Best things to do in Sivas village in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Sivas is an inland village in the Messara area of southern Crete, about 47 km south-west of Heraklion and roughly 6 km from the coast at Matala. Sivas sits among the small villages that ring the southern end of Messara Bay, with Pitsidia and Kamilari both 2.4 km away. The village keeps tavernas and cafés in its centre, and the beaches, the Minoan sites and the Asterousia gorges all sit within a short drive.
Heraklion airport lies about 49 km north-east, so the transfer crosses the island from the north coast to the south. Sivas works as a village base for the Matala end of the Messara rather than as a beach resort.
Things to do in and around Sivas
Six outings lie within about 10 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk around Pitsidia. The village 2.4 km away stands at 80 m and counts as the oldest in the area, with a history reaching back to the Byzantine era. Pitsidia has around 700 residents, and according to S. Spanakis the soldiers of Nikiforos Fokas settled here, which is where its name is thought to come from.
- See the stone houses of Kamilari. The village 2.4 km in the other direction looks out over the olive groves of the Messara valley and the Libyan Sea. Kamilari has been inhabited since Minoan times and keeps its narrow streets and stone houses, and nearby Metohi was home to Epimenidis, one of the seven wise men of the ancient world.
- Swim at Kommos. The beach 4.4 km away is the remotest part of the long Messara Bay shoreline, and the remains of the ancient port of Kommos, which served Phaestus, still lie on the sand. Loggerhead turtles nest here, and the seabed is rocky in places.
- Spend a day at Matala. The bay 6 km away is the most widely known beach in the southern part of the Heraklion prefecture, set where the Messara plain meets the Asterousia Mountains. Matala is known for its rock-carved caves and for the hippie culture of the 1970s, and it served as the port of Phaestus and later of Gortyn.
- Walk over Kastri hill to Red Beach. The red-sand cove 6.5 km away has no road access, so you reach Red Beach on a marked trail from Matala in 15 to 25 minutes, or by boat from Matala harbour. The rust-red sand comes from the local geology and sets off a blue-green sea.
- Hike the Agiofarago gorge. The gorge 9.8 km away runs south from the Panagia Odigitria Monastery to Agiofarago beach, along a flat stream bed between vertical cliffs full of caves. Agiofarago means Gorge of Saints, after the hermits who settled here, and climbers use the rock face just before the sea.
About the village and its setting
Sivas is a village of the Messara, set back from the coast among olive country rather than on the shore. Everyday life happens in the centre, where the tavernas and cafés stand within 100 m of each other, and the nearest neighbours are two villages of the same kind at 2.4 km.
The setting is the southern edge of the Messara plain, with olive groves running towards the Libyan Sea and the Asterousia Mountains closing the view south. Phaestus, the second largest palace of the Minoan civilisation, lies near this coast and used Kommos as its port. The visitor side of the area concentrates at Matala, 5.9 km away.
Beaches in and around Sivas
Sivas has no beach of its own, and 5 lie within 9 km on the south coast. The whole Messara beachfront is exposed to the prevailing westerly winds, which is the main thing to check before setting out.
- Kommos lies 4.4 km away, 2 km north of Matala, the remotest stretch of the Messara beachfront, with the ruins of the ancient port on the sand and loggerhead turtles nesting on it.
- Kalamaki sits 4.7 km away, a 2.5 km stretch of sand in front of a small seaside village, organised with sunbeds, umbrellas, a lifeguard and water sports, though the seabed hides flat rock and the waves build in north-west winds.
- Matala is 6 km away at the end of a small valley, an enclosed bay below the carved caves, looking out to the Paximadia islands.
- Red Beach lies 6.5 km away, about 800 m south of Matala, unorganised and without road access, so it stays quiet even in high season.
- Gournia fjord is 8.2 km away in the Asterousia Mountains, 5 narrow rocky bays cut into soft white limestone and reached only after a strenuous, shadeless walk.
Where to eat in Sivas
Eating in Sivas means village tavernas and cafés in the centre, with more choice 2.4 km away at Pitsidia and Kamilari.
- Taverna Sigelakis serves taverna cooking in the village centre.
- Karalis Tavern is a second taverna, 0.1 km from the centre.
- Cafe Europa pours coffee in the centre of the village.
- Vafis Aposperida sits in the village centre.
- Bougainvillea Restaurant is 2.5 km out, towards the neighbouring villages.
Getting to Sivas
Reach Sivas on the roads that cross the Messara plain towards Matala, turning off before the coast. Heraklion lies about 47 km north-east and its airport about 49 km.
Rethymno sits 48.7 km north-west for a trip in the other direction, and Hersonissos 62.4 km north-east. The town of Timpaki lies 7 km away, and the coastal town of Kokkinos Pyrgos 9.9 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sivas in Crete?
Sivas lies about 47 km south-west of Heraklion, inland in the Messara area of southern Crete, 2.4 km from both Pitsidia and Kamilari.
Does Sivas have a beach?
Sivas is inland and has no beach, but 5 lie within 9 km. Kommos at 4.4 km is the closest, and Matala at 6 km is the busiest of them.
How far is Sivas from Heraklion airport?
Heraklion airport is about 49 km north-east of Sivas, on the opposite coast of the island, so the transfer crosses Crete rather than following the shore.
How far is Sivas from Matala?
Matala is 6 km from Sivas. The caves, the bay and the view of the Paximadia islands are all at the beach, and Red Beach sits 800 m further south over Kastri hill.
Can you walk a gorge from Sivas?
Two gorges end at south-coast beaches within 10 km of Sivas. The Martsalo gorge runs about 2 km to Martsalo beach, passing the early Christian church of Panagia Martsaliani, and the Agiofarago gorge, 9.8 km away, ends at Agiofarago beach.
Where Sivas village is
Best things to do in Sivas village in 2024 is located at Sivas village. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
