Kalyves holidays

Holidays to Kalyves take you to a sleepy village with a long sandy beach dotted with waterside tavernas. And Kournas Lake and Chania make up the sights nearby.

A Cretan getaway

The quiet village of Kalyves sits on Crete’s northern shoreline – it’s a relaxed, rural idyll with a handful of authentic Greek tavernas along the waterside. A long sandy beach is backed by the White Mountains range in the distance, while dense pine forests cushion the village. The place is a relative newcomer on the tourist scene, so the bustling town of Chania is on hand for nightlife and shopping.

Twin beaches

Kalyves Beach is split into 2 mirror-image beaches – Maistrali and Xydas. They’re divided by a little canal with a footbridge to cross over, and on both sides you’ll find sunloungers, umbrellas and tavernas. They have clear, shallow waters, plus there’s jet-skiing and waterskiing from the western end of the beach. If you’re out and about, 10 minutes’ drive away is Almyrida Beach, which comes in a sheltered cove with shaded trees.

Daytrips to Aptera and Chania

A 15-minute drive takes you to the ancient ruins at Aptera, where you’ve got well-preserved 1st-century Roman cisterns alongside the crumbling remains of an amphitheatre. A 10-minute walk from here and you’ll be at a 19th-century Turkish fort, which has fantastic views out to sea. And in less than half an hour you can be in Chania. It’s a real mix of Venetian-style alleyways and modern shops, plus there’s a harbour-front fortress with a maritime museum next door.