Anissaras Holidays

Anissaras is on Crete’s north coast and is great for families, with everything you need on the doorstep including supermarkets, sands, and a choice of hotels. Although many of the hotels have their own restaurants, there are several bars and eateries offering sea views near the beach. You can hire a bike or discover the local area on foot, or venture further afield to local attractions like CRETAquarium, home to sea turtles and sharks, or Dinosauria Park where kids can learn more about prehistoric creatures.

Anissaras Beach is a long sweep of sand and pebbles that has earned itself Blue Flag status for its cleanliness. It’s well supplied with sun loungers, and there's also a scuba centre. From here, you can head off to see the caverns and grottoes of St George’s Cave. There are several small coves and beaches within easy reach, or you can drive further afield to the many other seaside towns along the coast, like Kato Gouves with its church perched right on the seafront.

If you've done the aquarium and the dinosaurs, you could visit the Planetarium just along the road towards Gournes. It's about 15 minutes away by car. Or maybe try a walk around the rocky paths of Aposelemis Gorge. You'll find horses, bikes, and buggies for hire locally. And after dark, there's some buzzing nightlife in Hersonissos and Malia. Or you might visit the capital city of Heraklion. Here you'll see historic architecture like the 16th-century Venetian-style fortress, along with some top-class shops, bars and restaurants.