"La Sitia - Of man and nature, the two live in a sublime land, cut off from the crazy ways of busy enterprise" - T.P.

The word "friendly", applies to the people of Crete and it fits perfectly when considering the nature of the people you meet in the Sitia region.

We would elect the area "ideal for exploration".

One of the least "touristy" parts of Crete, Sitia as a town, was built up in Venetian times, destroyed and later rebuilt by the Turks, with just a few signs of this history remaining. The region however, still provides numerous clues and monuments to the area's early history.

Today, its long sandy beach (equipped by this caring town with showers) offers the pleasures of sand, sea, swimming and all the windsurfing opportunities in the world.

Sitia is very much a living town, which happens to have tourism, rather than the other way around. Sitia has the most cheerful and friendly Cretans you could hope to meet, people who love their town and keep it clean and tidy, not so much to attract tourists but more because they themselves take pleasure in it and are proud of it.

The uncrowded region of Sitia is home to monasteries (notably Toplou), archaeological sites, palm-forested beaches, sparkling bays and fascinating treks across the mountains.

To name a few, the surrounding villages of Zou, Ziros, Handras - alive with the activities of today - abandoned Ethia and the surroundings of Karydi, hold much of interest in their ancient buildings and archaeological finds.

Getting to this more isolated region (named Lassithi from "La Sitia" ) takes you on a journey through magnificent countryside, generously supplied with dramatic gorges, intriguing villages hanging onto inland peninsulas or steep hillsides, along a "California-highway-one-like" road. Birthplace of Vitsentzos Kornaros, author of the "Erotokritos",

Sitia has an atmosphere that suggests if there were an artist's colony, this should be it.

With a new runway completed, direct, international flights and an increase in frequency of service to Athens may one day become a reality. We hope that the easier access to Sitia and Lassithi will be met with appealing and thoughtful development; there will most certainly be new tourist facilities. One day...

 

How to get there

From Agios Nikolaos (driving time 60-90 minutes) the National road clings to the coast most of the way (a dramatic set of winding turns and sweeping, emotion-stirring, views) . The drive is magnificent and there are many places to see en route.

A detour to Mochlos is recommended, take the left turn to Mochlos, at 5.5km past the village of Kavousi. You will find tavernas at the waters edge in the village (5km down the road) and the tiny island with its visible archaeological site opposite.

Recommended: Taverna Bogazi the owners used to run the Taverna Sta Limenaria, but Bogazi in a far better location.

After this, drive out in the other direction joining the National road just 2km before Tourloti - where a visit to the Kafeneio on the western side of the village by the mini market is worth while for the views of the coastal mountains, Sfaka village and distant Mochlos below.

If driving from Heraklion (total drive time 2.5 to 3 hours to Sitia) consider stopping at Neapoli. It's hardly a detour off your route and about twenty minutes before you arrive at, or pass, Agios Nikolaos (this is also one of the ways to get to the popular Lassithi Plateau).

Cradled amongst lush green surrounding hills, it has a beautiful open and spacious central square with large church, many cafes and Kafeneia and a park. (Neapoli and Agios Nikolaos will have feature sections devoted to them soon.

The route from Agios Nikolaos to Sitia will be featured in our Great Drives of Crete section). There is a regular bus service from Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos.

By ferry to/from Milos and Pireas (Athens). There is a ferry from Agios Nikolaos which calls in at Sitia on its way to Rhodes (Rodos) - See Ferry schedules.

From May through mid-October there are direct charter flights to Sitia and Heraklion Airport. Tickets can be bought in advance for almost all flights via our partner website.

The journey is the thing". A superb way of enjoying the journey to Crete is to fly to Athens and take the ferry from Piraeus (Pireas) - the port serving Athens. A still-romantic way to travel by the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion Port. Tickets can be bought in advance for all ferries via our website.

If you want to explore the region while you're here, we recommend that you rent a car, other means of transport are limited and/or infrequent. We suggest our sister website, which offers competitive prices and you can collect your car at either airport.

If you would like the convenience of a taxi transfer, you could book your taxi transfer online easily and safely from the airport or port to any location via our website.

 

Where to stay

Sitia Bay Hotel, the newest and best of Sitia hotels. First opened in 2005, this is the hotel Sitia longed for: a smart, quality small hotel. On the sea front*, few steps from the beach, has 19 well-finished studios/apartments with kitchen, all facing the sea. Sizeable swimming pool, pleasant courtyard with flowers. Open April to October.

Beyond Sitia: On the extensive sand and shingle Kouremenos beach (far north-east coast),

Olga Beach Apartments is a great choice if you want to spend lots of time in/by the sea, in a quiet location, from where you can explore east Crete. Open April to October.

 

What to see & do

Sitia is an absorbing place to wander around, doing no more than enjoying atmosphere.

The small narrow streets behind the seafront feature the everyday scenes of a Cretan provincial small town: villagers in to stock up on news and necessities and stores which cater to their every conceivable need.

 And don't forget, one thing not to be missed, especially on Sundays, is the volta, when the whole town puts on its finery to parade in front of the neighbours, cafes, tavernas. If you want to see this "show" get a seat around six in the evening at a table adjacent to the road behind the waterfront.

Aside from wandering the streets, sitting in Cafes or lying on the beach you could visit the Folk Museum near at Kapetanios Sifi near the OTE or have a look at the restored Venetian Fort which now used as an open-air theatre.

Climbing down from here you can see the ruined remains of some Roman fish tanks, just along the harbour. If you would like to gain a better picture of the past, then you have to visit the Archaeological Museum, on the Ierapetra road, which contains a very interesting collection of finds from the area around and the palace at Zakros.

Find more exciting activities about East Crete, here.

 

Where to eat & drink

Sitia is famed for its good food and raki. The Sitians call the little tavernas serving mezedes rakadika.

You can enjoy your mezedes with raki of course( this is what the locals love to do ), but you can also choose to wash them down with the local wine, beer or even ouzo. Don't miss it...

Some of the traditional local dishes are omaties or omathies (pork chitterlings stuffed with rice, chopped liver, sultanas and spices), xygalo (type of creamy cheese) and, above all, the well-known Sitian sweet cakes.

Sitia is famous for its xerotigana (crispy pastry spirals with honey), which are slightly softer and lighter than those you may have tried elsewhere in Crete.

And of course the kalitsounakia (sweet cheese pastries) are small and square and leavened with yeast.

For well-grilled fresh fish you can trust the Remetzo, the Zorbas and the Kastro. The restaurant "Balcony" is located on the first floor of a traditional house in the center of Sitia with Mediterranean cuisine could be a good choice as well.

Don't miss during August ( 16- 20 August ) the annual Sultanina or sultana festival which marks the start of the grape harvest and of course the summer long cultural festival with concerts, dance, theatre - the Kornaria