Explore Palaiokastro

Palaiokastro or Paliokastro an area that combines the beach with the history and the nature.

Palaiokastro is situated 14km west of Heraklion on the new national road to Agia Pelagia.  It is a picturesque beach with pebbles, shaped in the exit of a green valley.Palaiokastro is the favorite destination of families and ideal for those who want to bathe in a place without beach bars. Another advantage of the beach is its place as it is protected by the northern winds.Near the beach you can find a restaurant offering traditional Cretan cuisine, a café for refreshments and snacks as well as a super market.The ruins of the Venetian fortress are in the eastern side of the beach.

Palaiokastro fortress played an important role in the protection of the Fraskia bay and the entire bay of Heraklion during the last years of Venetian Domination in Crete.The fortress is said to have been built on the ruins of the acropolis of the ancient city of Kitaion.

Besides Palaiokastro other near beaches are Helidoni beach (Swallow ) ,Pantanassa beach, Lygaria beach, Agia Pelagia Beach and Psaromoura beach. Helidoni or Porto Helidoni beach  is organized with umbrellas and sunbeds and starts immediately after the south side Paliokastro and is below the highway. A staircase with wooden steps leads down to the sea level. Pantanassa beach an organized with umbrellas and sunbeds beach is next to the small port of Pantanassa, where you can combine your bath with a visit to the monastery of Pantanassa, located on the top of the piney hill above the beach. Lygaria beach a long coarse sandy beach, has great amenities, plenty of space and perfect views. Agia Pelagia beach is the longest beach of the whole area with wonderful golden sand surrounded  by many taverns and bars. Psaromoura Beach is one of the smaller beaches in the area, yet, the most popular one. It is a quaint bay, surrounded by rocks and is isolated from the road. The beach offers sun loungers and umbrellas, and there is a shop with drinks and snacks.