5 km dirt track in poor repair is the only way in.
- Telonio lies 9.2 km away, at Kissamos, running about 1 km east from the main pedestrian road to the Kissamikos stadium. The shore mixes pebbles and sand, the water is shallow and often choppy, and the beach stays unorganised despite the taverns and cafés of the seaside pedestrian road behind it.
- Mavros Molos follows at 9.3 km, the Kissamos beach that now draws the crowds Telonio once did.
Two more complete the eight. Xotikospilio lies 9.6 km from the village and Korfalonas 9.8 km, the furthest of them.
Where to eat near Sirikari
Eating near Sirikari means tavernas in the surrounding villages, since the village itself has none that we list. The three closest sit between 3.4 km and 4.2 km away.
- Rotonta Cafe-Taverna is 3.4 km out, the nearest of them.
- Arxontas at Koutsomatados stands 3.9 km out, near the Topolia gorge road.
- Tavern Spiliaraki sits 4.2 km out, at Topolia.
Getting to Sirikari
Sirikari is reached on a paved road that winds through thick vegetation, so the approach shows the character of the area before you arrive. Kissamos is the nearest town, and our page on the gorge places the gorge 17 km south of it by road. Kissamos holds the town beaches at Telonio and Mavros Molos.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport, and Chania town lies east of the village. A car is needed for everything except the gorge, which starts on the village edge. Topolia, 4.2 km away, sits on the road towards Elafonissi, so the drive south continues from there.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sirikari in Crete?
Sirikari lies inland in the Chania region of western Crete, south of Kissamos. The Sirikari gorge begins at the village, and our page on that gorge puts it 17 km south of Kissamos by road.
Does Sirikari have a beach?
Sirikari has no beach of its own, but 8 lie within 10 km. Sfinari, 7.1 km away, is the closest, and Telonio and Mavros Molos at Kissamos are the two with a town behind them.
Can you walk the Sirikari gorge from the village?
The Sirikari gorge starts at the village itself. It divides into two parallel paths, Tsichliano to the west and Kioliano, also known as Sirikariano, to the east, and both finish at the Polirinia settlement 5.2 km away.
Which airport is nearest to Sirikari?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Sirikari. The village sits in the far west of the Chania region, south of Kissamos, so the transfer crosses most of the region.
What is there to see near Sirikari?
Four sites sit within 6 km of Sirikari: the museum at Vlatos at 3 km, the Agia Sofia cave at 3.8 km, the Topolia gorge at 4.1 km and ancient Polirinia at 5.2 km. Topolia village, 4.2 km away, adds a viewpoint over Kissamos Bay.
Where Sirikari village is
Best things to do in Sirikari village in 2024 is located at Sirikari village. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
