Holidays in Kalamaki Crete

Practical information on holidays in Kalamaki

Holidays in Kalamaki are carefree, since it offers all the facilities necessary for a safe and pleasant stay.

In Kalamaki you will find souvenir and tourist shops, cashpoints, a pharmacy, car and bike rental shops, internet cafés, a Greek and foreign press outlet and minimarkets.

The intercity bus stop is on the main road through the resort, about 400 metres from the beach.

If you need a bank or a doctor you can go to neighbouring Tymbaki or Mires.

Hotels in Kalamaki

There are many hotels and apartments in Kalamaki. Most are beside or very close to the beach, while there are also quite a few at the entrance to the resort and on the nearby hillsides.

It’s a good idea to book in advance, especially if you’re coming in July and August when there are far more tourists.

Restaurants and tavernas in Kalamaki

On arriving in Kalamaki you will realise that the tempting tavernas and restaurants on the seafront are hard to avoid.

The many tavernas are very inviting due to their ideal setting and tasty cooking, offering fresh fish and seafood and Greek mezedes (titbits).

Kalamaki also has cafeterias, both by the sea and elsewhere in the village. The seaside cafés are perfect for romantic moments admiring the magnificent sunset.

What to do on holiday in Kalamaki

Spend the day on the beach to relax and recharge your batteries. Don’t forget you’re in southern Crete, with some of the cleanest seas in Europe. If you feel like a change, there are several other beaches near Kalamaki to choose from.

If the Kalamaki nightlife seems a bit tame, or if you want to buy souvenirs for your friends and relations, visit neighbouring Matala. You can spend all day there on the very-well-organised beach, or all night in the many different bars on or around the beach.

Another choice for more fun, tavernas and bars is Agia Galini, 25 kilometres northwest of Kalamaki, after Tymbaki.

From Kalamaki you can visit Phaistos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Crete and indeed Greece, famed for the second-largest Minoan Palace after Knossos.

traditional village kamilari — *the traditional village of Kamilari*

Very near Phaistos is the Minoan villa at Agia Triada, which you can visit using the same ticket.

From Kalamaki you can easily visit many pretty, scenic villages in the plain of the Messara.
Kamilari, a traditional Cretan village with a long history and many lovely corners,
Agios Ioannis with Agriolidis’s Tower, the traditional village of Siva, and Vori with the Museum of Cretan Ethnology are just some of the interesting villages only a short distance from Kalamaki.
Explore as many as you can on your holiday in southern Crete.

cave in martsalo gorge — *church inside a cave in the gorge of Martsalo*

You can also rent a canoe or kayak on Kalamaki beach and paddle to Matala or Kokkinos Pyrgos.
There are kayak and windsurfing schools at both Matala and Kalamaki.

Go horse-riding at Kommos or hike down Agiofarango, the Gorge of the Saints, shortly after Odigitria Monastery.

If you enjoy walking, there are many nature hikes nearby, such as Rouvas Gorge near Zaros, climbing to Kamares Cave, Martsalo Gorge and the easy climb up Mt Kefali on Cape Lithino (read about it in the Agiofarango section).