Sandstrände

Amnissos Beach

Heraklion, Heraklion · Free

Route

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Organised

Gut organisiert

Characteristics

Sandig

Activities

Wassersport

Good for

Familienfreundlich

Facilities

About

A one kilometre stretch of soft sand right next to the airport, calmer than you would expect.

Amnissos was the harbour of Knossos in Minoan times. Today it is a long sandy beach just east of the airport, partly organised with sunbeds and showers and with watersports in summer. It stays fairly quiet considering how close it is to town.

In Minoan times Amnissos was the port of Knossos. Excavations found a villa here with the famous lily frescoes, now in the Heraklion museum, and the remains of a harbour building on the small hill at the eastern end of the beach. Homer also mentions Amnissos and the nearby cave of Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth.

Today it is a long, sandy and well organised beach, popular with locals from Heraklion. The water is clear and the sand soft. Being close to the airport, you'll hear and see planes, but many people find it oddly relaxing to watch them come in over the sea. It's a good choice on arrival day or before an evening flight.

Around Heraklion

North coast, on the Cretan Sea
Nearest town: Heraklion, about 7 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 3 km by road

Heraklion is the heart of Minoan Crete and the island’s busiest region. Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum are the two places almost everyone visits, and they work well together on one day. In the south, the wide Messara plain holds the palace of Phaistos, the Roman ruins of Gortyna and the famous caves above the bay of Matala. More about Heraklion