A scenic village located in Greece is home to miles of dramatic coastline, with serene sandy beaches and a charming community with traditional and modern architecture
A little-known European destination boats 6.8 miles of scenic coastline.
The village of Palaiochora in Crete, Greece is full of character and a traditional Greek feel — yet it is little-known and often not full of tourists. With a population of around 2,200, Palaiochora has a charming atmosphere with a mix of traditional and modern buildings. All of the buildings are under two-storeys, and the village is known for being surrounded by olive groves, beaches and high hills of the White Mountains.
The entire village, which stands on the ruins of the ancient city of Kalamydi, also clusters itself around a peninsula, where a castle was built in 1279. Featuring sweeping bays on one side and steep mountains on the other, it is worth a visit just to see the village’s dramatic setting.
The village’s economy mostly relies on tourism and agriculture, such as olive oil production. Travellers often enjoy the crystal clear waters in the area, as well as isolated anchorages. Tourists aren’t left short for choice when it comes to hotels, restaurants, tavernas, cafes and bars.
One local attraction in the spring season, is the abundance of wild flowers found in the village. But if not visiting in spring, there are also a number of Venetian and Byzantine frescoes in some of the local churches and a museum dedicated to the Acretans in the town.
The destination also offers a range of activities including windsurfing, whale watching, dolphin spotting, diving courses and botany tours.
Close to the village is a beach that has been named the best in the world. Elafonissi Beach in Greece was given the crown by Tripadvisor, as part of its Travellers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2025. The beautiful sandy strip is known for its pink sand and crystal-clear waters, but is also surrounded by forests of cedar trees, making it a great spot for hiking too.
Ferry boats also connect Palaiochora with Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Chora Sfakion, and Gavdos. Gavdos is the most southern point of Greece and is a small well-guarded settlement with a few isolated beaches. The ferry takes around four hours to reach Gavdos, but once there travellers can experience extraordinary beaches.
The destination benefits from a hot summer Mediterranean climate, and a mild winter. July is the hottest month to visit with an average high of 28C and average low of 23C. In the other hand, February is the mildest month to visit with an average low of 10C and average high of 15C.
A direct flight from London to Chania, Greece takes around four hours, and then Palaiochora is around an hour-and-a-half drive from the airport. Direct return flights from London start from £146 per person.
