Hiona Beach


Hiona Beach, 2.5km east of Palekastro, is a quiet sweep of of coarse sand and pebbles backed by clumps of tamarisk trees. It's overlooked by two excellent fish tavernas and also home to a coastal wetland that's a rest stop for migratory birds in winter and spring. Further on, archaeologists are unearthing what may well be a Minoan settlement.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Kouremenos Beach

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Kouremenos, about 7km south of Vaï and 3km northeast of Palekastro, is a long, grey sand-and-pebble beach with good shallow-water swimming, although it's…

2. Folk Museum of Palekastro

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Tucked away in a backstreet and signposted from the main road, this compact and well-presented museum occupies a traditional Cretan manor house, with…

3. Moni Toplou

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4. Vaï

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5. Ancient Itanos

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About 3km north of Vaï, vestiges of the Graeco-Roman port of Itanos overlook a trio of beaches. Itanos was once an important settlement in eastern Crete…

6. Itanos Beaches

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7. Zakros Natural History Museum

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8. Zakros Palace

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