Characteristics of Falassarna

Falassarna is located on the western shore of the Gramvousa Peninsula, about 59 km west of the regional town of Chania and 16 km from the resort of Kissamos. The tourist resort is very quiet and surrounded by beautiful nature and beautiful sandy beaches, which turn into romantic rendezvous places in the late afternoon, as the view of the sun setting over the horizon is truly fascinating.

Falassarna is one of the modest resorts with few guesthouses and family apartments. There are also tavernas and beach bars along the beach during the summer season, and several shops with a variety of goods. Otherwise, the resort is very quiet and tourism is only slowly developing.

Falassarna beach and the west coast of the island

The Falassarna area is famous for its beautiful beaches and crystal clear sea, so it is no wonder that one of the most beautiful beaches on Crete is located here - Falassarna beach. The main beach of the resort is called Pachia Ammos (translated as "fine sand"), but there are also other sandy to pebbly beaches and small coves. The coastline is covered with fine and really clean sand that catches shades of golden and slightly pinkish colours. The pink tinge is given by the dust from the shells of the local corals, scattered in the sand all around.

While families with children and couples especially appreciate the fine sand and gradual entry into the sea, snorkelling enthusiasts appreciate the crystal clear sea and interesting underwater rock formations. However, strong westerly winds sometimes bring big waves, which in turn excite windsurfers.

On the west coast, north of Falassarna beach, is the unique Balos beach - a beautiful bay with fine sand and shallow water. However, the bay is much more touristy, and excursions are organized here. On the other hand, to the south along the coast we come across another stunning beach with distinctive pink sand - Elafonisi beach.

Historic area of Phalasarna

To the north of the resort we find the historical site of Phalasarna, which hides an ancient harbour and the remains of an ancient city with an acropolis. In addition to these large structures, the foundations of the town buildings, cobbled streets and the cemetery have also been preserved. In the Hellenistic period it was a lively port city. The harbour was surrounded by fortified walls and defensive towers and connected to the sea by a canal. It is also interesting to note that, although the harbour was at one time on the seafront, today it is about 9 metres above sea level. Over time, while the eastern part of the island is slowly sinking into the sea, the western part of Crete is slowly rising.

Within sight of the excavations stands the beautiful church of Agios Georgios. And if you walk southwards from the main excavation site, in about 5 minutes you will reach another important monument, which is the so-called "Throne of Poseidon". This is a massive, carved stone throne.

The site is easily accessible, you can walk here along the coast and make a nice hiking trip, but you can also drive here (there is a small parking lot at the site). However, the ancient city of Falassarna is still largely hidden beneath the surface and archaeological research continues here.

Who is the centre suitable for?

We would recommend the Falassarna area to anyone who wants to discover the most beautiful beaches of Crete, as the west coast of Crete is very rich in this respect. Lovers of atypical nature and more challenging hikes will also be satisfied here, as the Gramvousa peninsula is one of nature's unique features. If you want to stay longer, there are a few guesthouses and rooms for rent in the village, but don't expect a lot of tourism. The resort of Falassarna is very peaceful to sleepy.

More touristic destinations of Crete

Close resorts: Kissamos

Most favourite resorts of Crete: Adelianos Kampos, Agia Marina, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion (Iraklion), Hersonissos, Chania, Ierapetra, Kalamaki (Matala), Malia, Platanias (Chania), Rethymno, Stalis

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Crete.