Sitia

Sitia is a seaside town in eastern Crete, perfect for seaside holidays. In Sitia you shall encounter the Cretan beauty at its best. On this page you can read more about vacation in Sitia, what to do, the best beaches, attractions as well as ferry schedules. Book cheap ferry tickets online to Sitia and Crete on Ferryhopper. 

The beautiful port and town of Sitia

Vacation in Sitia

Sitia is located on the northeast coast of Crete and belongs to the Prefecture of Lassithi.

It's a coastal town that is famous for its impressive natural surroundings. 

Vacation in Sitia is perfect for families as well as nature-lovers.

We recommend renting a car or bringing your vehicle by ferry to explore the east and south coast of Lassithi and its amazing beaches. 

How to get to Sitia

You can get to Sitia by direct ferry from Athens as well as from the islands of the Dodecanese such as Rhodes. 

You can also reach Sitia by bus or car from Agios Nikolaos in about 1.5 hours and from Heraklion in about 2.5 hours.

There are regular domestic flights to the airport of Sitia 'Vicentzos Kornaros', mainly from mainland Greece. 

The impressive palm beach of Vai, about 30 min drive from Sitia

What to do in Sitia

Sitia is an ideal holiday destination if you want to relax and explore the Cretan nature and gastronomy. 

From Sitia you can easily go to some of the most beautiful beaches in Crete's eastern coast such as the palm beach of Vai.

If you are into outdoor activities, there are some great hiking trails as well as beaches that are perfect for windsurf. 

We also recommend exploring the historical monuments and archaeological sights of the area!

Beaches in Sitia

Sitia is an ideal starting point to explore the beautiful beaches of the prefecture of Lassithi. 

The best beaches on the north and east coast of Sitia are:

• Sitia: The beach is located next to the port and has been awarded a blue flag. It has sand and fine pebbles, as well as umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, lifeguard, beach bar and water sports facilities.
• Vai Palm Forest: One of the most famous beaches in Crete. The sandy beach is surrounded by a beautiful palm forest that is a protected nature reserve. The beach has turquoise waters, umbrellas, showers, canteen and water sports facilities.
• Itanos (Erimoupoli): Beautiful beach next to the archeological site of Itanos. It has crystal turquoise waters, fine sand and no facilities. Make sure to take your mask with you, as you can see some of the ruins of the ancient city of Itanos at the bottom of the sea!
• Agia Fotia: The beautiful beach in the tourist resort of Agia Fotia. It has fine pebbles, crystal clear waters, trees and impressive rocks. It has umbrellas, sunbeds, beach bars, tavernas and hotels nearby. 
• Kedromouri: Small beach with calm waters, pebbles and caves that are perfect for shade. The beach is secluded and access is via a short path.
• Maridati: Beautiful secluded beach with small pebbles, clear blue waters and a few trees. There are no facilities nearby, so make sure you have the essentials with you.

Our favorite beaches on the south of Sitia are:

• Ammoudi: Magnificent, windless beach with golden sand and shallow, turquoise waters. It is isolated and it has no natural shade, but you will find a tavern near the beach for food and refreshments.
• Kalo Nero: Close to the village of Kalo Nero you can find 3 beautiful beaches: Koutsounari, Stausa and Anaskelou. They are ideal for quiet time by the sea, away from the crowds.
• Botzalaki: Beautiful, secluded beach with clear blue waters and pebbles.
• Livari: An isolated area of unspoiled beauty where you will find 2 peaceful beaches with amazing waters. You can swim overlooking the impressive mountains, gorges and caves of the area.
• Goudouras: Large beach with small pebbles and sand. It has a few umbrellas and sunbeds, as well as cafes and tavernas nearby.
• Macheridia: These are 3 secluded beaches next to each other, with sand and clear blue waters. Access is via footpath.

Tip: If you have time, we highly suggest that you visit the stunning islet Koufonisi (or Lefki) and swim in the turquoise waters of the Libyan Sea. The island has some amazing beaches, such as Asproga and Philadelphia.

Sunset in beach close to Sitia

Sightseeing in Sitia

Sitia is famous for being the birthplace of the poet Vincenzo Kornaro, the author of the medieval verse romance Erotokritos.

The area has many sights of cultural and archaeological interest. We recommend that during your stay in Sitia you visit: 

• The Kazarma fortress
• The Archaeological Museum of Sitia
• The Folklore Museum of Sitia
• The ancient city of Itanos
• The Toplou monastery

Ruins of the ancient city of Itanos, close to Sitia

Nightlife and food in Sitia

Sitia is a lively city and it has many restaurants, tavernas, and all day bars. 

In Sitia you will eat delicious Cretan recipes and products such as: thyme honey, local cheeses and traditional spoon sweets. 

Useful information for Sitia

Sitia is one of the most popular destinations in eastern Crete, ideal for relaxation and outdoor activities. Most of the services and facilities you need for your vacation are located in the city center of Sitia: banks, ATMs, shops, supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations. There is also a General Hospital in the city.

In terms of accommodation you can find many hotels and rooms to let in the city of Sitia. If you wish to stay out of the city we would recommend finding a room close to Agia Fotia or the area of Itanos. If you wish to be close to nature, then staying in the area of Zakros is a great idea. 

Important phone numbers for your stay in Sitia

Useful contact numbers for the area of Sitia:

• Sitia General Hospital: +302843340100
• Sitia Port Authority: +302843022310 
• Sitia Police: +302843022259
• Citizen Services Sitia: +302843340701
• Bus services (KTEL Lassithiou): +302843022272

Taverna next to the sea in Sitia

Transportation in Sitia

Sitia has a good bus network (KTEL Lassithiou) that connects the city with smaller villages and beaches in the area.

There are also frequent routes from Sitia to Agios Nikolaos and Heraklion. 

Ports in Sitia

The port of Sitia is located 10 minutes walk from the city center. 

The port serves routes to mainland Greece as well as the Dodecanese and the Cyclades.

Island hopping from Sitia

From the port of Sitia you can take a direct ferry to the following destinations: 

• Anafi
• Milos
• Heraklion
• Kasos
• Karpathos
• Rhodes
• Halki

You can find all the available ferry connections from Sitia on our Map of ferries and plan your island hopping from/to Crete in the easiest way possible. 

Sitia ferry: schedules and tickets

There are regular ferry crossings from the port of Piraeus to Sitia throughout the whole year.

There are ferries from Athens to Sitia once or twice per week and the duration of the trip ranges between 15 hours to 21 hours.

We recommend booking a bed cabin for maximum comfort during the ferry ride. 

Seaside resort in Sitia, in traditional Cretan style

Where to book ferry tickets online to Sitia

On Ferryhopper you can book cheap ferry tickets to Sitia with just 4 clicks! Find all direct and indirect ferries to Sitia and Crete, compare schedules, companies, prices and book your ferry trip at no extra cost.