Kamilari

In the south of Crete, at the edge of the Messara-plain, lies the village of Kamilari. It is still an authentic, Cretan village with about three hundred inhabitants.
In Kamilari you will find several mini-markets for your daily groceries, a few cafés, three restaurants with real home-cooked Greek food and a pizzeria.

Map of Crete

The surrounding area

Beaches 
Kamilari lies at a distance of 2.5 kilometers from the sea and the beautiful long beaches between Kalamaki and Komos. These beaches are easy and quickly to reach on foot or by car. While staying in Kamilari you can combine visits to the beach with beautiful walks through the landscape.
If you like quiet beaches, good restaurants/cafes and a good place to watch the sunset we recommend the beach in Kalamaki, but if you like a beach with a lot of shops, restaurants/cafes, a nice friendly atmosphere and a beautiful sandy beach we recommend Matala.

History
A visit to the famous archaeological site of Festos, two kilometers from the village, and/or to the caves of Matala, eight kilometers from the village, should not fail to amaze you. A little further aways lies Knossos, the the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and is considered Europe’s oldest city. We highly recommend a visit to this archaeological site.

Traveling to the village
The village of Kamilari lies about 60 kilometers from Heraklion and its airport. It is possible to take a bus to Kamilari but we can also arrange a rental car or a taxi waiting at the airport for you. The taxi costs are about 47 Euros for a one-hour drive and renting a car will cost you around 150 a week. If you decide to drive yourself we would like to warn you that driving in Crete can be a little sensational, but it is the best way to explore this beautiful island.

Kamilari  
This typical Cretan farming village has kept its original character and is relatively unspoilt by tourism. It lies 3km from Pitsidia and 8km from Matala.
Kamilari is very picturesque; set on a hill overlooking the Ida Mountain and Messara plain. The views are spectacular and reach to the sea.
In the narrow streets and alleys of this old village you will find a real part of old Crete. Local people used to say that Kamilari is one of the most authentic villages in the area. It is also considered by foreigners as one of the sweetest and most beautiful places they know.
From the sweetness of the summer nights you spend on the terrace, talking and savouring local fruits…
To the charm of the two small places and the narrow streets between stone or white houses, the village parties, or simply the live music played at the terrace of a cafe…
And the hospitality of people and their inimitable way of offering you the products of their garden or some of their homemade raki…
or from the 380° panorama on the Libyan sea, the White Moutains, the Psiloritis top and the ocean of olive trees of the Messara plain… Crete has it all!