Amoudara

Holidays to Amoudara put you beside a long, sandy beach, and within easy reach of lively Heraklion.

Beach town

It’s no surprise that the feather in Amoudara’s cap is its beach – the name means ‘big sand’ in Greek. The biscuit-coloured grains roll out along the coast for half-a-dozen kilometres, peppered with sunloungers, beach bars and watersports centres.

Bars and restaurants

The town is on Crete’s north coast, about 15 minutes west of the island’s capital, Heraklion. It’s got the full whack of cafés, tavernas and bars. You’ll often find yourself bumping elbows with locals at the bar – they’ll often head here to escape Heraklion’s hustle and bustle.

Nearby sights

A 10-minute drive lands you in Almyros Gorge, where you can hike through lush vegetation to trickling waterfalls and the ruins of a 14th-century monastery. Then there’s the historical biggie – the Palace of Knossos. The labyrinth here was where mythical King Minos was said to have imprisoned the Minotaur.