Kissamos

A picturesque town located in the westernmost part of the island of Crete, Kissamos is chosen by many visitors to the island for its strategic location. Indeed, the town proves to be an ideal base for visiting the western part of the island due to its proximity to the best beaches in the province of Chania, such as Balos Lagoon, Elafonissi, Falassarna and Mavros Malos, which is perfect for families with children.

Surrounded by orange groves and olive groves that create a truly bucolic environment, the town of Kissamos is a not too big village where influences from Venetian rule coexist with those left behind by the Turks. The most popular area is in the centre, around Tzanakaki Square, where the old Venetian-Turkish Government House stands, now housing the Archaeological Museum. Kissamos is characterised by a distinctive promenade with sand and pebbles and a harbour where boats depart daily for the lagoons of Balos and Gramvoussa, but also where ferries to and from Piraeus pass through.

Archaeology enthusiasts should not miss a visit to the archaeological site of ancient Polyrrhynia, an economic centre built in a dominant position above the port of Kissamos. After a drive and a short walk, it is now possible to visit the ruins of this centre that seem to date back at least two hundred years before Christ.

Beaches near Kissamos

The perfect base for exploring the most famous beaches of Crete, Kissamos is located about 40 km from Elafonissi1 and 15 km from Balos2. In the vicinity of the town, however, there are also other beautiful beaches that are worth a visit.

The most famous of the bathing areas is Mavros Molos3, a well-equipped beach that is also suitable for children thanks to its calm, shallow sea waters. Moving further east from the centre of Kissamos is Livadia Beach4 a magnificent beach with fine sand and clear sea.

Also in the vicinity of the town is Falasarna5, famous for being bathed by crystal-clear waters. The beach is very long, wide and well-equipped where one can rent sunbeds and umbrellas or settle down in the free areas.

15 km east of Kissamos, moving towards Chania, is Paralia Kolimpari6, a long pebble beach where there are also excellent small restaurants serving typical dishes and fresh fish

From Kissamos it is also easy to reach the southern part of the island of Crete with its beautiful beaches washed by the waters of the Libyan Sea. Among them are Paleochora7, a small town about 45 km from Kissamos that has both sandy and pebble beaches as well as small, unspoilt bays where you can sunbathe in peace.

Where to stay in Kissamos

Located close to several beaches and with a wide choice of facilities, Kissamos is the ideal place to stay when exploring the western part of the island of Crete.

It is suitable for families with children and anyone looking for a stay in a town that is not too big but can offer cheaper accommodation than other towns in the province, such as Chania. The town’s main beach is the beautiful Mavros Molos, an area that also has several tourist accommodations.

Recommended hotels in Kissamos

We offer a selection of hotels at Kissamos to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Kissamos, sorted by number of reviews.

Apartments and vacation homes in Kissamos

If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Kissamos. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Kissamos are in high demand.

How to get to Kissamos

Its strategic location makes Kissamos easily accessible from both Chania and Heraklion, the cities where the island’s main airports are located. From these two locations, the best way to get to Kissamos is to rent a car to be independent in travel. As an alternative to the car, one can use the regular buses (KTEL) that connect Kissamos to the other localities on the island.

Kissamos Weather