Kalamaki hotels

Hotels in Kalamaki

Located 65 km from the city of Heraklion, Kalamaki is a classic tourist destination for those seeking to make the most of southern Crete. With a number of excellent beaches, tavernas and plenty of Kalamaki hotels to choose from you can shape your holiday to suite your budget. This is a place to relax and unwind. Although it doesn't have the same party atmosphere of some of the nearby towns such as Matala and Agia Galini, both are within easy reach.

Things to do:

Built along a magnificent sandy beach in Messara Bay during the 1970's, Kalamaki is a relatively new town, with no historic buildings to speak of. There are however plenty of ancient villages to visit nearby, including Kamilari and Kommos. It also sports excellent transport links, a great bus service and easy access to a number of historic sites within the area.

Although the town itself boosts no notable historic buildings, the area has been inhabited for centuries during the Minoan, Hellenistic and Roman periods. As a result there's some major archaeological sites to visit nearby, including the ancient port of Phaistos, the Palies eklisies, an 18th century church built on an earlier Roman temple, the ruins of a royal Minoan Palace called Agia Triada, and Gortys, the remains of a settlement which has been inhabited for almost 6000 years.

To immerse yourself further in the history of this beautiful island, visit the museum of Cretan Ethnolog and the village of Svas. To access its natural beauty, hike along the spectacular gorges of Agiofarago and Martsalo, with their biblical landscape and paths leading to an azure sea. Alternatively climb up to Kamares Cave.

For translucent water and a long stretch of golden sand, Kalamaki beach, with its tavernas, cafés, shops and bars is a perfect spot to enjoy the sun. Water sports such as canoeing and windsurfing are available and if you're really lucky, you can catch the hammerhead turtles nesting, or their young scurrying back to the sea. Alternatively, visit the Matala beach with its ‘hippy caves' or the bustling waterfront and welcoming cafés of Kokkinos Pyrgos beach.

Facilities:

Kalamiki offers everything you need for an enjoyable and restful stay. Sunbeds and umbrellas are widely available on the beach. With plenty of tavernas, cafés and restaurants sprinkled along the seafront, there's no shortage of tempting places to eat out as you watch the sunset. Although shopping is limited to the basics in Kalamaki, it offers all of the necessities, such as a pharmacy, minimarkets, car rental service and cashpoints, as well as some souvenir shops. For a more satisfying retail experience, try the neighbouring towns of Tymbaki or Moires.