Makrigialos (officially spelled Makry-Gialos) has one of the best sandy beaches in east Crete, with an excellent choice of accommodation, bars, and restaurants. The village is also well located to explore the natural, historical, and cultural treasures of east Crete, including the famous Lasithi plateau and Spinalonga island.
Makrigialos (officially spelled Makry-Gialos) is "...a little-known gem of a place...undiscovered and not overrun by the tourists..."* It has one of the best beaches in Crete – long and sandy with crystal clear waters and an excellent choice of beach-front bars and tavernas – and a wide range of accommodation, from budget to luxury, studio to villa.
Makrigialos is not just about "total relaxation".* It is well located to explore the natural, historical, and cultural treasures of east Crete: the Lasithi plateau, Spinalonga island, Toplou monastery, ancient and modern ruins, deserted coves, and traditional mountain villages, to name just a few.
Makrigialos (official spelling: Makry-Gialos) is a small, unspoiled beach resort on the south-east coast of Crete, some 45 miles (70km) from the tourist hotspots of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos, and a world removed from the frenetic pace of Malia.
It has a permanent population of around 1000 inhabitants who originate mostly...
The beach at Makrigialos is the main beach in the area - a blue-flag accredited sandy strip stretches nearly a kilometre (half a mile) from the harbour. The exceptionally shallow waters are particularly popular with young families, and there are numerous harbour-side and beach-front cafes, bars, and restaurants. Sunbeds and...
Spinalonga is one of Crete's top attractions, and is just over an hour's drive from Makrigialos. Famous today as the setting for Victoria Hislop's novel 'The Island', Spinalonga was fortified by the Venetians in 1579 as a defence against Ottoman expansion. Although most of Crete succumbed in 1669, it wasn't until...
Pefki gorge is a 3 hour, 5 km (3 mile) walk down from the village of Pefki, in the mountains above Makrigialos, that ends at the Villea Village apart-hotel in the centre of Makrigialos itself. It is a mainly gentle walk on tracks and paths, but with some scrambling over rough...
Makrigialos accommodation consists mostly of beach-front, family-run, self-catering studios and apartments. In the main these can accommodate couples or small families, with at most a single bedroom and a sofa-bed in a living area. Two-bedroom apartments, such as can be found at the Olympia Apartments, are relatively rare, and properties with...
