In our article we want to talk about one of the Greek resorts. Stalida (Crete) is a resort village located in the Heraklion region, between the popular youth resorts of Malia and Khnrsonissos. From Heraklion to Stalis, the distance is only 30 kilometers. Despite the fact that the resort is located in the area of famous villages, where young people prefer to relax, it is focused on a completely different audience. Stalida (Crete) is a quieter town, focused on sedate family holidays. In addition, elderly vacationers love to come here.
A little about the resort…
Currently, the active development of tourism has led to the fact that all three cities on the coast - Malia, Stalida and Hersonissos, located close to each other, have practically connected with each other. The connecting link was a modern ten-kilometer embankment, walking along which you will definitely not be able to understand whereone village ends and another begins.
As we already mentioned, Stalida (Crete) differs from its neighbors in that it does not have such a vibrant nightlife as in neighboring towns. It is for this reason that couples with babies come here. Even if there is a desire to have fun, then Malia and Hersonissos are very close.
There are a lot of European pensioners and families with children in Stalis. And young people here sometimes live in budget hotels, and go to neighboring cities for fun.
What is Stalida?
The resort itself is a small village, consisting of one long street stretching along the coast. In the depths of Stalis there is also a road that leads to Malia (Greece). All other streets, like streams, lead to the sea, descending from the mountains to the water.
The local Beach Road embankment, unfortunately, is not divided into car and pedestrian zones. Therefore, in the daytime there is a very active movement on it. But at night the embankment becomes pedestrian, as it is blocked for cars. But even at this time, scooters and bicycles are actively moving along it.
Despite such inconveniences, the embankment of Stalida (Crete) is considered one of the best on the island. It is worth noting that the resort, unlike neighboring towns, has no ancient history.
Not so long ago in the village in temporary light houses, the villagers of the village of Mohos rested. But over time, the beautiful and comfortable coast gradually attractedthe attention of residents of other cities. So gradually Stalida (Crete) turned into a popular resort.
How to get to the city?
In order to get to Stalis, you need to take tickets to Heraklion International Airport. And then take a taxi to the resort (about 30 kilometers). The fare will be approximately fifty euros.
There is also a more budget option, the distance can be covered by the regular bus Heraklion - Malia, which departs from the bus station every thirty minutes. The fare is 3.8 euros per passenger. The journey takes just under an hour.
Resort Beach
The beaches of Stalida are the pride of the resort. It is thanks to them that the city has gained such popularity among vacationers. The sandy coast has a wide gentle entrance to the sea, and the water on the coast is clean and transparent.
The entire coast of the resort is divided into two parts by a rocky embankment, because of this it is believed that there are two beaches in Stalis. It should be noted that there are no wild sections of the coast in the city. At the height of the holiday season, the beach is crowded with vacationers.
The coast of the resort has a well-developed infrastructure. There are all conditions for a good comfortable stay. On the beach you can rent a sunbed and an umbrella (the cost of the service is three euros). The beach is equipped with showers, toilets and changing cabins. There are several playgrounds for young guests of the resort.
On the coast, vacationers can ride water attractions: a banana (ten euros per person), a jet ski (fortyeuro), catamaran (fifteen euros per hour). There are sports equipment rentals on the beach. Diving enthusiasts can go as part of a group with instructors towards Hersonissos, near which, at a depth of about 24 meters, there is a sunken plane that has become a kind of attraction.
Lifeguards are always on duty on the local coast. Coming to the beach, you need to pay attention to whether the red flag is raised, warning vacationers to enter the water due to strong waves.
There are a large number of taverns and cafes along the coast where you can eat without leaving the coast.
Sights of Stalida (Crete)
The resort has a convenient location not only for the airport, but also for Cretan attractions. Local travel agencies vying with each other sell excursions from Stalida to interesting places on the island. In principle, all the sights can be explored on your own by renting a car.
For those tourists who visit the island for the first time, we can recommend going to Elounda. Once the town was a small fishing village, but now it has turned into an elite resort. On the way to Elounda, vacationers can see how ordinary Cretans live far from the sea coast.
A trip to the island of Spinalonga, which was once fortified for defense, and later turned into a leper colony, may seem no less interesting. The place has a creepy history, but it looks very nice. get toThe islands can be visited not only as part of an excursion, but also independently on ships sailing every thirty minutes from the ports of Plaka, Elounda, Nicholas and Agios. The cost of a boat trip is 4-5 euros. You can visit the fortress on the island for two euros.
You can visit Plaka only to admire the picturesque view of Mirabello Bay. From the village, guided by the signs, you can get to the ancient city of Olunta, most of which is now under water. And from it, tourists easily go to Agios Nikolaos - one of the most popular cities of Crete. In the village, you can admire the architecture and seascapes and visit Lake Voulismeni, in which, according to legend, Athena once bathed. The pond itself is small, but it has a round shape. An old legend said that the lake is bottomless. But in the twentieth century, the famous explorer Jacques Cousteau proved that it still has a bottom, like any other body of water on earth. The deepest part of the lake reaches 64 meters. At its bottom lie the remains of German equipment from the Second World War. This excursion route is quite interesting and at the same time not tiring. The length of the route is 89 kilometers, and the cost of an excursion trip is 25 euros per tourist.
Knossos Palace
The main attraction of Crete is the Palace of Knossos. It is located not far from Stalida, so it can be reached by car in about twenty minutes. In addition, you can get to Knossos by bus, but with a transfer in Heraklion, since there is no direct flight. Fares from Stalis toHeraklion is 3.8 euros, and from Heraklion to Knossos is 1.6 euros.
Resort Hotels
The city has a fairly large selection of hotels. Of course, the most popular hotels in Stalida, located near the coast. In our article, we want to mention a few hotels that are worthy of attention, based on the positive reviews of tourists.
Horizon Beach is a three-star hotel located 150 meters from the beach. The complex has four swimming pools, a playground and a terrace leading to the sea. The modern apartments are well equipped and offer sea or pool views. All rooms are equipped with kitchenettes with cooking hobs and refrigerators. Therefore, hotel guests have the opportunity to cook on their own if they wish.
Horizon Beach has a restaurant and pool bar. A buffet breakfast is served daily. Positive feedback from tourists give reason to recommend the hotel for recreation. According to numerous guests, Horizon Beach is a very good establishment with new spacious rooms, plentiful and varied food and a high level of service. Particularly pleased with the beautiful area with pools filled with sea water, and a promenade to the sea.
Akti Lounge Hotel & Spa
Aktia Lounge Hotel Spa 5 is a modern hotel located right on the beach of Stalida. The complex is equipped with good furniture, a sun terrace and a swimming pool.
Comfortable rooms, entertainment and good food makevacation unforgettable. Aktia Lounge Hotel Spa 5has its own spa, where you can enjoy wellness treatments and massages. The hotel operates on an all-inclusive basis. According to vacationers, the food in the main restaurant is always delicious, and the choice of dishes is very large. Service is at a high level. On the beach, hotel guests are provided with free umbrellas and sun loungers.
Triton Hotel 3
Triton 3 (Stalida) is another hotel on the coast of the resort. The complex is located ten meters from the beach. On its territory there is a bar, a swimming pool, a well-equipped recreation area and modern comfortable rooms. All apartments are equipped with flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, refrigerators, new furniture and bathrooms. Breakfast (buffet) is served daily in the restaurant. There are cafes and taverns near the hotel, although hotel guests do not need additional food, as the food in the hotel is delicious and varied, as evidenced by the rave reviews of tourists.
In general, the choice of housing in the village of Stalida is quite diverse. Among the local hotels, you can choose a luxurious complex or a cozy family hotel. Depending on your budget, you can rent an apartment with a kitchenette, which will help you save on food. But still, most tourists prefer hotels with an all-inclusive system. Luckily, there are plenty of these hotels in Stalis, Greece.
Local taverns and cafes
Into the Stalis attractions category, you caninclude a number of local taverns, among which there are very famous establishments that every tourist should visit.
At the very end of the beach is "Anatolia". The institution is known not only for its amazingly delicious food and excellent service, but also for very reasonable prices. So, for example, a dinner for two of several simple dishes and two liters of wine will cost about 60 euros. Visitors recommend ordering pizza, red mullet and kleftiko.
In the Golden Beach area you will find another worthy place - this is the Maria tavern. The establishment is equipped with a nice outdoor terrace with a beautiful view. According to tourists, the tavern cooks very tasty food. Perhaps, "Maria" can be called the best institution according to the ratings of visitors. The cafe staff is very respectful of Russian tourists, there is even a Russian-language menu for guests from Russia.
The institution is named after the hostess herself, whose name is also Maria. She is said to sometimes personally help the staff. Portions of food in the tavern are very large, and the cost of dishes is quite affordable. So, for example, a dinner for a family with drinks will cost approximately 35 euros. Regular guests of the establishment definitely recommend trying meat dishes, pizza, meze and garlic bread.
Katerina's Tavern
The tavern is on the list of popular establishments in Stalis (reviews from tourists are a direct confirmation of this). Despite the fact that the cafe is located at some distance from the beach, it is so in demand that a table is worth it for the eveningbook in advance. The restaurant's menu includes dishes that are traditional Cretan food. Here you can try cheeses, jams, pies with various fillings, home-made olive oil, homemade wine and delicious meat dishes, well, you can’t even talk about seafood, they are cooked here just perfectly. The tavern has been run by the same family for over twenty years.
The Irish pub Dewers operates on the beach of Stolida. Of course, it is far from the only one on the coast, but many tourists say that it is special. In the evenings, you can listen to live rock music here, and at night you can take part in a party on the seashore. If you are lucky enough to take an umbrella and a sunbed at the bar during the day, then you can definitely dine for only three euros. Beer of different sorts costs from three to six euros in a pub.
Resort climate
The peculiarity of such cities as Stalida and Malia (Greece) is that they are located in the zone of several climatic zones - North African and Mediterranean, like the whole of Crete. It is for this reason that summers in the region are dry and hot, and winters bring a lot of precipitation.
In general, the climate in all resorts of the island is incredibly mild and ideal for the human body. In Stalis, more than 300 days a year pleases tourists with the sun. The resort attracts vacationers with good ecology. It's no secret that there are no harmful industrial facilities near Crete.
The best time to relax is from April to the end of October. During this period, the air temperature is very comfortable, and there are practically no winds.happens. But from November to early April, the weather cannot be called beach weather: it rains very often and winds blow, and the sea is constantly stormy.
Some tourists dare to swim even in April, but still the water becomes more comfortable already in May, as summer weather sets in on the island. Many tourists who do not really like the heat tend to visit the resort in May. Comfortable temperature allows not only swimming in the sea, but also seeing local beauties and sights.
Resort guest reviews
Stalida enjoys well-deserved popularity among beach lovers. The reason for this is the most beautiful bay with a sandy coast, on which hotels are built. The village is surrounded by stunning greenery, and flowers decorate the village in May and June.
A lot of Europeans have a rest in Stalida, but in recent years our compatriots have also chosen the resort. A nice gently sloping beach with a sloping entrance to the sea is an ideal place for children to swim.
According to tourists, the small size of the village adds charm to the resort. Everything you need is at your fingertips, so there is no need to travel long distances.
In general, Stalida is a comfortable place for a good rest. In the village you can rent a car and go to explore the beauty of the island. It is worth noting that young people often do just that, making the resort a base for further travels around Crete. Well, couples with kids should chooseone of the hotels on the coast, the distance from some of them to the beach is no more than ten meters. Such proximity to the sea completely eliminates the difficulties with the road, which is tiring for the youngest guests, as well as people of age. Stalida is in many ways attractive because it has absolutely no hustle and bustle, which are inherent in large resorts. And at the same time, there is entertainment here, and for noisy nightlife, guests go to neighboring villages, where an active nightlife is seething.
By the way, Hersonissos, Malia and Stalida are generally difficult to consider as separate villages. Over the past decade, they have grown so much that it is difficult to understand where one ends and the other begins. Gradually, the boundaries between them are blurred. Nevertheless, Stalida to this day has a more relaxed atmosphere, here you can take a leisurely walk and sit in a cafe, and there are neighboring villages for entertainment.
Resting in Stalida, of course, should not be limited to the beach and the sea. Experienced tourists recommend by all means to rent a car, moped or ATV. There are a lot of rental points in the town, and you definitely need to bargain. Locals willingly enter into a conversation and make all kinds of discounts. Having your own transport makes getting around a lot easier. No need to adapt to tedious excursions and move in groups, delaying each other. Sightseeing trips can be combined with swimming. Many of our tourists also have time to go shopping, buying not only cute souvenirs, but also more valuable things (for example,Leather Products). Each hotel has free parking for its guests, so there will be no problems finding a place to stay for the night. The only thing to consider when renting a car is that you will often have to move along narrow and winding streets.
According to tourists, the resort town of Stalida is definitely worth considering as a romantic quiet place for a family vacation.
