Our tips for the area
Beaches, tavernas and shops around Blue Olive Villas in Agios Onoufrios on the Akrotiri peninsula. The selection comes from our house book: places we like ourselves.
Three beaches nearby
-
Agios Onoufrios Beach
A small beach with parking, toilets and a little taverna. Allow more time for the walk back: it is uphill.
-
Stavros Beach
A lovely natural beach. In the evening especially, there are good restaurants around it.
-
Marathi Beach
A lovely spot with large, well-kept beaches, very good restaurants and boat hire.
A little further: Akrotiri and the west
-
Seitan Limania
A narrow cove between steep rocks on Akrotiri. The path down is steep, so wear sturdy shoes.
-
Agia Triada Monastery
Monastery on Akrotiri, open to visitors.
-
Falasarna
One of the best-known beaches on Crete. It faces west, so the evening light is wonderful.
-
Elafonisi
A lagoon with shallow water and pink-tinged sand. The area is protected (Natura 2000): please take no sand, shells or plants with you.
Two day trips
-
Samaria Gorge
The walk starts at Xyloskalo near Omalos and leads downhill through the national park to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, about 16 km in all. There is no road from Agia Roumeli; you leave by ferry. The gorge is open from about May to the end of October, depending on the weather. Take sturdy shoes and plenty of water.
-
Knossos
The best-known palace of Minoan Crete, just south of Heraklion, on the national road. Opening hours change with the season, so please check before you go.
The Samaria link opens the visitor page of the Greek National Tourism Organisation.
Food shopping in Kounoupidiana
Three supermarkets, all good: all three have a full range, and meat, fish and vegetables are of good quality. Imported food is fairly expensive; local produce sold loose is good value and good. You can often taste at the counter, and the ready-marinated meat for the grill is well worth trying. Chicken, lamb and pork are the better choice here, as there are few cows in Greece. Local cheeses, mostly from sheep and goat milk, are very good and inexpensive. Try the fresh cheeses such as mizithra, and Greek yoghurt desserts.
-
Chalkiadakis MAX
Supermarket
-
SYN.KA
Supermarket
-
Sklavenitis
Supermarket
-
Sale and baking fresh fish
Fish in the morning only. In the evening it is a restaurant (see Eating out).
-
ΚΑΤ ΟΙΚΟΝ ΓΕΥΣΕΙΣ
A modern butcher with an excellent choice and quality.
-
myGarden
A very nice greengrocer on the way to Chania, on the left before the bends down into town.
-
Glymidakis
A traditional Greek bakery to the right of Gregory's. The bread is baked here, and the traditional Greek sweets are recommended too.
Gregory's is an international chain for snacks and filled rolls.
Chania
After Heraklion, Chania is the second largest city on Crete and well worth a visit. Its heart is the old Venetian harbour with the shops and restaurants around it. Right on the harbour it is very touristy; the nicer restaurants and shops are a little away from the main routes.
-
By bus
An hourly bus runs from Kounoupidiana to Chania in about 20 minutes. It leaves from the main road near Alibertos. In Chania, get off at the old market hall.
-
By car
Parking and traffic in Chania are difficult. For the old harbour, Chania Port Parking is the best choice.
-
Salis
A lovely modern Greek restaurant with Greek tapas and other Mediterranean food. The bread and the draught beer are highly recommended.
-
Chania Sailing Club · Neorio Moro
A nice café right on the quay. Relaxed, good for breakfast, and a good start or end point for a walk around the harbour.
-
Lawbby Café
A café opposite the courthouse with a lounge feel, very relaxed outside busy times. Several restaurants are next door and across the street. The whole area is mostly visited by locals.
A very personal choice.
Eating out nearby
-
Mitsos BBQ
A classic Greek grill restaurant. Very good quality at medium prices. Booking a table is strongly recommended.
-
Alibertos
Steak and wine. The meat is charged by the kilo, with a good choice of American cuts. The wine list is so long that you get it as a QR code. Expensive, and an experience.
-
Bourakis
A classic, good Greek restaurant. Very good quality at moderate prices, pleasant seating and very attentive service.
-
Ta Gourounakia
A friendly, classic restaurant with good prices and large portions.
-
Agios Onoufrios Beach Restaurant
A classic Greek restaurant with low prices. You sit right on the beach and park outside the door.
-
Sale and baking fresh fish
A fishmonger until midday and a restaurant in the evening. Dinner depends on the day's catch. Highly recommended: superb quality, small prices.
Greek for the taverna
A few words that go down well in any taverna.
- Καλημέρα kaliméra
- Good morning
- Καλησπέρα kalispéra
- Good evening
- Γεια σας já sas
- Hello, goodbye
- Παρακαλώ parakaló
- Please, you are welcome
- Ευχαριστώ efcharistó
- Thank you
- Ναι · Όχι ne · óchi
- Yes · No
- Συγγνώμη signómi
- Excuse me
- Πόσο κάνει; póso káni
- How much is it?
- Τον λογαριασμό ton logariasmó
- The bill, please
- Ένα νερό éna neró
- A water
- Κρασί · Ψωμί krasí · psomí
- Wine · Bread
- Στην υγειά μας stin ijá mas
- Cheers
Everything within reach
Where exactly the villa is, and how far it is to the airport, the port and the old town, is on the location page.