People of Sfakia in Crete

The exact date of the founding of the village is unknown, however, during the times when Crete was ruled by the Turks and Venetians, Chora Sfakion thrived due to trade. Nevertheless, not all local residents peacefully accepted the foreign invaders: 28 km north of the village is the mountain of Sfakion, which was a center of Greek resistance against both the Turks and Venetians. In this area, Daskaloyannis was born, one of the heroes of the Cretan uprising (1770) against the Ottoman Empire. It is in his honor that the international airport in Chania is named.

And today Hora Sfakion is the perfect place for a quiet, family vacation. Sun, coves, numerous beaches, delicious cuisine, and most importantly - local hospitality. Everyone is welcome here and greeted as if they were old friends!

Sfakia is located on the southern coast of Crete. You can get to the island either by plane or by ferry. The airports and major ferry docks are located in two cities: Chania and Heraklion. The nearest airport to the village is named after Ioannis Daskalogiannis in Chania.

You can reach the village by car or public transport. Car rental is available on various websites or directly at the airport. The car journey from the airport to Chora Sfakion can be roughly divided into 3 parts:

1. Departure from the airport or ferry terminal parking lot onto the national highway (E75/EO90).
2. Travel along the northern coast to the junction located in the village of Vrises (turn south).
3. Drive through the mountains from Vrises south to Sfakia.

Since there are no railways on the island, bus travel is very popular. There is a direct bus from Chania to Horafakia. You can check its schedule on the website of the local bus company.

Traveling by bus from Heraklion or Rethymno will be slightly more complicated, as there is no direct route. In this case, you can either take a direct bus to Chania and then transfer to the necessary route. Alternatively, you can travel from Heraklion or Rethymno to the village of Vryses and transfer to the aforementioned bus Chania - Chora Sfakion.

Another option is to travel by ferry. However, this option is only available if you are located in one of the settlements on the southern coast of Crete. Ferries from the northern part of the island do not come here. For detailed information about local ferry companies, look here.

If you don't want to drive a car and prefer to travel by bus, then the optimal option would be to hire a taxi. An even more convenient option is to book a transfer from the airport in advance, choosing the type of vehicle you need: standard or minivan.

Since the village itself is small, there is no need for public transportation here. This is if we are talking about getting around within the settlement. You can walk around the entire village in an hour, even if you stop to say hello and exchange a few words with each resident (just kidding).

As for traveling around the district, everything is pretty standard here: you either rent a car or take a taxi. There is also a third option - a ferry, which can transport passengers only to points along the southern coast of Crete.

You can rent a car right on the spot, but if you are still planning to do it, it's better to arrange the rental in advance and order the car directly to the airport. This way you don't need to pay for the bus, and there are things to see on the way from Chania or Heraklion.

There is no other public transportation here. And it's not needed if your goal is to get to the nearest beach and relax properly. Navigating the village is not so easy: winding, twisted streets can lead you where you don't want to go. On the other hand, if you see a mountain, it means there is no sea, so head south or southwest from it. Where is south and southwest? If the road goes downhill, it means it descends to the sea. In any case, you can always ask the locals - they will be happy to help and tell you everything.

There are no interesting sights or landmarks directly in the village itself. After all, it is primarily a tourist center with many beaches. However, there are several interesting attractions in the surrounding area:

• Aradena Bridge - an impressive structure hanging over a deep gorge. If mountain landscapes can still surprise you, then be sure to take a walk on this bridge.
• Agios Antonios Cave. Nearby is a small chapel, as well as various archaeological monuments.
• The ruins of the old part of the village of Georgitsi are located on the mountain, near Chora Sfakion.
• Mount Manola and the Ilingas Gorge. Along the way, be sure to visit the old church of Agia Triada, as well as archaeological excavations. Throughout the journey, incredible landscapes and views of the harbor will unfold.

Let's immediately say what you absolutely won't be able to do. If you are interested in shopping and lively parties all night long, then that's definitely not what Chora Sfakion is about. In the whole village, there are only a few grocery stores with essential items, and as for nightlife, there are only a couple of cafes that stay open late.

Beaches

Most of the time, travelers from other countries spend their time basking in the gentle Mediterranean sun and enjoying the warm sea water. There are several nice beaches directly in the village and nearby:

1. Filaki and Ammoudi. Nearby is the unique hotel "Vritomartis." This is the only nudist club on the island, so the two closest beaches to it are officially designated for clothing-optional relaxation.
2. Vrisi. A local beach located 70 m from the Stavris hotel. Covered with fine pebbles. Here you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers.
3. Iligas. A stunning sandy beach with turquoise water. Located 1 km from Chora Sfakion (10-15 minutes walk), at the end of the Kavi gorge. In fact, it is not one, but three beaches, separated by sea caves. You can only walk to the main - the westernmost one, and the others can only be reached by water. There is a tavern with relaxation rooms on the main beach.

Active recreation

For those who don't like to sit still, there are 3 wonderful activities: walks in the surroundings, fishing on a real fishing boat, and diving.

The region of Sfakia is located at the foot of the White Mountains, which cover 960 km² and have 20 peaks over 2,000 meters high. The highest point is Mount Panches (2,453 m). On the southern coast, the mountains form 18 gorges, the largest of which — the Samaria Gorge — has cliffs 1 km high and stretches 16 km in length.

Tourist routes in these places are conventionally divided into short (1-2 hours) and long ones. In this section, we will talk about short walks, and we will discuss long routes in the section dedicated to excursions.

So, if you have a couple of hours of free time, take a walk:

• On the route "Hora Sfakion - Beach Glika Nera - Loutro". The whole journey will take just over 2 hours. Part of the route will pass along the famous European hiking trail E4, which stretches across the entire continent. After about 1 hour of walking, you will find yourself at Glika Nera Beach, surrounded by cliffs. Here you can have a snack and relax at a local tavern. The next settlement is the village of Loutro, located on the shore of a small harbor. From here, you can either take a ferry back to Hora Sfakion or continue your journey to Anopoli.
• Walk to Anopoli. The walk will take 2 hours. Part of the journey will follow the old Venetian stone-paved road. This is a quiet and peaceful route - the perfect time for a leisurely conversation about life.
• Walk to Komitades. It will take 45 minutes. Follow the asphalt road eastward. After approximately 35 minutes, turn right and you will see the church of Agios Georgios. This is an interesting place famous for its ancient frescoes. You can take a break at a local tavern and arrange for a car to visit the Imbros Gorge. Alternatively, you can walk there yourself (2 hours on foot).

Another item on the active recreation program in the village is fishing on a boat. In addition to fishing, you can rent a boat for a sea trip, but it will be more expensive than taking a ferry.

The diving center "Notos Mare" is located at Chora Sfakion, 73011, Chania. Here you can not only book a boat for diving and all the necessary equipment, but also rent water transport for full-day sea excursions.

Excursions

As such, there are practically no organized excursions from the village, however, there are many interesting natural sites nearby, and the E4 European hiking route passes through.

Small walking routes have been discussed above, here we will focus on journeys through more challenging terrain that take longer:

• Plateau Osmalos. Depending on the chosen route option, the hike can take from 2 (5-6 km) to 9 hours (14 km);
• Plateau Askifu. The minimum route takes 1.5 hours (5 km), the maximum - 7.5 hours (10 km);
• Plateau Anopoli. From 2 hours (4 km) to 5 hours (11.5 km).

If sitting still is getting boring, then we recommend heading to Heraklion and exploring the world-famous archaeological excavations.

Despite its small size, the village has quite a few hotels, rooms, and apartments available for rent. Let's talk about a few of them:

• Hotel Xenia is located near the old harbor. The prices for the rooms are slightly higher than in the surrounding area, but the panoramic view from its windows is breathtaking!
• Eleni Apartments are situated in the upper part of the village. They offer medium-sized but spacious rooms, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. There are double and family rooms available.
• Notos Suites is located opposite Eleni. The hotel rooms are spacious, with a private pool and a magnificent sea view.
• Illingas Hotel and the adjacent tavern are perfect for those seeking solitude and tranquility. It is located a 30-minute walk from the village and has a small beach with caves.

Another option is to rent a room from local residents. Many families in Chora Sfakion make a living by renting out part of their homes to travelers. There are also entire family-run hotels, such as Alkyon.

Local taverns and restaurants serve traditional Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine dishes. Be sure to try:

1. Spanakopita - a pie made of phyllo dough with a filling of spinach. The dough is very thin, made without eggs and with minimal amount of oil. Finely chopped spinach is sautéed with leeks, then mixed with feta cheese and beaten eggs. All of this is layered onto thin sheets of dough, rolled up, and baked.
2. Htapodi - octopus stewed with vegetables. First, the meat is stewed in red wine, then sweet tomatoes are added. It pairs well with oregano and homemade bread.
3. Dakos - a popular appetizer. Made from dried bread, sweet tomatoes, mizithra cheese, and olive oil. The bread is slightly moistened, then topped with chopped tomatoes. Everything is sprinkled with grated cheese and drizzled with olive oil.
4. Kakavia - a fish soup. This soup is made using small fish that are not suitable for other dishes. The soup includes potatoes, onions, saffron, carrots, celery, shrimp, and lemon juice.
5. Graviera - a traditional Cretan cheese. Known for its complex production process. It takes 60 liters of sheep's milk to produce 10 kg of cheese.

1. In the village, credit cards are rarely accepted, and cash can only be withdrawn at a few stores. Be prepared to pay a commission of 5 to 7%. The nearest ATM is an hour's drive away in the village of Vrisses. We recommend withdrawing cash in advance in larger cities. This can be done right at the airport.
2. The pharmacy is located in the village square. There is a local medical clinic in the settlement. To make an appointment with a doctor, you can call +30 28250 91128. The nearest major hospital is located in Chania.
3. There are no issues with Wi-Fi in hotels and restaurants. Just ask the owner for the code. Mobile communication works well. The only exception is in the mountains and gorges, where there may be no signal.
4. In case of emergencies, the phone numbers for emergency services are: fire department, which also conducts search and rescue operations in the mountains – 199, police – 100, ambulance – 166, tourist police – 171.