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Stena Beach

Phaistos, Heraklion · Free

Route

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Organised

Nicht organisiert

Atmosphere

Abgelegen

Characteristics

Facilities

About

A pebble beach with a narrow channel between the shore and a huge rock, great for snorkelling.

Stena (the narrows) is named after the narrow passage between the beach and a massive rock in the sea. It is pebbly with turquoise water and close to the spot where, according to tradition, Saint Paul stayed on his way to Rome. There are no facilities at all.

There are no facilities, so bring what you need. It's quiet, with a wild, rocky setting typical of the south coast near Kali Limenes.

Phaistos covers the western Messara, the largest plain of Crete, and its coast on the Libyan Sea. Here lie some of the most important Minoan sites, Phaistos and Agia Triada, and the beaches of Matala, Kommos, Kalamaki and the long Messara bay. Inland, towns like Moires and Tymbaki are busy farming centres, while villages such as Zaros, Vori and Kamilari are perfect for a slower pace. The area is warm and sunny, with a long swimming season.

Around Phaistos

South coast, on the Libyan Sea
Nearest town: Matala, about 11 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 75 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