Sellia is a small village in the Apokoronas district of the Chania region, set inland from the Bay of Georgioupolis about 30 km east of Chania. That road figure comes from our page for Kefalas, the hilltop village 1.9 km away. Sellia has no beach of its own, and the nearest sand is at Kalivaki, 3.6 km off at the western edge of Georgioupolis bay.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Sellia sits among the Apokoronas villages with the coast close on two sides: the long sandy beaches of Georgioupolis and Kavros to the east, and the rocky coves of the Drapanos peninsula to the west.
Things to do in and around Sellia
Sellia has 5 outings within 8 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk up to Kefalas. The hilltop village 1.9 km away looks out over the Bay of Georgioupolis, the Lefka Ori and, on a clear day, Rethymno, and the churches of Kefalas village are what it is known for.
- Swim at Kalivaki. The beach 3.6 km away sits at the mouth of the Almyros river, which keeps it sheltered from the wind and its shallow water cool. Kalivaki beach suits children on days when the open beaches are choppy.
- Dive off the dock at Ombros Gialos. The rocky bay 3.8 km away, near Kefalas and Paleloni, has a small harbour whose dock drops straight into deep blue-green water. Ombros Gialos has one well-known fish tavern and nothing else.
- Spend a day at Georgioupolis. The resort town 4.2 km away stands in a green valley crossed by rivers and springs, at the western end of a 10 km run of sand, and Georgioupolis has the fullest set of facilities near Sellia.
- Look round Gavalohori. The village 4.2 km away is the other near neighbour inland, and our guide to Gavalohori village covers it.
Beaches near Sellia
Sellia has 5 beaches within 7 km, split between the sandy bay to the east and the rockier coast of the Drapanos peninsula to the west.
- Kalivaki lies 3.6 km away, the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, west of the port and the church of Agios Nikolaos. It lies at the mouth of the Almyros river, which shelters the sand from the wind and keeps the shallow water noticeably cool.
- Ombros Gialos sits 3.8 km away, a rocky bay on the east coast of the Drapanokefala peninsula, 26 km east of Chania. There are no sunbeds and no beach bars, just deep clear water off a harbour dock.
- Georgioupolis is 4.2 km away, a 2 km sandy beach with dunes and shallow water running east from the Almiros river to Kavros. Lifeguards are on duty and there are umbrellas, showers and food stalls, though currents call for care on windy days.
- Almyrida lies 7 km away, two shallow sandy beaches on the south shore of Souda Bay, 23 km east of Chania. A rocky peninsula with a white chapel divides the two bays, the islet of Karga lies offshore, and tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre back the sand.
- Kavros sits 7 km away, a wide sandy beach 4 km east of Georgioupoli with clear shallow water. It is less commercialised than its neighbour, carries restaurants, cafés and bars, and keeps some unorganised stretches, but it is open to the wind and often has waves.
Villages and gorges around Sellia
Sellia has 2 more Apokoronas villages within 7 km, both out on the Drapanos peninsula.
- Kokkino Chorio is 6.6 km away, a traditional village with three churches, caves in the ground around it and the wartime shelters cut into Drapanokefala hill. The 1964 film Zorba the Greek was shot here.
- Plaka lies 6.9 km away, on a hill 70 m above the sea with a view across Souda Bay, and with tavernas, bars, a grocery store and a kafeneion.
The area has 2 gorges within reach for a day out. The Petres gorge opens at Petres beach 13 km west of Rethymno and narrows to a section about 1 km long near the village of Karoti, with ponds along it that people swim in. The Diktamos gorge runs from Katochori at 300 m down to Faragi village near Stylos, takes around 3 hours, and needs care in places.
Where to eat in Sellia
Eating around Sellia means village tavernas rather than a seafront strip, and the nearest is under a kilometre from the centre. Three sit within 2 km.
- Library Tavern is 800 m from the centre.
- Ortaki Tavern sits 1.8 km out.
- The Square Mezedopolio lies 1.9 km out, a meze house.
Getting to Sellia
Sellia sits inland from Georgioupolis, the resort town 4.2 km away on the north coast, so the usual approach is from the coast road and then inland. Our Georgioupolis page puts that town about 35 km from Chania and 20 km from Rethymno, which places Sellia between the two cities and within easy reach of both.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. A car is worth having, because the village has no beach and the coast lies in two different directions: the sandy bay east towards Georgioupolis and Kavros, and the rocky coves west around Cape Drapanos.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sellia in Crete?
Sellia lies in the Apokoronas district of the Chania region, inland from the Bay of Georgioupolis and 1.9 km from Kefalas. Our Kefalas page gives that neighbouring village as about 30 km east of Chania.
Does Sellia have a beach?
Sellia has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 7 km. Kalivaki at 3.6 km is the nearest, and Georgioupolis at 4.2 km is the most fully equipped, with lifeguards, umbrellas and showers.
Which airport is nearest to Sellia?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Sellia. The village lies east of Chania town in the Apokoronas district, so the transfer runs along the north coast.
What is there to do near Sellia with children?
Kalivaki beach, 3.6 km away, is the calmest option for children. It sits at the river mouth and stays sheltered when the wind stirs up the open beaches, and Georgioupolis beach 4.2 km away is sandy, shallow and staffed by lifeguards.
Is Sellia near Georgioupolis?
Georgioupolis is 4.2 km from Sellia. The town sits in a green valley crossed by rivers and springs at the western end of a 10 km stretch of beach, and it holds the range of hotels, tavernas and shops that Sellia itself does not.
Sellia Map
Discover Sellia is located at Sellía. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
