Perched on the north coast of Crete, Stalis is a laid-back resort town known for its family-friendly beach. It’s backed by rugged mountains blanketed in olive groves and dotted with traditional villages that can be explored on foot or on horseback.
Rent an umbrella and sun loungers for a day at Stalis Beach, a golden sweep of sand lapped by the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea. If you’re feeling active, you can rent a jet ski or ride a banana boat before refuelling at one of the restaurants or cafes that line the promenade.
A short drive west of Stalis is the Lychnostatis Open Air Museum, which features a magnificent terracotta building where local textiles and wine-making equipment are displayed. If you want to stretch your legs, follow the Bulgarian Trail that leads from Stalis to the monastery of Axion Esti before ending in the charming mountain village of Mochos.
Getting there
Stalis is around 30 minutes’ drive from Heraklion and 25 minutes from Heraklion International Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Buses connect to Stalis while the resort town is small enough to explore on foot.