Zaros is a charming town located at an altitude of 340 metres, known for its picturesque lake and gorge. The town has a population of 3,400, who are primarily engaged in the production of olive oil, sultanas, vegetables, and spring water. Visitors can enjoy cafes near Lake Votomos and relish fresh trout at the tavern called I Limni (The Lake). Rouvas Gorge, a popular hiking destination, is located nearby. The town also has traditional water mills that have been operational since the 16th century, as well as archaeological sites and monasteries. One of the most notable features of Zaros is its water, which is bottled by Votomos SA and is renowned for its purity and taste.
In addition to the attractions mentioned above, Zaros has a couple of hotels that offer comfortable accommodation to visitors. The town’s location at the southern foothills of Mountain Psiloritis makes it an ideal base for exploring the surrounding areas. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll around the lake, go fishing, or hike through the scenic Rouvas Gorge. The town’s rich history and culture are reflected in its traditional water mills, archaeological sites, and monasteries.
Zaros is also known for its production of trout and salmon from fish farms. The town’s water is bottled and sold by Votomos SA, which is renowned for its purity and taste. Overall, Zaros is a must-visit destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat amidst nature and a glimpse into the authentic Cretan way of life.
Things to do in Zaros
Most of what there is to do in Zaros is within 3.5 km of the centre: a museum, the lake, two monasteries and the mouth of the Rouvas Gorge. The town works as a base for the southern slopes of Psiloritis rather than as a day trip on its own. The list runs from the centre outwards.
- Start at the Zaros Folklore and Geological Museum. The museum is in the town itself and is listed here as Zaros Folklore and Geological Museum.
- Eat trout from the farms. Zaros raises trout and salmon in fish farms, and you can eat the fish 600 m from the centre at Idi Restaurant & Fish Farm or beside the water at Zaros Lake Restaurant, 1.1 km out.
- Walk round Lake Votomos. The lake sits 1.2 km from the centre with cafes on its shore, and its page is Lake Zaros or Votomos.
- Climb to the Agios Nikolaos Monastery. It stands 1.6 km from the town near the exit of the gorge, which takes one of its names from it; see Agios Nikolaos Monastery at Zaros.
- Carry on to Vrontissi monastery. The monastery is 2.5 km away at Vorizia and has its own page, Vrontissi monastery in Vorizia.
- Hike the Rouvas Gorge. The gorge starts 3.3 km from town between the Ambelakia and Samari peaks and runs 4 km, of which 2.7 km has been laid out by the Forest Service for hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing and wildlife watching; the route is described on Rouvas Gorge (Gafaris). A fire in 1994 damaged the Rouvas forest near the southern entrance.
Two more stops sit close by for a slower afternoon. The Open Museum of Olives is 3.9 km out, which fits a town whose farming runs on olive oil, and in the centre itself you can stop at Vegera, Elia Traditional Restaurant 1.1 km away, or the Bottomos Tavern 700 m out.
Beaches in and around Zaros
Zaros has no beach. The town stands 340 m up on the southern foothills of Psiloritis, so the water it is known for is fresh: the lake, the spring water that Votomos SA bottles, and the streams in the gorges above. Heraklion, the nearest city on the north coast, lies 31.7 km away in a straight line, and the mountain roads between run a good deal longer than that.
The swimming and the walking here are inland. Lake Votomos is 1.2 km from the centre, the Rouvas Gorge starts 3.3 km out, and the Apolychnos Gorge, a 3 km narrow valley that begins near Panagia village and ends at the settlement of Agios Antonios, lies 5.8 km away at Apolychnos Gorge. For a cooler stop on the way through the hills, Agia Varvara sits 9.0 km away at 580 m, the highest point on the road between the Messara plain and the Malevizi region, and it is covered on Agia Varvara.
Zaros town Map
Uncover Zaros town is located at Zaros town, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
