Sandstrände

Gouves Beach

Chersonissos, Heraklion · Free

Route

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Organised

Gut organisiert

Characteristics

Sandig

Activities

Good for

Familienfreundlich

Facilities

About

A handful of sandy beaches along Kato Gouves, easy and popular with families.

Kato Gouves has a main beach plus three smaller ones around its two little marinas, all sandy and organised. It is close to Heraklion, calm in feel and full of family hotels. A tavern on the rocks at the eastern end has a great view over the open sea.

Kato Gouves is quieter than Hersonissos but still has plenty of tavernas, bars and shops. Just up the hill, the old village of Ano Gouves has narrow lanes and a nice square. A short drive takes you to the Skotino cave, one of the biggest caves in Crete, or to the Cretaquarium in nearby Gournes.

Hersonissos is the busiest resort area of Crete, stretching along the north coast east of Heraklion, with Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalida and Malia. The beaches are long and sandy, with every facility, and the nightlife is lively. Behind the resorts, villages like Koutouloufari, Piskopiano, Mochos and Krasi keep a traditional atmosphere and offer cooler evenings with views. The Minoan palace of Malia, the Cretaquarium and the open-air museum of Lychnostatis are all in the area.

Around Chersonissos

North coast, on the Cretan Sea
Nearest town: Hersonissos, about 9 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 16 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