Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sitia Bay
Karamanlí
T
28430 24800,
W
sitiabay.com.
A stone's throw from the town beach, this modern hotel-
apartment complex offers tastefully furnished,
comfortable a/c rooms and studios with kitchenette; all
rooms have sea-view balcony and there's a pool. Optional
breakfast is extra.
€90
Nora
Rouseláki 31
T
28430 23017,
E
norahotel@yahoo
.gr.
Near the ferry port, this small female-run hotel has basic
rooms with a/c, TV, balcony and shower and fine vie
ws o
ver
the bay. A 10min walk to the town centre. April-Oct.
€35
EATING AND DRINKING
A line of enticing outdoor tavernas crowds the harbourfront, many displaying dishes and fresh fish to lure you in - though
these places can be relatively expensive. Away from the water you'll find cheaper (and often more interesting) places to dine.
Ì
Balcony
Kazantzákis & Foundalídhou
T
28430
25084.
Stylish restaurant in the upper floor of an elegant
townhouse. An eclectic menu has Mexican- and Asian-
influenced dishes as well as Greek fusion cooking, such as the
pork fillet with yoghurt and pilaf rice. Mains from €10.
May-
Oct daily lunch & dinner; Nov-March daily dinner only.
Creta House
Karamanlí, next to the Hotel Flisvos.
A
reliable, if somewhat touristy, traditional taverna
specializing in Cretan dishes; try the moussaka or lamb,
all served on the large harbourside terrace.
April-Oct
daily lunch & dinner.
Mikos
Karamanlí 14
T
28430 22416.
Tasty
charcoal-grill
meats (from €6) plus traditional Greek dishes are served up
with very strong local wine at this popular diner with a
seafront terrace.
Daily lunch & dinner.
Zorba's
Cnr
El Venizélou & Kazantzákis.
The oldest,
biggest and most popular place on the seafront. Serves up
much more authentic food than you might expect from its
touristy appearance and is regularly frequented by locals.
Daily lunch & dinner.
7
DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
Sitía's nightlife, mostly conducted at an easy pace, centres on the music bars and cafés at the northern end of Venizélou and
along the beach road.
Albatross
Venizélou 185.
This modern café and bar is one
of many along the harbourfront strip, with street and
terrace seating.
Daily 10am-late.
Black Hole
Venizélou, far end.
One of Sitía's most
popular summer music bars, playing house and rock, a
lively place with a large outdoor terrace and indoor bar.
May-Sept 9pm-late.
Déjà Vu
Venizélou 183.
Glitzy, neon café-bar on the
harbourfront, with comfy terrace seating, popular with
young Sitians.
Daily 10am-late.
The far east
Not long after leaving Sitía along the new main road a signed side road up to the
left leads to
Váï
and the
Monastery of Toploú
.
Palékastro
, some 9km south of Váï, is
a good place to stopover, with good beaches to explore and a
Minoan site
. Palékastro
is also the crossroads for the winding road south to
Zákros
and
Xerókambos
, a
beautiful drive, and having your own transport presents all kinds of beach and
exploration possibilities.
Monastery of Toploú
Daily 9am-1pm & 2-6pm, Oct-March closes 4pm • €3
he
Monasterty of Toploú
's forbidding exterior reflects a history of resistance to
invaders, and doesn't prepare you for the gorgeous flower-decked cloister within.
The blue-robed monks keep out of the way as far as possible, but in quieter periods
their cells and refectory are left discreetly on view. In the church is one of the
masterpieces of Cretan art, the
eighteenth-century icon
Lord hou Art Great
by
Ioannis Kornaros, incorporating 61 small scenes full of amazing detail inspired by
the Orthodox prayer “Lord thou art great …” In the monastery's shop you can buy
enormously expensive reproductions of the work as well as olive oil and wine made
by the monks.
Recently a €1 billion tourist resort and golf course was set to be built on monastery-
owned land at Cape Sideros. The project, approved by the Abbot, was abandoned after
vehement opposition by local residents and environmentalists.
