Kissamos holidays

Holidays to Kissamos show off the half-wild side of Crete, with rugged beaches, a laidback town and off-road adventures.

Crete’s quiet corner

Kissamos is Crete’s answer to your primary school’s reading nook – it’s where you go to get away from the chaos and get lost in a good book. It pairs up an authentically Greek port town with a long, sleepy sweep of sand, sprinkled with tavernas. Waterfront strolls, same-day seafood and beachy sunsets are all part of the unhurried pace of life here, ideal for those who prefer their holidays mostly horizontal, with the occasional daytrip.

Beauty and the beach

If you came to Greece in search of snap-worthy sand, you’ll be in your element here. Kissamos Beach itself is a corker – it’s carved into a natural bay flanked by rolling hillsides. The town’s waterfront is peppered with traditional Greek tavernas where you can get your souvlaki skewer fix, and there’s a market street in town bustling with boutique stores and cafés. It’s the kind of street where you might pop in for olive oil and end up chatting with the shop owner about the best raki bars nearby.

Balos Lagoon

When you feel like filling up your camera roll, Crete’s famous Balos Lagoon is only 40 minutes away in the car. You can also get there on boat trips departing from Kissamos Harbour. This place is a photographer’s dream come true, with a beachy island causeway that creates a natural lagoon, complete with peacock-blue water and pink-tinged sand.

Mountains and mythology

Beyond its beaches, Kissamos is rich in history and adventure. The town’s Archaeological Museum, housed in a Venetian-era building, showcases fascinating finds from the region’s Roman and Minoan past. Just outside town, the ancient city of Polyrrhenia offers crumbling ruins in a stage-like setting on a hill. For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby Sirikari Gorge and Topolia Gorge provide hiking routes through dramatic landscapes dotted with caves and wildflowers.