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Stavros Beach, Crete

Stavros Beach is a beautiful seaside village, located on the northern side of Akrotiri, in the prefecture of Chania, just 19 km from Chania town and only 9.5 km from Chania International Airport in Crete.

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On the Beach

If you are looking for quiet and peaceful surroundings, as well as a family friendly beach, this will suit you. There are shallow, safe and protected waters here for toddlers.

The village started becoming more and more famous around 1964, when the beach scenes from the famous movie Zorba were filmed. Anthony Quinn is dancing the well-known Greek Syrtaki dance, composed by Mikis Theodorakis, against the backdrop of the picturesque Stavros Mountain.

See that romantic scene in this video clip below.

Stavros Beach is considered to be both close and far away from the city center of Chania. Close because it's only 19 km away, so a 30 minute drive at the most, or 40 minutes if you use the public bus service. Far away, because it's remote enough for you and your family to relax and enjoy.

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Beaches

Stavros Beach has two different areas to choose from, one tight cove right in the corner of the bay underneath the mountain, and one beach just a little further around the point to the west.

The shallow waters of the cove are ideal for small children and relaxing days at the beach, building sand castles or playing in the shallows.

The waters at the beach towards the point tend to get a little more swell, yet they make a nice change from the other beach and it is a little less organised.

The peninsula of Akrotiri has many beaches to visit in a short distance from Stavros Beach. They all have their own character and many good local tavernas too. Visit with a car:

• Kalathas Beach - a lovely sandy beach
• Loutraki Beach - a sandy beach
  
• Marathi Beach - 2 sandy beaches
  
• Stephanou or Seitan Limani Beach - fine sand and pebbles
  

After you have lazed on the beach, swum in the clear aqua waters, dozed on the sand and taken a nap, it might be time to climb Mount Vardies, which all the locals know as the mountain of Stavros, to a small cave, with a magnificent view of Stavros Beaches and coves to the north, all the way across to Chania town and the old port.

From these images below, you can see Akrotiri beaches only.

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Accommodation

There are plenty of choices of accommodation on Stavros Beach and dotted around the area. We have chosen a variety that are locally run, where you will experience the real Cretan hospitality.

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Chania Town

Chania is a thriving modern town with a cosmopolitan pulse. We suggest heading directly to the Old Town and wandering through the narrow streets. The town has a mixed history of Ottoman and Venetian periods, ancient sites of Minoan settlement, and is packed with museums, great boutiques, jewellery studios and of course, cafes and restaurants.

Leave time to discover this beautiful town.

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Tavernas

The seafood is so fresh here, and there are plenty of tavernas with local Cretan food

Tavernas close by:

• Almyriki Taverna in the old windmill
• Koulieris Taverna, just back from the beach
  
• Irene Taverna in Chorafakia specialising in traditional Cretan food, 2.5 km from Stavros Beach
  

Seafood tavernas to try in Chania Old Town:

• Palazzo Al Mare Taverna, which is right in the middle of the Old Harbour
• Apostolis Taverna,  which is at the eastern end of the Old Harbour

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Exploring Chania Crete

In the region of Chania, there is just so much nature to explore:

• Chania Region
• Samaria Gorge
• The White Mountains
• Omalos Plateau
• E4 European Walking Path
  

There are great beaches nearby to explore:

• Georgioupolis Beach
• Agia Marina Beach
  
• Maleme Beach

And further in the west of Chania, some extraordinary places:

• Balos Lagoon
• Elafonisi Beach
• Falasarna Beaches

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Getting Here

Take a 1 hour flight from Athens to Chania with Aegean Airlines or Olympic Airlines, with many flights available per day.

Take a 9 hour overnight ferry from Pireaus port of Athens to Chania port.

If you arrive into the airport or port of Chania, it is a short taxi ride to Stavros Beach, a distance of less than 20 km for each.

If you pick up your hire car from Chania Airport, it is a short drive under 10 km with very little traffic, directly north from the airport without having to go into Chania town.

Getting here by flights, ferries, bus and hire car below:

Car hire in Crete is a really good idea as it is a large island 60 km by 260 km. There is so much to explore.

When you book with our car rental partners - Rental Centre Crete - you are supporting a local company with excellent service and easy online booking. We are sure you will be well looked after by the team. Choose from hybrid, electric or regular vehicles.

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On the Map

See Stavros Beach to the north-east of Chania town on the map below:

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Stavros Beach in Pictures

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About the Team

Yiásas!
Anastasi, Apostoli & Katia are the
We Love Crete team
We just love sharing our passion for Crete, Greece and travel
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