Best things to do in Skalani in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Skalani is a village in the Heraklion region of Crete, 7.5 km south-east of Heraklion city and 6.6 km from Heraklion airport. Two gorges meet at the edge of the village: the Astrakiano and the Kounaviano converge at the Kaki Rachi area near Skalani and continue as the Karteros Gorge, which reaches the sea at Karteros beach. The Palace of Knossos stands 2.8 km away, and the vineyard country of Archanes begins a few kilometres south.
Heraklion (HER) is the airport for the village, and Karteros beach sits directly beside it. Skalani works as a quiet address for travellers who want Knossos, the city and 2 easy walking gorges close by without staying inside Heraklion itself.
Things to do in and around Skalani
Six outings lie within 6 km of Skalani, listed here from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the Astrakiano Gorge. Astrakiano is the longer of the 2 green canyons that meet near Skalani, 2.3 km from the village. It begins at the Paliarda location in Kolomodi, crosses the Astrakiani Kamara bridge and runs on below the deserted village of Kato Astraki, from where a short trail leads to Neraidospilios and its pond and water caves.
- See the Museum of Cretan History and Tradition. The museum is 2.3 km from Skalani.
- Tour the Palace of Knossos. Knossos stands 2.8 km from the village, which puts the main Minoan site of Crete within a few minutes of the door.
- Follow the Kounaviano Gorge. The Kounaviano runs parallel to the Astrakiano, 3.3 km out, and is the greenest canyon in the Heraklion prefecture. It is named after the village of Kounavi even though it starts at Peza, and springs feed it along much of its bed.
- Spend a morning in Archanes. The restored wine town of Archanes lies 5.6 km away at the foot of Mount Giouhtas, holds about 5,000 residents and has a Minoan palatial complex excavated at Tourkoyeitonia in its centre.
- Go into Heraklion. Heraklion, 7.5 km north-west, is the largest city in Crete and the capital of the region, with museums and a market.
About Skalani and its setting
Skalani stands on the slopes east of Heraklion where the Mount Giouhtas country begins, and the 2 gorges that pass the village explain most of its geography. The Astrakiano and the Kounaviano run roughly 21 km between them, converge at Kaki Rachi beside Skalani and empty onto Karteros beach as a single ravine. Both carry easy walking trails that suit families with children.
The fertile Peza plain sits at the southern entrance of the Kounaviano gorge, which collects its water. Archanes, 5.6 km away, spreads across a basin of vineyards and olive groves, has been a settlement since Minoan times when it ranked among the centres around Knossos, and splits into Epano Archanes and Kato Archanes about a kilometre apart.
Heraklion, where the Minoan civilisation first took shape more than 5,000 years ago, holds roughly 177,064 residents and is the economic centre of the island. Two further gorges, Agia Anastasia at 8.6 km and Spiliotissa at 9.5 km, extend the walking beyond the two on the doorstep.
Beaches in and around Skalani
Skalani has no beach of its own, because the village sits inland; the nearest is Karteros, 5.8 km away at the mouth of the gorge that starts beside the village. Three more north-coast stretches lie within about 10 km.
- Karteros lies 5.8 km away, a wide bay of fine golden sand running about 3 km east from the mouth of the Karteros Gorge, taking in the Karteros and Amnissos neighbourhoods. The water is shallow with almost no rocks. The bay is named after the Byzantine general Krateros, who landed here in 824 AD in a failed attempt to free Crete from the Saracens, and north winds make it choppy at the eastern end.
- Vathianos Kambos sits 7.3 km away, a resort of several linked bays with golden sand and shallow water, named after the village of Vathia a few kilometres inland. Small piers were built along the front to break the July and August waves, hold the sand and protect swimmers.
- Kokkini Hani follows 9.2 km away, a resort set among crops on a fertile plain, with sandy beaches and shallow turquoise water sheltered by artificial mini piers. The name means Kokkinis’s Inn, after the inn a man called Kokkinis ran here in the early 1900s for travellers heading to Heraklion. The beaches front hotels but stay open to everyone, with umbrellas, lifeguards and water sports.
- Ammoudara is on the far side of the city, starting about 1 km west of the centre of Heraklion and running 7 km west to the mouth of the Almiros river. It is one of the longest beaches in the Heraklion area, with fine brown sand, sunbeds, beach bars and water sports.
Where to eat in Skalani
Eating in Skalani happens within the village itself, with 2 places inside 500 m of the centre and a third out towards Knossos.
- Elia and Diosmos is 100 m from the centre.
- Koula’s Tastes stands 400 m from the centre.
- Pasiphae Restaurant lies 3.2 km out, near Knossos.
Getting to Skalani
Skalani lies between Heraklion and Archanes, 7.5 km from the city and 5.6 km from the wine town, with Knossos 2.8 km out on the same side.
Heraklion (HER) is 6.6 km from Skalani. The north-coast resorts run east from Karteros through Vathianos Kambos to Kokkini Hani, none more than about 10 km out, so a car makes the village a base for the coast and the Minoan sites together.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Skalani in Crete?
Skalani is a village in the Heraklion region, 7.5 km south-east of Heraklion city. It stands inland, between the city and the wine town of Archanes.
How far is Skalani from Knossos?
The Palace of Knossos stands 2.8 km from Skalani, the shortest hop of any sight on this page.
Does Skalani have a beach?
No, Skalani is inland, and the nearest beach is Karteros, 5.8 km away. Karteros lies at the mouth of the gorge that begins beside the village, and it is a wide bay of fine golden sand with shallow water.
How far is Skalani from Heraklion airport?
Heraklion airport is 6.6 km from Skalani. Karteros beach sits right beside the runway, 5.8 km from the village, which gives a sense of how close the terminal is.
Can you walk a gorge from Skalani?
Yes, two gorges meet at Kaki Rachi right beside Skalani. The Astrakiano and the Kounaviano run about 21 km between them, join as the Karteros Gorge and come out at Karteros beach.
Where Skalani is
Best things to do in Skalani in 2024 is located at Skalanio, Crete, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
