Ierapetra is the biggest city and the only urban center in South Crete. It is an important trade center of agricultural products export to Europe. Ierapetra is the most southern city in Europe and one of the most charming in Crete. Its mild climate makes it the center of tourism even in winter, because here the temperature rarely drops below 18-19 degrees Celsium.
Some of the most important ecosystems of the eastern Mediterranean belong to the Ierapetra region, like the island of Chrisi, the Selekanou forest – the largest in Crete – and the Thripti mountains.
The entrance to the Ierapetra Municipality is gorgeous. On your way you’ll encounter the ancient city of Gourna with its small houses, and on some hillside there’ll be a Faneromeni Monastery. In the valley, left and right, one can see such villages as Cavousi, Vasiliki, Monastiraki (a gorge of Cha is opening right opposite of it), Pano and Kato Chorio, Episkopi, Kentri and Venia. Other villages are Anatoli, Agios Ioannis, Kalamavka, Makrilia, Calogeroi, Meseleroi etc.
The Fortress of Ierapetra built by the Venetians – the famous “Cales” – is one of those monuments of the past which was preserved until today due to its reliable construction and the fact that it had been in use up to the end of the previous century.
An endless range of sandy beaches with deep blue water is extending east and west of Ierapetra, far away from the industrial regions and the routes of the ships. All the Ierapetra beaches, from Agia Fotia to Mirtos, are awarded each year with Blue Flags.
Western Ierapetra beach: a beautiful beach in the center of the city with deep blue water attracting a lot of people each summer (water sports are available).
Western Ierapetra beach: a beautiful beach in the center of the city with deep blue water attracting a lot of people each summer (water sports are available).
Eastern beach of Ierapetra (Agios Andreas): beautiful rocky coast with clean water (scuba diving is available).
Gaidouronisi or Chrisi: 8 nautical miles south of Ierapetra. One of the best beaches in Greece, with nice golden sand, full of small sea-shells, and green-blue water.
Big beach: an idyllic big beach 7 km long with fine sand, close to the village Coutsounari, 5 km to the east of Ierapetra (water sports are available).
A beach in Ferma: a small bay with crystal waters next to the village of Ferma, 8 km to the east of Ierapetra.
A beach in Ferma: a small bay with crystal waters next to the village of Ferma, 8 km to the east of Ierapetra.
Agia Fotia beach: one more beautiful bay, with fine sand and clear waters, 10 km to the east of Ierapetra. The microscopic sandy bay of Agia Fotia hides probably the most wonderful beach bar in the whole prefecture, with sounds of latin, cuban and acid jazz. The village itself is one of the most perfect in the coasts on Libyan Sea. Its sand is really something. Close to it there is Coutsounari, a holiday-making center with well-developed tourist infrastructure. Picturesque bays, maple trees and reeds, are what its landscape consists of. Next to it there is a tourist village Galini.
Kalamaki: it’s situated 6 km on the west of Ierapetra, close to the village Nea Anatoli. This is a quiet sandy beach.
Mirtos: 10 km to the west of Ierapetra there is a village Mirtos, whose beach with clean green-blue water has both pebbles and sand (water sports are available).
Ierapetra is a city with furious night entertainment, many hangouts for youth, happy atmosphere. It is a perfect vacation place for young people, because it binds harmonically the night life and modern clubs with the beauty of the nature and gorgeous big beaches. At the same time, it won’t disappoint those coming for family or lone vacations, while there’s full tourist infrastructure, hospitable places to stay at good prices, much sightseeing and picturesque villages close to the city. It is, without doubt, a “capital” of South Crete, with what’s goes with it.
