Petrokefali is an inland village on the Messara plain in the south of the Heraklion region, 3 km from the Minoan palace of Phaistos and under 8 km from the beaches of Messara Bay. The village is also written Petrokefalio. It sits in farming country close to the town of Mires, with olive groves on every side.

Heraklion city lies well to the north-east. Our page for neighbouring Pitsidia, 5.8 km from Petrokefali, gives that village’s distance to Heraklion as 65 km, and the beach pages along this coast put Kalamaki 65 km and Matala 68 km south-west of the city. Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport. Petrokefali suits archaeology, gorge walking and short drives to the south-coast beaches.

Things to do in and around Petrokefali

Petrokefali has 6 outings within 8 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.

Visit the Kalyviani monastery. The monastery stands 1.8 km from the village on the Mires side, the closest sight to Petrokefali, and our page on Kalyviani Monastery near Mires covers it.
Play tennis on the plain. The Messara Tennis Club is 2.7 km away, an unusual thing to find in a farming district.
Walk round Phaistos. The Minoan palace of Phaistos is the second largest palace of the Minoan civilisation and stands 3 km from the village. Matala, down on the coast, once served as its port.
Wander Kamilari. The village 4.5 km away keeps narrow streets, stone houses and courtyards, and looks out over the olive groves of the Messara valley to the Libyan Sea.
Walk the Apolychnos gorge. The canyon lies 6.6 km away among olive groves and runs roughly 3 km from near Panagia down to Agios Antonios, where the Apolychnos gorge is easiest to enter, beside the main road from Mires.
Swim at Kommos. The ancient port of Phaestus stood here, and its remains are still on the sand. Kommos beach lies 7.7 km from the village.

Beaches near Petrokefali

Petrokefali has 5 beaches on Messara Bay within about 10 km, all on the south coast facing the Libyan Sea. The whole bay front is open to the prevailing westerly winds, and the seabed is rocky in places, so check conditions before swimming.

Kalamaki lies 7.4 km away, a small seaside village between Matala and Kokkinos Pirgos with a 2.5 km stretch of sand in front of it. The section by the village has sunbeds, umbrellas, eateries, accommodation, a lifeguard, a playground and water sports. A flat rock bed lies under the sand offshore, and northwest winds raise large waves.
Kommos sits 7.7 km away, 2 km north of Matala and close to Pitsidia, reached by driving towards Matala and following the sign near Pitsidia. It was the port of Phaestus, and loggerhead sea turtles nest here.
Matala is 9.5 km away, at the point where the Messara plain meets the Asteroussia Mountains, in an enclosed bay looking out to the Paximadia islands. The rock-carved caves above it and its 1970s hippie history make it the most widely known beach in the south of the Heraklion prefecture.
Kokkinos Pirgos stands 9.8 km away, the port of Timbaki, named after a tower of red soil at the mouth of the Geropotamos river. Its long sandy beach runs south-east towards Kommos for several kilometres and is another turtle nesting ground.
Red Beach lies 800 m south of Matala, reached on a marked trail over Kastri hill in 15 to 25 minutes or by boat from Matala harbour. Its rust-red sand comes from the local geology, and with no road access it stays quiet even in high season.

Villages around Petrokefali

The 4 settlements within 10 km give this corner of the Messara its shape.

Kamilari sits 4.5 km away, inhabited since the Minoan era. The nearby community of Metohi was the home of Epimenidis, the soothsayer counted among the seven wise men of the ancient world.
Pitsidia lies 5.8 km away, held to be the oldest village in this part of Heraklion, sitting at 80 m with about 700 residents. Its name is thought to come from Pisidia in southern Asia Minor, home of the soldiers of the Byzantine commander Nikiforos Fokas who are said to have settled here.
Timbaki is 7.5 km away, the town whose main port is Kokkinos Pirgos on the coast.
Matala stands 9.5 km away, the coastal village at the end of a small valley, known across Crete for its caves.

Where to eat in Petrokefali

Eating here means village cafés and tavernas rather than a resort strip, with the nearest option inside Petrokefali itself and the rest a short drive out towards Mires.

Petrelaio Cafe is 800 m from the centre, in the village.
Taverna Agios Ioannis stands 2.8 km from the village.
Lamb House Tavern sits 2.8 km out as well.

Getting to Petrokefali

Petrokefali sits beside the town of Mires, and the main road out of Mires runs past the foot of the Apolychnos gorge. From the village, the road towards Matala reaches the coast, with the turning for Kommos signposted near Pitsidia.

Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport, over on the north coast, so the transfer crosses the island. Our Pitsidia page, 5.8 km from Petrokefali, puts that village 65 km from Heraklion. A car is close to essential, because the palace, the gorge and the five beaches are spread across the plain.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Petrokefali in Crete?

Petrokefali lies on the Messara plain in the south of the Heraklion region, next to the town of Mires and 3 km from Phaistos. The village is also spelled Petrokefalio.

Does Petrokefali have a beach?

Petrokefali is inland and has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within about 10 km. Kalamaki at 7.4 km is the nearest organised beach, and Kommos at 7.7 km is the nearest with archaeology on the sand.

How far is Petrokefali from Phaistos?

The Minoan palace of Phaistos stands 3 km from Petrokefali. Phaistos is the second largest palace of the Minoan civilisation, and Matala on the coast was once its port.

Which airport is nearest to Petrokefali?

Heraklion (HER) is the nearest airport to Petrokefali. It sits on the north coast, while the village is on the southern side of the island, so the drive crosses Crete.

Can you walk a gorge from Petrokefali?

The Apolychnos gorge lies 6.6 km from Petrokefali and runs about 3 km from near Panagia down to Agios Antonios. The Tourki stream that formed it carries water from a valley west of Makres village into the Geropotamos river.