When I asked my very well travelled Aunt which part of Crete is best to stay in she didn’t hesitate. Makry Gialos without a doubt.
My Aunt has travelled dozens of times to Crete over the last 30 years and this is her favourite place. So that is where we went. And that is where I fell in love with Crete.
Where is Makry Gialos?
Makry Gialos is on the South East coast of Crete, 58km SouthEast of the well known Agios Nikolaos and 23km East of the port town of Lerapetra.
The south coast of Crete is less developed than the north coast. It is more rugged, has far fewer large scale resorts.
Makry Gialos sits along a long, gently curving, bay with one of the longest sandy beaches in the area. Tavernas and cafes line the broadwalk next to the beach, and sunloungers and parasols are a plenty. The water is shallow, meaning it is beautifully warm.
This is a family friendly place, with waiters giving greeting as you pass with none of the usual pressure to go in an eat. For the price of one drink you can have a sun lounger on the beach for as long as you want. It is a place that feels like it hasn’t changed since the 60’ or 70’s (in a good way).
Where is mary gialos?
The spelling of Makry Gialos seems to be a problem for some, and is often mispelled as Mary Gialos. So what does Makry mean? In Greek, “makry” (μακρύ) means “long”. So Makry Gialos (Μακρύ Γιαλός) literally translates to “long beach” Its resemblance to Mary is purely incidental.
Makry Gialos things to do.
Walk the Pefki Gorge
Crete has a good number of famous gorges you can hike and this is one of the smaller ones. Linking the mountain village of Pefki to Makry Gialos its not too long or difficult making it a good half day trip, allow about 3 hours to go there and back. The path is well marked, there are some rocky sections but nothing too extreme.
Take a boat trip to Koufonisi Island
Koufonisi is a small uninhabited island with crystal clear waters, sandy coves and ancient ruins. It is a popular day trip with boats leaving from Makry Gailos. At one point the boat was a full blown wooden pirate ship, but when we were there the pirate ship was confined to harbour.
Visit the Minoan Villa
Unlike the larger archaeological site of Crete this site doesn’t have an entry fee or a visitor center so you are free to roam about at your own pace. It is the remains of a two story villa dating from around 1500BC. If you are interested in archaeology it’s worth a visit and you may well have the place to yourself.
Go snorkeling at Stáousa Beach
This is the best place for snorkelling in the Makry Gialos area. It’s just a small beach with no parasols or sunbeds, but the water is a perfect shade of turquoise. There is a cave you can snorkel through to the east of the beach.
Go to a beach club
Dragon’s cove was our favourite beach in Crete, and honestly one of my favourite beaches of all time. Parking at the top of the cliff and walking down the wooden stairs is like walking down to paradise. We were there in July and at 10 in the morning we had the place almost to ourselves. The beach club, Cavo Bianco, has sun loungers which cost 20€ for 4 but that included cold water. The staff were friendly and the food was good (but not exceptional). Laying on that sunbed with a cold beer may just be my happy place.
Where to stay in Marky Gialos
We stayed in a rented house from The White Houses right on the port. The blue balcony you see in the photo was ours. It was perfect for our family, with a shady internal courtyard and a view to die for. It has to be said it was a little quirky and I certainly wouldn’t describe it as luxurious. However, I would say it was a luxury because luxury comes in many guises, and being able to stumble out of our front door and immediately be at a beach or a taverna is a luxury in my eyes.
If you prefer to be in a resort then I would recommend you look at the Atlantica Mikri Poli Crete, situated on its own little beach with a beautiful view.
Where to eat in Makry Gialos
You really are spoiled for choice in Makry Gialos. There are Tavernas all along the front. Even in July we had no problem getting a table, and only had to make a booking once for the Friday night. Our favourite restaurant on the front was Golden beach, particularly for the Smyrna Soutzoukakia (spicy meatballs in a tomato sauce)
A special mention for Georges
A quick ten minute walk around the headland to the west of the of the harbour takes you to the beach of Paralia. This is a beautiful natural beach with crystal clear waters that are much deeper than in the bay, and you can snorkel a little near the cliffs. There is no real infrastructure on the beach except for a couple of sunbeds provided by Georges.
Georges is the kind of place you hope to find when you are travelling. The owner came out to talk to us, his mother was in the kitchen doing the cooking. The food was delicious and copious. Traditional Greek fare, nothing fancy. Stuffed vegetables, cheese pies, fried aubergines and the most amazing stuffed vine leaves you will ever taste. Added to that the prices are very low and the view is unbeatable. If you only have time for one meal in Makry Gialos then eat it at Georges.
If you are planning your first trip to Europe then make sure your read How to plan a trip to Europe: the 3 essential first steps
If you need help with planning your trip then check out our services
If you have any questions about travel itineraries in Europe then drop us a line. We are happy to help.
If you want more tips and ideas for visiting Europe then FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM