Vai Beach Crete

The scenic Vai beach, we find it in the north east of the Crete island about twenty kilometers from the Sitia village and north of the Palekastro village, a typical Greek village with blinding white houses.

The peculiarity of this beach is given by the wonderful endemic palm grove behind it, part of the Natura 2000 project and considered the largest in all of Europe. It houses about 5000 palm trees of a very ancient species, the Phoenix Theophrasti which seems to owe its birth to date seeds left by merchants in the past who stopped in this area to rest.

Just behind the forest, there is the beautiful beach made of a soft white sand coast with some pebbles and bathed by a blue, clear and transparent sea always awarded by the Blue Flag with sandy bottoms that slowly descend perfect for a long swim and for families with children where, the little ones can play safely and adults enjoy the day. Being very popular, especially in summer it is quite crowded. Equipped with sun beds and umbrellas (around € 10), it also offers refreshment areas where you can find both refreshing drinks and something to eat. For lovers of water sports, Vai beach is a real amusement playground.

Access to the beach and to the palm grove has limitations since in the past the human being did not have the due respect for nature, forcing the area to be closed to visitors for many years to be able to reclaim the area and make it return to the area protected and in the "forests of artistic value" project with strict national and international laws. It is absolutely forbidden to stay after sunset, to camp and to light fires. You can enjoy this little corner of Paradise from dawn.

A place with a tropical and exotic flavor, a destination much loved by hippies in the 60s that offers an incredible scenery where nature has truly been able to give that particular and unique touch.

Next to the restaurant on the right, taking a short five-minute walk and crossing a sort of rocky promontory, there is a beautiful cove called Psili Ammos, much appreciated by lovers of naturism and for those who love solitude (obviously not in the high season). season). A small secluded strip of fine sand at the foot of a soft dune, lapped by a clean and crystalline turquoise-green sea. An oasis away from everything where you can relax and hear only the sound of the sea. Obviously it is not equipped and there are no points with trees to have at least some natural shade, so we recommend that if you do not like to stay all day in the sun to bring your umbrella or something to shelter. As for water and food, nearby Vai can offer you everything you need. Curiosity: psili in Greek means "end", and is attributed to the sand that covers the entire beach.

Taking the town of Sitia as a reference point, if you have your own vehicle, head north-east to the  Palekastro village for a total of about twenty kilometers. For those who are not independent from Sitia, there are public buses in the summer. We recommend that you always consult the timetables. And still several tourist agencies organize day trips including round-trip transfers.

At Vai beach there is a convenient paid parking (about € 2).

A fundamental stop during your holidays in Greece, to be marked on the list of things to see in Crete.