Explore Crete island

Ierapetra - Crete, GREECE

Crete is the largest island in Greece, 5th largest in the Mediterranean and 11th in Europe. It covers an
area of 8331 sq. km. and it has a population of 600.000 inhabitants. Crete's length from east to west is 260 km. The biggest width is 60 km from the Stavros cape to the Lithinon cape, while the smallest is 12 km and is called "isthmus of Ierapetra". Ierapetra is situated on the southeast coast with approx. 10km coastlines and is the fourth largest town of Crete. Its total area covers 400,52 Km2 and its population is 12.500 inhabitants. Modern Ierapetra is built on the exact site where the ancient Ierapetra was. Ierapetra town faces the Lybian Sea and is only 368 km away from the north African coast.

Ierapetra has the reputation of being the southern most town in Europe. With 202 mm of rainfall it is the sunniest, hottest region of Greece, where the temperature rarely drops below 12 C. all year long. It has many beautiful sandy beaches for all tastes. Some are hidden, tiny little bays, enclosed by extraordinarily "sculptured" rocks, others are long and wide. The lovely countryside with endless, olive groves, fruit trees and green ouses is heart-warming. Today the area of Ierapetra is one of the most productive regions of Greece and one of Europe's main sources of early fresh fruits, vegetables, olive oil and flowers. The population is employed in agriculture -mainly in all year round cultivation of vegetables. Large quantities of vegetables, which are grown in green houses (a total area of 13.000.000 square meters), are exported to whole Europe. There is also considerable income from the abundance of fresh fish brought in by the fishermen who ply the waters to the south and east Crete. Ierapetra also offers a variety of facilities: cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries, post office (ELTA), telephone centre (OTE), custom authorities, hospital, cinemas, internet cafes, bus station, taxi services, car and motorbikes rental companies, travel agencies, commercial banks. Ierapetra has a lot to offer to its visitors! Whether you prefer a quiet, peaceful holiday enjoying the beautiful nature and traditional Greek atmosphere.

Many of the local inhabitants of the area around Ierapetra work in agriculture, and so it is common to see the long green houses for growing vegetables, while inland there are lovely pine forests and olive groves. The kilometre long sand and shingle beach with numerous attractive little coves, has two beaches which have been awarded the Blue European Flag. Near to Ierapetra, there are many little villages. The region of Ierapetra lends itself particularly for walking, or for boat trips to the nearby bays, to the golden Island of ‘Crisi” or Koufonisi with its unusual crushed-shell beaches. There are many interesting outings to be made, for example a visit to Agios Nikolaos, to the vast Lassithi Plain with its windmills, to the Butterfly Gorge or to the beautiful palm strewn beach at Vai..