Paleochora (or Paleohora, or Paliochora) has been built on top of a small peninsula and washed by the waves on three sides. There are two beautiful and picturesque bays with fantastic beaches. The Eastern beach is called "Halikia", whereas the one to the West is called "Pahia Ammos".
Paleochora has approx. 2.500 permanent inhabitants, a number of small family-type hotels and apartment complexes, small traditional tavernas and kafenions, shops, banks, a pharmacy, internet café, a nice open-air cinema, doctors, post office and everything else that is offered in a small well organised holiday resort.
Locals and visitors live together in perfect harmony in the wonderful atmosphere created by the combination of crystal clear waters and 15 kms of clean beaches, the quiet hills, the picturesque little streets, the old Venetian Castle Fortetza (built in 1278), the breathtaking sunsets and the green or colourful spots of the gardens and flowerpots of the village.
Every evening and night in the summer, the main road is being closed for the traffic and filled with tables and chairs. The visitors can enjoy food and drink in one of the traditional tavernas or just take a romantic stroll.
Paleochora is also the perfect base and starting point for excursions to the sights of the area, e.g. the ancient town of Lissos, the villages of Sougia, Agia Roumeli and Sfakia, the island of Gavdos or the picturesque Elafonissi with its pink beach sand and turquoise waters. You can visit these places with the small ferry, almost on a daily base throughout the summer season.
You should pay a visit to the tiny village of Anydri and its little gorge, leading down to the wonderful beach of "Yianniskari" famous for its crystal-clear waters, or else to the village of Azogire with a monastery, a cave and small fall-water, and to the Byzantine churches and chapels of the area.
In Paleochora, the visitor can choose between a variety of activities, such as scuba diving, fishing and walking on the part of the European Walking Path E4 which leads along this part of Crete, or in the well-known gorges of Samaria and Agia Irini.
All the above make Paleochora a unique and blessed place, to visit again and again.
Paleochora and the surroundings
