Explore Crete
Nearby Things to do on Crete
Here are a few nearby things to do on Crete… When you’ve had enough of sitting around the pool and you want to venture further a field, Crete has so much to offer, from its stunning beaches to its historical sites.
Table of Contents
Nearby
Beaches
Walking
Adrenaline
Shops
Historical sites
Nearby Beaches
Georgioupolis (approximately 10km) is a seaside holiday resort with an extensive 10km sandy beach, super swimming and shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Almyrida (approximately 10km) is a smaller sandy beach lined with restaurants, bars, and cafes. There is a lovely bakery and a few shops to explore too.
Obrogialios (5km) provides a great experience swimming from rocks into the inky blue sea (the entry can be a little tricky). There is a tiny taverna that serves some of the best fish around.
Further afield, the entire southern coast of Crete is a wild environment with amazing beaches and hidden villages, a few of which are only available by boat. It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive to Hora Sfakion, giving access to the south.
Nearby Walking
Crete is renowned for its wildflowers in spring and amazing walks in the mountains and gorges. Guide books are available in the library.
Locally, Roupakias forest is a beautiful walking area with ancient marked paths to explore. Roupakias forest is walkable from Longhouse or is a 5-minute drive.
Please ensure that you check with Marianna for advice about walking in the early and late summer, take plenty of water with you, and suitable footwear.
Nearby Adrenaline
Bungee jump from Europe’s highest bridge – a real adrenaline rush! Please let us know if you would like more details.
Almyrida has an excellent scuba diving club and can arrange local dives. Fishing trips and various watersports, such as paddle boarding, windsurfing, and kayaking are available from various locations.
Owner Alex loves to ride around Crete on his motorbike, he has some wonderful suggestions if this is something that interests you, please get in touch. Motorbikes and bicycles are available for hire at Georgioupolis.
Nearby Shops
Likotinara has its own local taverna. Most local villages have their own traditional tavernas. The nearest mini markets are located in Kefalas, which is about 4km away.
Kalives (about 13km) is the best place for local food shopping with a fabulous fishmonger, butcher, and numerous groceries. Alex highly recommends visiting Stavros Chatzidimitriou’s wine cellar where you can taste and buy exceptional quality Greek wines and spirits.
The regional capital, Vamos, is located 10km away and has restaurants, shops, an excellent English butcher, petrol stations, and a large health centre, pharmacy, and bank.
For shopping, Almyrida and Giorgioupolis have some beautiful shops to explore.
If you feel like travelling a little further afield, Chania and Rethymno are approximately 45 minutes away and have beautiful historic Venetian old towns and harbours, with superb restaurants, shopping, museums, and bars. These main towns also have large supermarkets, useful for stocking up with groceries.
Nearby Historical sites
As well as the world-famous Knossos site, the Minoan capital, there are numerous Minoan, Greek, and Ottoman sites, ruins, castles, and monasteries in the local area.
Monastery Agios Georgios is 6km away from Longhouse and an easy day out.
The Archaeological site at Aptera is situated just outside of Kalives and is spectacular, with an ancient amphitheatre and Ottoman castle.
If you are looking for more ideas of things to do on Crete then check out our blog, and click the Nearby Tab.