Best things to do in Sternes (Sternai) in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Sternes, also written Sternai, is a village in the Chania region of Crete that lies east of Chania city and 2.1 km from Chania airport. That makes it a practical place for a first or last night on the island, and a quiet base away from the city.
Everything within easy reach sits on the Akrotiri peninsula or around Souda Bay below it. 2 organised sandy beaches lie under 3 km away, a technical canyon and a monastic gorge open up between 5 km and 9 km out, and the port town of Souda and the resort of Kalyves sit about 7 km off across the bay.
Things to do in and around Sternes
6 things to do around Sternes lie within about 9 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- See the Pazinos folklore museum. The museum stands 1.8 km from Sternes and is the nearest indoor attraction to the village; our page covers the Pazinos Folklore Museum.
- Swim at Loutraki. The sheltered sandy cove 2.2 km away has shallow clear water and shade from the shore trees, described on the Loutraki beach page.
- Take children to Marathi. 2 sandy beaches with shallow, calm water sit 2.6 km from Sternes; see the Marathi beach page.
- Descend the Diplochachalo gorge. This purely technical canyon 5.7 km away has six descents, and a cave of stalactites and stalagmites about 20 m deep opens in the middle of its 38 m waterfall, as the Diplochachalo Gorge page makes clear.
- Climb down to Seitan Limania. The fjord-like cove 6 km from the village is reached on foot down a steep path and has no facilities of any kind; the Seitan Limania guide explains the descent.
- Walk the Avlaki gorge. The 2 km route starts 8.5 km away at Gouverneto Monastery and drops 280 m to Katholiko Bay in about an hour, passing caves, hermitages and the abandoned Katholiko Monastery; see the Avlaki Gorge page.
About the village and its setting
Sternes is a small village, and the interest lies in the ground around it. The Akrotiri peninsula to the north holds the beaches, the monasteries and the gorges; Souda Bay to the south holds the port, the naval base and the Apokoronas coast opposite.
Souda and Kalyves are worth knowing before you arrive. The port town of Souda, 7.2 km away at the head of the bay, takes the ferries from Piraeus and the cruise ships, and years of building have left it feeling like a seaside suburb of Chania. Across the water, Kalyves sits 7 km off in the Apokoronas, with stone houses under red-tiled roofs, the Xydas river splitting its old west quarter from the newer east one, and a Blue Flag beach that shelves gently where the river meets the sea.
Beaches near Sternes
5 beaches lie within 8 km of Sternes, and they range from organised family sand to a cliff cove with no facilities.
- Loutraki lies 2.2 km away, a small sheltered beach in a calm cove on the north-east edge of Souda Bay, close to the naval base. Fine sand, shallow crystal-clear water and taverns under the shore trees make it a family beach, organised with sunbeds and umbrellas.
- Marathi sits 2.6 km away on the south-eastern coast of Akrotiri, next door to Loutraki. 2 sandy beaches face south, which shields them from the wind, and a small pier between them harbours fishing boats and small ferries. The view runs across to Drapanos Cape and the White Mountains.
- Kalami stands 4.9 km away on the southern shore of Souda Bay, 500 m north of Kalami village. Rounded pebbles and deep water keep it a local favourite rather than an organised resort beach, with a handful of umbrellas, tamarisk trees and a small harbour at the eastern end.
- Seitan Limania opens 6 km away on the eastern side of Akrotiri, a narrow inlet between sheer cliffs reached down a steep footpath. The name means “Devil’s Harbours” in Turkish, from the Ottoman period, after the strong currents that once made these coves dangerous. There are no facilities.
- Kalathas is 7.1 km away in a natural bay at Cape Akrotiri, open to the north winds. It carries fine sand, shallow clear water, umbrellas, water sports, lifeguards and mini markets, and a small island opposite is close enough to swim to.
Where to eat in Sternes
Eating around Sternes means 2 km to 3 km towards the Loutraki and Marathi shore, where the tavernas and restaurants sit.
- Kontarakis Market Snack Café is a market, snack stop and café 2 km out.
- About Appetite Tavern sits 2.1 km out, a taverna.
- Restaurant Loutraki stands 2.3 km out, by the beach of the same name.
- Namfi Restaurant lies 2.5 km out.
- Original Bar & Grill opens 2.5 km out, a bar and grill.
Getting to Sternes
Reach Sternes from Chania airport, 2.1 km away, the shortest arrival of any village in the region. Chania city lies west, Rethymno south-east and Kissamos beyond Chania.
A car is worth having for everything except the airport run. The beaches spread between 2.2 km and 7.1 km from the village, the two gorges start 5.7 km and 8.5 km out, and reaching Kalyves means going round the head of Souda Bay rather than across it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sternes in Crete?
Sternes lies in the Chania region, east of Chania city and 2.1 km from Chania airport. Souda Bay lies to the south and the Akrotiri beaches to the north.
How far is Sternes from Chania airport?
Chania airport is 2.1 km from Sternes, which is why the village suits an early flight or a late arrival.
Does Sternes have a beach?
The nearest beach to Sternes is Loutraki, 2.2 km away. Marathi follows at 2.6 km, Kalami at 4.9 km, Seitan Limania at 6 km and Kalathas at 7.1 km, so 5 beaches sit within 8 km of the village.
Which beach near Sternes is easiest with young children?
Loutraki and Marathi are the 2 beaches described as suiting families. Both have shallow, calm water and organised facilities, and Marathi faces south, which shelters it from the wind.
Can you walk a gorge from Sternes?
Yes, the Avlaki gorge, 8.5 km away, is the walkable one. It runs 2 km from Gouverneto Monastery down to Katholiko Bay, takes about an hour and rates 2 out of 10 for difficulty. The Diplochachalo gorge, 5.7 km out near Chordaki, is a technical canyon with six descents and is not a hiking route.
Where Sternes (Sternai) is
Best things to do in Sternes (Sternai) in 2024 is located at Sternes, Crete, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
