Makrigialos

A LOT MORE TO DISCOVER

Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands, and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, with a population of about 624,000 people. The island is renowned for its beautiful sandy shores, magnificent mountains, quiet fishing villages, and friendly people, and the small town of Makrigialos, offers an outstanding example of the welcome visitors receive; one that is unmatched anywhere else in Europe.

Makrigialos (Long Beach in Greek) is one of the quieter, less developed destinations on Crete, with some of the best beaches in east Crete. The local economy is based as much on agriculture as it is on tourism, and when the summer season ends, local business owners look to the olive harvest, which generates some of the finest olive oil in the world.

The town boasts an excellent selection of bars, restaurants, and tavernas, many fronting onto the beach. There is also a small fishing harbour - a pleasant place to stroll around, with its own patch of sandy beach and a cluster of waterfront bars, tavernas and restaurants.

The Makrigialos area is ideally located in the south-east of Crete to enjoy the benefits of both a relaxing beach holiday, and as a base for exploring eastern Crete. It has the best beaches in south-east Crete, including two blue flag beaches, and enjoys the superior North African influenced climate.Road access is good, allowing day trips that range from Toplou Monastery in the far north-east, the palatial ruins of Minoan Kato Zakros on the east coast, the Venetian fort and subsequent leper colony of Spinalonga to the north-west, and the Lasithi plateau to the west. Even a day trip to Knossos is achievable.

"a Place to Breathe Again"EXPLORE YOUR SENSES

YOUR BLUE VILLAS

“Cretan Blue Villas’’ is an organized complex of 14 detached villas within city plan of Makri Gialos, offering a unique opportunity for people that want a place in the sun.

BEACHES AROUND MAKRIGIALOS

The beaches of MakriGialos are among the best in Crete, covering any expectation. Though, the main beach lying in front of the village, offers easy access from Cretan Blue complex, is well organized, 1km long, with golden sand, shallow water and a Blue Flag, ideal for a relaxing day under the Cretan sun.

DISCOVER CHRISSI ISLAND

Chrissi island is ideal for a day excursion from Makrigialos. Located 8 miles south of Ierapetra city, in the open Libyan Sea, it is a flat islet very famous for its tropical blue water, named after the golden color of the sand, where you can enjoy a long & relaxing day under the sun.

PALM TREES VAI BEACH

Vai, or more specifically the palm forest of Vai, is one of the most popular sights in Crete and one of the most beautiful and special places in the whole Mediterranean. Famous for its wonderful palm forest, but also for the large sandy beach spread out at its foot

COLORFUL MOMENTS

Makrigialos village offers unique colors of life and relaxing moments at any time of day. The large sweep of sandy beach, the fishing harbor, restaurants, cafes and bars, offer a casual, colorful and relaxing atmosphere

MIKRI POLIS THE HOTEL

If you a looking for high quality services or a place to accommodate your guests, Mikri Polis hotel is just a few minutes away from Cretan Blue villas where you could enjoy a perfect & luxurious getaway

Towns near Makrigialos

If you are looking for city life, or having access to city services and shopping, near Makrigialos you could find some of the most famous and picturesque cities of Crete, offering a wide range of services and pleasure

30km FROM MAKRIGIALOS

SITIA

Sitia is the easternmost city on Crete near the Cape Sidero, 64km from Agios Nikolaos. It is a city with about 10,000 residents, built on the west side of the bay of Sitia, on a warm and dry area. Sitia has the only airport in eastern Crete and the most important port, with ferries running to Piraeus, Milos, Rhodes, Kassos and Karpathos.

55km FROM MAKRIGIALOS

AGIOS NIKOLAOS

White washed houses and beautiful buildings in Agios Nikolaos have the sea as background. The lovely serene little town of Agios Nikolaos is the cosmopolitan capital of the prefecture of Lasithi with 20000 permanent residents. The town is built on the site Mandraki, on the west side of the Gulf of Mirabello.

25km FROM MAKRIGIALOS

IERAPETRA

Ierapetra is located 30km south of Agios Nikolaos, in the narrowest part of Crete, and is the southernmost city of Greece. It is a modern city of 12,500 residents, who mainly deal with agriculture, as Ierapetra produces vast quantities of vegetables that are exported mainly to Europe.

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The sights

In Makrigialos town you can visit the local churches, the Roman Villa in Katovigli and the Minoan villa at Plakakia (1500-1450BC), which has the architecture of Minoan palaces. The nightlife is not intense here, but there are a few bars offering drinks on the beach. You can also till the harbor of Makrigialos and see the picturesque boats and the ﬁshermen.

10km FROM MAKRIGIALOS

ANCIENT MONASTERY
KAPSA

The monastery of Kapsas is located in the southerneast corner of Crete, on the west side of the exit from the gorge of Pervolakia towards the sea. The building complex of the monastery develops incrementally due to the sloping ground of the steep slope, with the cavernous church of St. John as the centre, which is formed externally as a twin-naved, barrel-vaulted church.

10km FROM MAKRIGIALOS

ANCIENT MONASTERY
OF TOPLOU

The monastery of Toplou or the Akrotiriani, as it is called due to its position in the eastern corner of Crete, is one of the most renowned and important monasteries of the island. Important icons, manuscripts, early printed books, and engravings that cover a lengthy period, from the 15th to the 19th centuries, are displayed in the two adjacent spaces of the basement of the monastery that are arranged as a museum

10km FROM MAKRIGIALOS

DIKTAIAN CAVE

The cave of Psychro (Diktaion Antron or Diktaian Cave) is one of the most important cult places of Minoan Crete. The use of caves as cult places was one of the basic characteristics of the religious beliefs of the ancient Cretans.The excavators and several scholars identify the cave as the famous "Diktaian Cave", where Zeus was born and brought up. The numerous offerings to the cave are now exhibited in the Herakleion Museum and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

WEATHER IN CRETE NOW

ACCESSIBILITY & INFO

INTERNET

Broadband internet is available in major populated areas
Wi-Fi is also available in Crete’s cities. Mobile internet is offered by all providers.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Greek

CURRENCY: Euro (€)

STANDARD TIME ZONE:

UTC/GMT +2 hours (Eastern European Time)

INTERNET

Broadband internet is available in major populated areas
Wi-Fi is also available in Crete’s cities. Mobile internet is offered by all providers.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Greek

CURRENCY: Euro (€)

STANDARD TIME ZONE:

UTC/GMT +2 hours (Eastern European Time)

INTERNET

Broadband internet is available in major populated areas
Wi-Fi is also available in Crete’s cities. Mobile internet is offered by all providers.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Greek

CURRENCY: Euro (€)

STANDARD TIME ZONE:

UTC/GMT +2 hours (Eastern European Time)

INTERNET

Broadband internet is available in major populated areas
Wi-Fi is also available in Crete’s cities. Mobile internet is offered by all providers.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Greek

CURRENCY: Euro (€)

STANDARD TIME ZONE:

UTC/GMT +2 hours (Eastern European Time)

Makrigialos

Makrigialos

A LOT MORE TO DISCOVER

"a Place to Breathe Again"EXPLORE YOUR SENSES