Alikianos: Beaches, Stays, Things to do

Alikianos is an inland village in the Chania region of Crete, south-west of Chania city, with 5 beaches within 9 km and 4 gorges within 8 km. Alikianos has no coast of its own: the north-coast resort strip that runs from Kalamaki out to Gerani starts 7.3 km away, and the nearest gorge running into the White Mountains starts 5.6 km away. A winery, an olive oil museum and a botanical park all sit inside 5 km of the village.

Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Alikianos. The village suits anyone who wants the beaches west of Chania without staying on them, because everything on this page lies within a 9 km radius of the village and the resorts themselves sit 6 km to 13 km west of the city.

Things to do in and around Alikianos

Six outings lie within 8 km of Alikianos, listed below from nearest to furthest.

1. Visit the olive oil museum. The Olive and Oil Museum, which also holds the Dermitzakis folklore collection, stands 1.7 km from the village.
2. Tour Manousakis Winery. The winery lies 2.2 km from Alikianos, close enough to pair with the museum in a morning.
3. Walk round the Botanical Park. The Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete lies 4.7 km from the village and has a restaurant on the same site.
4. Hike the Kydoni gorge. The gorge opens 5.6 km from Alikianos in the Kydonia district, at the foot of the White Mountains, and is one of the greenest in Crete, with trees over 20 m tall. The walk starts at an old fountain in Karanou village and drops through a centuries-old olive grove, past the church of Agios Dimitrios with its remnants of frescoes, to the stream bed.
5. Add the Boriana gorge. Boriana, also called the Karanou gorge, begins 5.8 km away in the Boriana quarter of Karanou and runs 1,800 m on a laid path to the Mavropiliotis river. A ruined watermill, caves, a charcoal furnace, tunnels and the mouths of the old Averof iron ore quarries stand along it, and it runs parallel to Kydoni, so walkers often take both in one day.
6. Swim at Platanias. Platanias beach lies 7.3 km from the village and runs about 2 km, with sunbeds, beach bars and water sports along it and the islet of Thodorou offshore.

Beaches near Alikianos

Five beaches lie between 7.3 km and 8.4 km from Alikianos, all of them on the strip of north coast running west from Chania.

• Platanias lies 7.3 km away, a long organised Blue Flag sand beach 11 km west of Chania, fronting the Platanias resort with the old village on the hillside behind it.
• Stalos sits 7.4 km away, 7 km west of Chania between Kalamaki and Agia Marina, a sandy blue-flag beach at Kato Stalos with the traditional village of Pano Stalos 150 m behind it.
• Agia Marina is 7.6 km away, 9 km west of Chania, shallow and calm, with stone piers built out into the water that keep swimming sheltered on windy days.
• Gerani follows 7.8 km away, 13 km west of Chania between Maleme and Platanias, one of the widest and calmest beaches near the city. Its sand is a nesting ground for Caretta caretta turtles from May to September.
• Kalamaki closes the list 8.4 km away, 6 km west of Chania, the beachfront of Galatas village, with fine sand, gentle water, a lifeguard and a small cove at its western edge.

Where to eat in Alikianos

Eating around Alikianos means cafés and country restaurants rather than a seafront strip, all of them within 5 km of the village.

• The Swordsmith stands 2.5 km from the village.
• Enasma Cafe is a café 3.1 km out.
• Café Agia Lake serves coffee by the lake 3.4 km out.
• Like Mom’s does home cooking 4.7 km out.

Getting to Alikianos

Drive to Alikianos from Chania, which lies north-east of the village. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Alikianos. The resorts nearest the village stand on the coast road running west out of the city towards Kolymbari, and our beach pages place Kalamaki 6 km, Stalos 7 km, Agia Marina 9 km, Platanias 11 km and Gerani 13 km west of Chania.

Three neighbouring places sit within 9 km of the village. Platanias, 6.9 km away, is one of the busiest resorts on this coast, with bars and restaurants open late. Gerani, 7.8 km away, is quieter, split between Kato Gerani on the beach and old Palaio Gerani inland. Theriso, 8.4 km away, shares its name with the Therisso gorge, which opens 7.8 km from Alikianos.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Alikianos in Crete?

Alikianos lies inland in the Chania region of western Crete, south-west of Chania city. The village sits between the beaches west of Chania, 7.3 km away at the nearest, and the gorges running into the White Mountains, 5.6 km away at the nearest.

Does Alikianos have a beach?

Alikianos is inland and has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 9 km. Platanias, 7.3 km away, is the closest, and Kalamaki, 8.4 km away, is the furthest.

Which gorges can you walk from Alikianos?

Four gorges lie within 8 km of Alikianos. Kydoni is 5.6 km away and Boriana 5.8 km, both reached through Karanou village, while Sarakina at Meskla is 7.6 km away and Therisso 7.8 km.

What is there to do in Alikianos?

An olive oil museum, a winery and a botanical park all stand within 5 km of Alikianos. The museum is 1.7 km out, Manousakis Winery 2.2 km and the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete 4.7 km, so the three fill a day without going near the coast.

Which beach near Alikianos is calmest?

Agia Marina and Gerani are the calm ones. Agia Marina, 7.6 km from the village, has shallow blue water and stone piers that shelter swimmers on windy days, and Gerani, 7.8 km away, is among the widest and calmest beaches near Chania.

Which airport is nearest to Alikianos?

Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Alikianos. Chania city itself lies north-east of the village, and the resorts on its western coast road are the nearest beaches to Alikianos.