Almyrida, also spelled Almirida, is a quiet former fishing village in the Apokoronas region of north-west Crete, about 23 km east of Chania on the south shore of Souda Bay near Cape Drapanos. Almyrida is known for its shallow sandy beaches, windsurfing and seaside tavernas, and it keeps a laid-back, family-friendly feel. The village suits families, couples and travellers who want a calm base rather than a busy resort.
About Almyrida village
Almyrida is a coastal village that grew from a traditional fishing settlement into a low-key resort while keeping its relaxed character. Almyrida sits among olive groves and open countryside on the south side of Souda Bay, so the area around the village is good for walking and exploring. In 1977 the village was declared a region of infinite beauty. The village has the everyday amenities visitors need, including a bakery, small grocery stores and mini-markets, along with rooms, apartments and seaside tavernas. In recent years Almyrida has also become popular with expatriates who settle in the wider Apokoronas area.
Almyrida beach
Almyrida has 2 sandy beaches with shallow water that stays safe for children on calm days. A small rocky peninsula with a white chapel separates the two beaches. The beach is well organised and popular for water sports and windsurfing, and part of the shore is lined with tavernas known for fresh fish and traditional Cretan food. Opposite the sand lies the small islet of Karga, a habitat for birds and a popular spot for excursions and fishing.
Things to do in Almyrida
Almyrida offers beach days, water sports and short trips along the Apokoronas coast. The main things to do in and around the village are listed below:
- Swim and relax on the shallow sandy beaches, which suit families with young children.
- Try windsurfing, or hire a paddle board, a canoe or a paddle boat from the beach.
- Dive or snorkel around the coast, or join a boat trip from the village.
- Walk the olive-grove countryside and the coast toward Cape Drapanos.
- Take a day trip to Chania and the nearby villages of Plaka and Kokkino Chorio.
A short history of Almyrida
The Phoenicians are believed to have founded Almyrida, and the nearby site of Finikia still holds ancient ruins and tombs. At the entrance to the village stand the excavated remains of a 6th-century triple-aisle Christian basilica with well-preserved mosaics. Almyrida was also the site of the last battle against the Turks in Crete, in 1896. On the islet of Karga opposite the beach, traces of ancient Phoenician walls survive alongside shelters that German forces built during the Second World War.
Around Almyrida
Several villages and beaches sit within a short drive of Almyrida, each with its own character. The nearest places to explore are listed below:
- Plaka, the largest village nearby, lies about 1 km east and hosts the Plakiana feast each July in honour of the lyre player Michael Papadakis.
- Kokkino Chorio, or Red Village, lies about 4 km east, with wartime German fortifications, a “Zorba the Greek” filming location, and a workshop that still makes handmade blown glass.
- Kera beach lies about 1.2 km away, Kalives beaches about 2.3 km, and Koutalis beach about 3.4 km.
More to see around Almyrida
Things to do around Almyrida sit on the south shore of Souda Bay and on the Drapanokefala peninsula behind it, and 8 of them lie within 10 km of the village. The list runs from the nearest outwards.
- Swim at the village beach, 0.1 km from the centre. Two shallow sandy bays stay calm enough for children on windless days, split by a rocky peninsula with a white chapel, and a row of tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre backs the sand, as set out on the Almyrida beach page.
- Walk up to Plaka, 1 km inland. The village stands on a hill at 70 metres with a view over the bay of Souda, and it keeps tavernas, bars, a grocery store and a kafeneion, with more on the Plaka village page.
- Take a quieter swim at Kera beach, 1.2 km away. Soft sand with the occasional pebble sits below tall cliffs, the water is shallow and clear, nothing on it is organized, and it looks across at Karga island and the long rock the locals call Karavos, the ship; details are on the Kera beach page.
- Spend a day at the Kalives beaches, 2.3 km away. Two sandy, shallow beaches, Xidas and Maistrali, lie either side of the Xidas river at a resort set in a green valley, and the rivers and sea springs keep the water cooler than the bay around it, as the Kalives beaches page explains.
- Look round Kokkino Chorio, 2.3 km east. The village holds the wartime shelters the Germans cut into Drapanokefala hill to guard Souda Bay, traditional houses, old water wells and a filming location for “Zorba the Greek”, and it has a page of its own at Kokkino Chorio.
- Dive from Koutalis beach, 3.4 km away. The secluded bay 1 km north of Kokkino Chorio is a starting point for local scuba divers working the sea caves nearby, and the area holds the Elephants’ Cave and Petsis Cave, as covered on the Koutalis beach page.
- Step into deep water at Ombros Gialos, 5.8 km away. This rocky bay on the east coast of the Drapanokefala peninsula, near Kefalas and Paleloni, centres on a small harbour whose dock drops straight into clear water, with one well-known fish tavern and no sunbeds, as described on the Ombros Gialos page.
- Hike the Diktamos Gorge, 9.5 km away. The canyon starts near Katochori at 300 metres and ends 8 km east at Faragi, near Stylos, at 40 metres, its stream feeds the Kiliaris river and reaches the sea at Kalives beach, and the walk takes about 3 hours with care needed in places; the route is on the Diktamos Gorge page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Almyrida?
Almyrida is a small seaside village in the Apokoronas region of Crete, about 23 km east of Chania, with two shallow sandy beaches. The village grew from a fishing settlement into a quiet, family-friendly resort.
How far is Almyrida from Chania?
Almyrida sits about 23 km east of Chania, on the south shore of Souda Bay. The nearest airport is Chania International on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 32 km away.
What is the beach like in Almyrida?
Almyrida has two sandy beaches with shallow, calm water that is safe for children on waveless days. A small rocky peninsula with a white chapel separates the two beaches.
What activities can you do in Almyrida?
Visitors can swim, windsurf, hire canoes, paddle boats and paddle boards, or take a diving or boat trip. The beach is well organised and popular for water sports.
What kind of food is available in Almyrida?
Almyrida has seaside tavernas serving traditional Cretan food and fresh fish. The village also has a bakery, small grocery stores and mini-markets.
What accommodation is available in Almyrida?
Almyrida offers small hotels, rooms and apartments. Most sit within a short walk of the beach and the tavernas.
What is there to do near Almyrida?
8 places worth a stop sit within 10 km of Almyrida. They run from the village beach and Plaka, 1 km inland, through Kera beach at 1.2 km, the Kalives beaches and Kokkino Chorio at 2.3 km, Koutalis beach at 3.4 km and Ombros Gialos at 5.8 km, to the Diktamos Gorge at 9.5 km.
Where can you dive near Almyrida?
Koutalis beach, 3.4 km from Almyrida, is where local scuba divers start. The secluded bay sits 1 km north of Kokkino Chorio and opens onto sea caves. Ombros Gialos, 5.8 km away, suits swimmers who want depth instead, because its harbour dock drops straight into clear water.
Getting to Almyrida
Reach Almyrida by car for the most flexibility, because public transport between the airport and the village is limited. The nearest airport is Chania International on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 32 km away. Regular bus and taxi services connect Almyrida and Plaka with Chania, but they run less often than a car allows. A hire car lets you reach the beach, the nearby villages and the wider Apokoronas coast on your own schedule, so plan the drive and pick up a vehicle near your arrival airport with car rental in Crete.
Almirida village Map
Uncover Almirida village is located at Almirida village, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
