Makry Gialos (Greek Μακρύ Γιαλός, “long beach”) is a fishing village and beach resort on the southeast coast of Crete, in the Lasithi region beside the Libyan Sea. Makry Gialos sits about 60 km from Agios Nikolaos, 25 km from Ierapetra, and 33 km from Sitia, and it acts as the local centre of a municipal unit within the Ierapetra municipality. A small fishing harbour anchors the resort, and a sandy beach runs roughly 1 km east from it. Around 1,000 people live here year-round, many with roots in the mountain villages inland.
The main beach shelves gently into shallow, clear water, which makes it easy for families and young children. The resort has 4 more beaches within a short distance: Kalamokanias to the west, and Lagoufa, Diaskari, and Koutsouras to the east. Swimmers and snorkellers use the calm bays, while windsurfing and scuba diving run from the organised beaches in summer. Bars, restaurants, and tavernas line the seafront and the harbour, several of them a few steps from the water.
History sits close to the shore at Makry Gialos. Archaeologists have excavated a Minoan country house and a Roman-era villa near the coast, and the 15th-century Kapsa Monastery stands a few kilometres east, above the point where the Pervolakia Gorge reaches the sea. The inland villages of Pefki and Agios Stefanos sit about 7 km up the tree-covered mountainside, keeping older Cretan customs and cooking. A morning boat also crosses from the harbour to the uninhabited island of Koufonisi.
Getting to Makry Gialos
Reach Makry Gialos by road along the south coast of Lasithi, on the route between Ierapetra and Sitia. The nearest airport is Sitia, about 34 km away, and Heraklion airport lies roughly 120 km to the west. A car makes both the transfer and the spread-out beaches, gorges, and villages far easier to reach, because the resort sits well east of the main airports. Many visitors sort out their car rental in Crete.
Where is Makry Gialos located?
Makry Gialos is located on the south-east coast of Crete, Greece.
How far is Makry Gialos from Agios Nikolaos?
Makry Gialos is located 60km from Agios Nikolaos.
What is the distance between Makry Gialos and Ierapetra?
Makry Gialos is located 25km from Ierapetra.
How far is Sitia from Makry Gialos?
Sitia is located 33km from Makry Gialos.
What are the main features of Makry Gialos?
Makry Gialos features a small fishing harbour and a 1km long sandy beach that stretches from the harbour to the east. There are also four more lovely beaches in the immediate area.
What type of accommodation is available in Makry Gialos?
Accommodation in Makry Gialos is mostly family-run studio and apartment complexes.
What dining options are available in Makry Gialos?
There is a good choice of bars, restaurants, and tavernas in Makry Gialos, some of them right on the beach front or at the small fishing harbour.
What is the administrative centre of the wider area that Makry Gialos is a part of?
Makry Gialos is the administrative centre of the wider area which comprises some picturesque traditional villages built on the tree-covered mountain sides.
How long has the area around Makry Gialos been inhabited?
The area around Makry Gialos has been inhabited since the Minoan times, as many ruins from this as well as the Roman and the Venetian periods prove.
Makry Gialos town Map
Makry Gialos – Crete is located at Makry Gialos town, in the Lassithi region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
