Livadia is a village on the west coast of Crete in the Chania region, south-west of Kissamos, and its own shoreline is a run of rocky coves rather than a beach. Livadia keeps limited tourist amenities, and the coves begin 300 m from the houses. Our page on those coves places them 31 km south of Kissamos and 72 km south-west of Chania, and it describes rocky, wave-washed water of the kind found along most of the western side of the island.

Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Livadia. The village is for walking, snorkelling and quiet rather than for sunbeds: the E4 European hiking path runs through it along the coast, the water turns clear enough for snorkelling on calm days, and Stomio beach 4.2 km away already belongs to the broader Elafonissi area.

Things to do in and around Livadia

6 outings sit within 6 km of Livadia, listed below from nearest to furthest.

Snorkel the coves below the village. The Livadia coves start 300 m from the centre and stay a favourite of local people and of visitors who want solitude. On calm days the coastline suits snorkelling; on windy days the same rocky ground turns rough.
Walk a stretch of the E4 path. The E4 European hiking path passes through Livadia as a coastal trail, and this section of it begins at Sfinari village.
Swim at Keramoti. Keramoti beach lies 1.4 km away beside the village of the same name, a medium-sized pebbly beach with rocky patches. A stream fed by mountain springs runs alongside it, and those springs and the underwater ones keep the sea cool.
Find the cave at Xotikospilio. The name of Xotikospilio, 2.6 km away, translates as “the cave of elves”, after a local legend that elves live in the small cave beside the cove. A chapel stands inside the cave, and on Good Friday of 1824 Turkish forces murdered the women and children who had taken refuge there after the Elafonissi slaughter.
Hike the Kambos Gorge. The Kambos canyon, 5 km away and fed by the small Koutroulis massif, is the most westerly gorge on the island. A trail runs under towering plane trees beside a river that flows year-round, past striking rock formations, and ends at a natural spring, from where the path rejoins the road down to the subterranean churches, one of them Agia Ekaterini.
Visit the Chrisoskalitissa monastery. The Monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitissa stands 5.8 km from Livadia, 1 km south of Stomio beach.

Beaches near Livadia

5 beaches lie within 5 km of Livadia, and none of them is organised. Pebbles, rock and dirt-track access are the pattern on this coast, so each one asks for a little effort and pays it back in space.

Livadia coves lie 300 m out, rocky and often wavy, used mainly by the village and by walkers on the E4. On calm days the coastline turns into snorkelling water.
Keramoti sits 1.4 km away, pebbly with rocky sections and no beach amenities, reached on a rough dirt track from Keramoti village. The rugged ground makes it awkward for families, and rooms are available in Keramoti and in Livadia itself.
Xotikospilio is 2.6 km away, a secluded cove of large round pebbles about 1.5 km north-west of Keramoti village, with the cave and its chapel at one side.
Gylisma stands 3.8 km away, also called Kambos or Afratolaki, a stony beach of coarse pebbles near Kambos village. High waves make it poor for swimming on windy days, there are no umbrellas or sunbeds, the rocky seabed suits snorkelling, and the approach is a 4.5 km poorly maintained dirt track.
Stomio closes the list at 4.2 km, large pebbles and patches of sand at the mouth of the river that comes down from Vathi village, which is where the name comes from. The water is cold and deep, there are no facilities, and a small tavern sits close by.

Where to eat in Livadia

Eating around Livadia is a short list, and the nearest table is 100 m from the centre of the village.

Gialites Taverna cooks taverna food in the village, 100 m out.
Petroula’s Orange Juice Bar serves juice, 1.9 km out.
Krystalia Cafe is a café, 4.8 km out.
Oasis lies 5.6 km out, on the road inland.

Getting to Livadia

Livadia is reached on the road that runs down the west coast from Kissamos towards Elafonissi. Our page on the Livadia coves puts the village 31 km south of Kissamos and 72 km south-west of Chania, and Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport.

A car matters more here than on the north coast. The neighbouring beaches sit at the end of dirt tracks, Gylisma behind 4.5 km of poorly maintained surface and Keramoti behind a rough one, while the paved inland road to Sirikari weaves through lush vegetation to a gorge 17 km south of Kissamos whose two branches both end at ancient Polirinia.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Livadia in Crete?

Livadia lies on the west coast of Crete, in the Chania region south-west of Kissamos. The coves below the village are 31 km south of Kissamos and 72 km south-west of Chania on our beach page for them.

Which Livadia is this?

This is the Livadia on the west coast, the one beside Keramoti and Kambos in the Kissamos country of the Chania region. Crete carries the name more than once, so the markers for this village are Keramoti 1.4 km away, Xotikospilio 2.6 km away and the Chrisoskalitissa monastery 5.8 km away.

Does Livadia have a beach?

Livadia has rocky coves 300 m from the village rather than a sandy beach. The coves are wavy for much of the time and carry no amenities, which is why they stay a local swimming spot instead of a stop on a visitor itinerary.

Can you walk the E4 path from Livadia?

Yes, the E4 European hiking path runs through Livadia along the coast. The trail on this stretch starts at Sfinari village and follows a coastline known for its natural beauty.

Are the beaches near Livadia good for families?

The beaches near Livadia suit swimmers and snorkellers more than families. Keramoti is rugged, Gylisma turns rough on windy days, and Stomio has cold, deep water, so all 3 of them ask for confidence in the sea.

Which airport is nearest to Livadia?

Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Livadia. The village sits at the far western end of the Chania region, reached on the coast road that runs south from Kissamos.