Explore Crete island

Falasarna - Crete, GREECE

Falasarna is the westernmost village in Crete, located approximately 20km from Kissamos in the neck of the Gramvoussa peninsula. The name Falasarna is pre-hellenic and is derived from the nymph "Falasarni". Falasarna used to be the port of ancient Polyrinia. The peak of the city of Falasarna was during the Hellenistic period and at the time the city had its own coin. Its port was closed and surrounded by walls and it was connected to the sea with a canal. The port and the canal today are cultivated land due to the fall of the sea-level, the ancient remainings are located 300-400 meters from the sea. The secure position of the port, the impregnable fort and the rich valley of the area indicate that Falasarna was a great naval and commercial center.

The remainings saved today are part of the supporting walls of the city as well as part of its Cyclopean walls, defensive towers, foundations of houses and remainings of the temple dedicated to Artemida or Appolona. Present days Falasarna is a quiet resort, with many small hotels, apartments and taverns, close to the wonderful sandy beach. There are also many spots for free camping. Here the visitor can admire the magnificence of the archaic landscape and the blue sky. One of the most beautiful stretched sandy beaches in Crete, "Pahia Ammos" (thick sand), is located south of Falasarna.

Falasarna is regarded as one of the nicest, natural beaches in Crete and one of the ten best beaches in Greece, it is located 16 km west of Kastelli and about 45 km west of Chania. The road leading to Falasarna village is quite good and during the first 35 km it is part of the National road of Crete. The Falasarna beach is a long, big, sandy beach with amazing views during the sunset. The sea is always very clear and it tempts you go for swimming. There is plenty of space to play water-sports or beach tennis; there is also a volley field on the beach. You can visit Falasarna beach for one day as an excursion or stay in the nearby accommodation for longer, since the village is an ideal location to relax, unwind and fill your batteries. There is a cafe at the start of the beach and umbrellas and loungers at different locations. In the village, the cafe Galasia Thea is an ideal place for coffee and home-cooked dishes and the taverna Sun Set is a nice taverna for fish and classic Cretan food. The ruins of the ancient harbour-city of Falasarna can be explored during an excursion on the north of the beach. The excavations have exposed some of the walls and buildings of the city. There are no signs of the harbour now..