Western Crete : Kissamos
In many occasions when talking with friends from all over the world, I realized again and again when it comes to Greece, seemingly every other place is mentioned more than any other – Kissamos in Crete.
The town of Kastelli Kissamos is on picturesque Kolpos Kissamou. It is in Chania region, on the north coast to the far west of the island, 37 km from the capital Chania.
The wide bay is formed by two prominent peninsulas – Gramvousa Peninsula and Rodopou Peninsula. The town sits on a long sandy beach on the spot of the old town of Kissamos.
Travellers may arrive in here loooking for a hotel in Kissamos on the ferry from the mainland of Peloponnisos (travelling via the island of Kythera), or visit for a tour around exciting western Crete.
Accommodation in Kissamos region
If you are looking for a Kissamos hotel Old town has plenty of hotels and a lot of traditional taverns known for the excellent quality of the food especially fish. Old Town in kissamos has lovely walks along the seaside.
Excellent choices will also be a beach hotel Kissamos like Mesogios beach with the best owners you ll ever find.
The village is steeped in history, and if you’re looking to move to the village, you can expect delightful period properties, attractive seaviews and short walks to two friendly restaurants
Limani Psarotaverna
Excellent seafood. The anchovies in olive oil with peperoni were amazing, red tuna, just grilled and still soft in the middle. The sword fish also excellent. Good atmosphere and friendly service there.
The staff is the most kind and the serving is fast.Go for the fresh of the day.
The owner will always welcome you with Raki.
Stelios & Katina
It is an amazing restaurant with lovely private garden indoors. Cosy atmosphere and really goood food. Organic, Fresh and Tasty. Try the local Grapa. Good Affordable prices and fast service. Plates include the trasitional Moussaka, Beans, fried aubergines fresh fish and Greek Salad.
The Nature in Kissamos
The five sandy coves at the beach of Falasarna
The main attractions of Falasarna are the superb sandy beaches, the crystal clear sea and the antique harbour.
Falasarna actually consists of several beaches (see the satellite picture below) of variable size. All have a fine sand and none feel crowded even on busy days because they are so wide and long.
When you drive down to Falasarna (perhaps after stopping on the way to admire the views from above – there are a couple of cafés with terraces offering very good views) you will see several signs pointing to the beach. You can follow any of them. You will have space to park near the beach. Once on the beach you can choose whether you want to use the sun beds and umbrellas provided (during the tourist season) or stay without. There is plenty of space without umbrellas so that you won’t be relegated to some corner of the beach.
During the tourist season there are a few beach restaurants and cafés on or close to the beaches as well as a couple of small shops along the road where you could shop for basics.
Many visitors also come to Falasarna to visit the ruins of the ancient Hellenistic harbour located a little further to the North. To access them you need to drive all the way to the end of the asphalted road and continue on a dirt track (you will see a sign pointing you in the right direction) for about 5 minutes. If you prefer to walk it takes about 15 to 20 minutes each way. See more about the harbour further down on this page.
and the spectacular Gramvousa
Islet and white sand and turquoise Balos Lagoon, invite beach goers and lovers of nature.
There are the inland gorges of Topolia and Sirikari to explore, and the Samaria Gorge is to the south.
There is some debate about the name of the town. Perhaps the Greek name is Kissamos, and the Venetian name was Kastelli, so now it carries both. Kastelli of Kissamos Kastelli tou Kissamou.
This lovely Cretan town with a population around 7,500 retains its character and rhythms of daily Greek life, whilst providing hospitality for the visitor. The town is an agricultural centre for the region, the major activities being wine and olives. The brandy-like dry red wine is delicious.
Where to stay
It all depends on your tastes and what are you expecting to find in Western Crete. In any case, a hotel in Kissamos is something easy to find and there are plenty affordable solution for families and couples. We recommend gladly a family Kissamos hotel like Mesogios Beach.
A great way to stay where you want and have plenty of room and flexibility is to rent an apartment or a studio. In this way, everyone will be able to have a bit more space, (which is great with teenage kids). Crete has very few large complexes compared with other countries in the Med. A strategic location
There are great bus services to get you around the whole island, and there are bars, restaurants, clubs and nightlife all within easy walking distance. The vibe is distinctly cosmopolitan. These are popular residential areas and the mix is bustly, without being full-on
OLIVE TREE. THE SEA. CRETE
Nothing is more characteristic of Crete than the millions of olive trees that grow in valleys and mountainous areas. Cretans have been cultivating the olive tree and have been using olive oil since 3500 BC during the early Minoan period, as archaeological findings have proved.
The olive tree (Olea Europea) is one of the few trees that can still produce fruits even in rocky and unproductive land. Olea’s main characteristic is its longevity and the preservation of its productivity.
