Agia Pelagia is a small seaside tourist town located on the northern coast of Crete: about 12 mi from the city of Heraklion. It gives an easy access to the international airport – 20 minutes from the resort town.

A quiet fishing village, until recently, has now become a modern tourist resort with a developed infrastructure, one of the most popular and demanded in the Heraklion area. The local population here is only about a thousand people, but most of the year Agia Pelagia is very crowded due to the incoming tourists.

Almost 4 decades ago Capsis company has seen a potential in extraordinary beauty of this place, and today the Capsis Beach Hotel is one of the largest, and most luxurious hotels on Crete. Its territory occupies the whole western side of the local bay. Of course, there are now many other hotels, villas and apartments where you can relax with comfort.

When choosing a hotel or villa, one must take into account the peculiarity of the local landscape. Agia Pelagia has been built in the in form of an amphitheater, and the further the shelter is from the shore the higher it will be above the sea level. Therefore, the high located hotels will be more suitable for tourists who like to go for a walk or to the owners of rented cars. If you are not a hiker, then look for an accommodation near the beach. However, then you can not enjoy the beautiful view from above.

Agia Pelagia received its name from the medieval monastery of St. Pelagia, which was a metochion of the famous at the time of the Venetians power in Crete monastery of Savvathianon located south of the village of Agia Pelagia, on the road leading from the village of Rodia. Unfortunately, only a church of the 12^th century remained from the monastery of St. Pelagia.

It’s supposed that even earlier here was located the ancient town of Apollonia destroyed by Cydonia in 171 BC. A little to the north of the bay of Agia Pelagia, in the town of Kladissos, there were interesting archeological finds: in the rocks carved dome-shaped tombs of the Late Minoan period, dating from 4^th century BC, as well as a ceramic workshop and dwellings built at different times, beginning from the Middle-Minoan until the Roman period. But, despite the rich history of the previously located at this place town, the settlement of Agia Pelagia appeared here not so long time ago – only in 1965, when unremarkable lands began to be bough from local residents at a very low prices; and then no one could guess what popularity the settlement will find decades later. Now there are there supermarkets, various other shops, restaurants, cafés and taverns, pharmacies, rental offices of any type of transport, sightseeing companies, etc. For lovers of Greek cuisine, there is a large selection of taverns stretched along the entire central beach. If you consider yourself to be a gourmet, we advise you to visit the restaurant “Alati”: it means salt in Greek. Here you can taste refined Greek cuisine with stress on modernity.

The beach season lasts from April to November, which is very convenient when planning vacation although one needs to book a hotel or villa in advance. In the spring-summer time the average temperature is about 27º. The hottest months are July and August, in the remaining months the weather is perfect for those who do not like exhausting heat, appreciate pleasant temperatures and water as smooth as silk.

The main advantage of the resort of Agia Pelagia is the protection of the bay from winds: due to its location, the sea always remains here relatively calm even during the coming from north tempest. A wonderful beach allows adults traveling with little children to relax here.

The main sandy beach of the resort is extended but rather narrow, and water seems here green. The Turks called the Gulf of Agia Pelagia Çanak limanı. The port reminded them of a pot: “çanak” in Turkish. The beach offers many opportunities for water sports, scuba diving, there are also umbrellas. Many good taverns as well as various little restaurants and bars are facing the beach.

In the northern part of the beach, there is a cave called Evrisi (Revelation) with a small icon being to remind of another icon of St. Pelagia reveled there some centuries ago. Therefore it has been built here the well known on the island monastery of Agia Pelagia. Thousands of believers came to the beach on the Day of the Saint, removed all their clothing and buried themselves in the sand to cure their diseases.

Activities in Agia Pelagia

To the north of the main beach of the village there are secluded pebbly beaches (Kladissos, Psaromoura and Mononaftis). A beautiful bay with the beach of the village Lygaria is to the south-east of the central beach.

We advise you to visit one of the most beautiful beaches of Agia Pelagia, namely Psaromoura. Here you will find the stunning colors of the cleanest sea. It’s ideal for swimming with mask. The beach has a comfortable infrastructure: sun loungers, umbrellas, changing cabins and a beach bar, where you can always have a snack or cool cocktail. Several times a month the beach hosts evenings of popular music.

Agia Pelagia can not boast of nightlife, but it’s a perfect place for a relaxing holiday and those who are with children or searching for atmosphere of unity with nature. However, a lack of an active rest can be avoided. You are after all on Crete, in Greece and can go on an excursion. The island has a very rich history and is full of historical sights. Already in Heraklion you can visit the archeological museum that is the second only after the Athenian one in terms of the value of the exhibits.

However, many tourists prefer to travel independently by car. Agia Pelagia is an ideal starting point for this because it’s located almost in the middle of the northern side of the island. Not far from the resort are the famous Minoan palaces in Knossos and Malia, the most beautiful monastery of Savvathianon, the village Fodele, which has been made famous by the great artist El Greco, and many other attractions, for which Crete has become famous.

If you are a bit of an adventurer at heart, go on longer trips. The most interesting route to the south can be an independent excursion “Rethymnon-Gorge Kourtaliotiko-Monastery of Preveli-Fortress Frangokastello-Imbros Gorge”. In the western direction it’s good to ride along the route “Rethymnon-Kournas-Falasarna Lake” and in the eastern – “Lasithi Plateau-Zeus Cave; Malia-Elounda-Agios Nikolaos”.

You can get to Agia Pelagia by bus from Heraklion or by taxi. Buses run regularly about once every 1-2 hours, but not until late at night. The schedule changes periodically, so it needs to be clarified on the spot.

On Crete you can not be bored. Will be your holiday calm or active depends on you!

August 2017