Apokoronas is a place of hidden gems. From beautiful sandy beaches and historic archaeological sites to delicious Greek cuisine and nightlife, everything you need is within a short drive from our stone villas.

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Below are a few of our personal favourite places to see and things to do - we'll keep this page updated as we learn more from our guests as they're always finding new hidden gems even we haven't come across in our 20+ years visiting the area.

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Beaches:

• Georgioupoli - Kavros: Nice sandy beaches. This beach has a unique church just off the coast you can access via a stone footpath through the water. Watersports are available here, also horseriding, or just relax on the beaches and browse the shops and restaurants.

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• Almyrida: Nice sandy beach - quite shallow, which makes it perfect for families with young children who'd like to paddle in the sea. Shops and tavernas are along the beach.

• Kalyves: Also a lovely sandy beach based in a larger town, about half way between Melidoni and Chania. The water is deeper here, but the beach is a popular destination.

• Loutro: Loutro is a beautiful  village on the South, making it a nice day trip from Melidoni. It's a secluded area only accessible by boat which is renowned for its blue and white buildings. The beaches are gorgeous and there are plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants. 

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Restaurants & Tavernas:

• Sterna tou Bloumosifi - Vamos:  This is our favourite restaurant in the area. We highly recommend the lamb pie and rocket and parma ham salad.

• Taverna Tzitzifia: Traditional Greek cuisine. No set menu, you get what they're cooking that day and they never let you down. Meat dishes are particularly outstanding. You're guaranteed a great meal - family run and lovely people.

• Psaros - Almyrida: A bit more upmarket fish restaurant where you can sit by the sea and enjoy your food and a nice glass of wine. 

• Our villas have fully functioning kitchens, so if you want to stay in rather than going out, we highly recommend buying meat from the local butchers in Armeni. Or better yet, sit back and relax and our local chef can cook up a traditional Greek meal for you and deliver it straight to the villa. Details will be available within the villa.

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Archaeological Sites:

• Aptera:  This is a site not to be missed when you visit Western Crete. You have to pay an entry fee (not much - in 2016 it was 2 Euros) - worth noting it is closed on Mondays, but other days it is open from 8am. Within the site you can visit Roman cisterns, Roman baths and view the newly uncovered amphitheatre.

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City Sightseeing:

The city of Chania is the capital city of Western Crete. Chania is a city full of history with Venetian and Ottoman buildings throughout and a renowned harbour with many cafes and restaurants to explore. We highly recommend hopping on a horse and cart tour as a perfect way of exploring the back streets of Chania, after which you can do some shopping and then finish off your day by heading over to our favourite taverna, Semiramis (shown below). 

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The harbour of Chania, looking back onto the White mountains, which can be snowcapped even in summer: