Bali very picturesque place is sort of a quiet cluster of small villages, beaches and high rising rocks set off the mainroad between Heraklion (45 km) and Rethimnon (28 km). The name of the village is from the time of Turkish rule, and the word “Bali” in Turkish means “honey.” It is mined here in apiaries located right in the mountains.

Bali is set cosy around three small coves. The first has a very small pebble beach with several tavernas and a luxury hotel. The original village is in the second cove where you will find most of the shops, hotels and tavernas, another beach and a harbour with some modern boats. Here you can find everything for practicing water sports. You can rent a jet ski, boat, catamaran, for example, and explore the bay. Here you can also book a day trip by boat to Rethimnon, Santorini or the “pirate island” of Gramvousa in the northwest of Crete. The third cove, known as Paradise Beach, is the best for swimming.

On the other side of the highway on the mountain there’s the famous monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos. Bali is an attractive and pleasant little resort village. It is also a village that is rapidly becoming more popular.

Bali is set away a bit from the highway. There is no direct noise from the passing cars inside the village. Bali is always a nice stop for a drink, a coffee or something to eat while you travel from the east of Crete to the west (or vice versa). It is also a nice village to have a look around because some parts of Bali are still pretty authentic and give the feeling of a fishermen’s village. In the village of Bali itself a kind of small “children’s” train will transport you to different places so you do not have to climb the streets if you don’t want to. Around the port and the beaches and in the center of Bali there is a great choice of restaurants and snack bars, and there are several supermarkets and a pharmacy in the village. By the way, according to tourists, in every tavern there is free wi-fi.