🏖 Almyrida Beach On your doorstep
Two arcs of sandy beach separated by a small rocky headland — one sheltered and ideal for families with young children, the other catching a little more breeze and popular with windsurfers. The water is remarkably shallow for a long way out, and the shade of blue changes through the day. A windsurfing school, SUP hire, scuba diving centre, and boat trips around the peninsula are all available in summer. The tiny whitewashed chapel on the headland is the most photographed spot in the village. Opposite the shore, the islet of Karga hosts seabirds and traces of ancient Phoenician walls.
🏛 The Early Christian Basilica & Mosaic Walking distance
At the entrance to Almyrida, a remarkable site sits quietly beside the road. Excavations in the 1990s uncovered a 5th–6th century AD basilica with its T-shaped plan, altar base, pulpit foundations, and Corinthian capitals intact. The highlight is an early Christian mosaic of exceptional quality — one of the finest on Crete — still partially visible beneath a protective cover. A genuinely striking discovery that most visitors walk straight past.
🌅 Plaka Village 15 min walk / 2 min drive
Just one kilometre east along the coast road, Plaka sits above Almyrida on the hillside with sunset views across the bay that are among the finest in Apokoronas. Good tavernas, well-stocked mini-markets, and a traditional character that tourism hasn't disturbed. Every July the village holds the Plakiana — a traditional Cretan feast honouring celebrated local lyre player Michael Papadakis, with music and dancing well into the early hours. The sea caves along the eastern shore toward Cape Drapanos, accessible by small boat, are a spectacular natural sight.
🏖 Kalyves Beach & Village 5 min drive
Four and a half kilometres west, Kalyves is a working coastal village that has absorbed tourism without losing its character. A generous sandy Blue Flag beach follows the curve of the bay. The section known as Kyani Akti — the local "Côte d'Azur" — is a quieter stretch west of the main beach. A small river divides the beach, and seafront tavernas offer fresh fish at honest prices.
🏛 Ancient Aptera 10 min drive
One of Crete's most impressive and least-crowded ancient sites, just ten minutes inland. Aptera flourished as a major city-state from the 7th century BC, accumulating layers of civilisation — Greek temples, Roman cisterns, a Byzantine monastery, and a Turkish fort — all on the same dramatic hilltop above Souda Bay. The views from the fort are spectacular. Entry is free; allow at least two hours and wear good shoes.
🌊 Lake Kournas 20 min drive
Tucked inland near Georgioupolis, Lake Kournas is the only natural freshwater lake in the whole of Crete — its spring-fed turquoise waters reflecting the mountains above with near-perfect clarity. Rent a pedal boat and look for the resident freshwater turtles and eels. The surrounding tavernas serve simple, good food. Arrive early morning or late afternoon to see it at its most serene.
🍷 Vamos & the Dourakis Winery 15 min drive
The capital of Apokoronas rewards the short drive inland. Since the 1990s a community project has restored its stone buildings into artisan workshops, a small winery, a cheese-making operation, and tavernas serving properly Cretan food. Nearby, Dourakis Winery is one of the most acclaimed producers in the Chania region, open for tastings and tours — an excellent afternoon stop after a morning at the beach.
⛪ Monastery of St. George, Karydi 20 min drive
Two kilometres east of Vamos, the only monastery in Apokoronas is also one of the most fascinating historic sites in the prefecture. The trademark of the site is its old olive oil factory — a fabrica with twelve stone arches and four mill bases open to the sky, the only four-mill olive press ever documented on Crete. Restored in 1996 after decades of abandonment, the monastery operates again today; visitors are warmly welcomed, often with bread, olives, and raki. Entry is around €2.