Agia Pelagia is a small resort town on the island of Crete, 23 kilometers from Heraklion. The proximity to metropolitan life makes this a particularly attractive place to lie down on the beaches of the Aegean Sea under the Greek sun. Agia Pelagia is ideally located for exploring Crete by car or scooter.
The village is located in a bay and is surrounded by the sea on the north and mountains on the other three sides, which makes a holiday here idyllic. Several long sandy beaches to choose from, crystal clear seas, calm even in strong winds - steep cliffs protect the beaches of Agia Pelagia from the winds. At the same time, there is everything you need for life, perhaps, except for nightclubs.
A steep serpentine road separates the city from the National Road E75, which connects it with Heraklion, Rethymno and other major cities of Crete. Three roads lead from the center of the resort up to the highway.
Once upon a time, Agia Pelagia was a small, cozy and picturesque fishing village of the inhabitants of Akhlad. Today it is a very popular resort with a wide variety of apartments, hotels, taverns, restaurants and bars, Internet cafes, ATMs, and taxis. The main street is Agias Pelagias, which runs from the middle of the beach to the center of the resort. It houses most of the souvenir shops, a gym, a couple of supermarkets and a taxi rank.
How to get to Agia Pelagia
Agia Pelagia is located on Crete between Heraklion and Rethymnon. You can sail to Heraklion on one of the ferries, or fly to Heraklion (or Chania) international airport.
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You can get to Agia Pelagia by public transport only from the capital of Crete, Heraklion. Bus schedule The capital of Crete is very close, but keep in mind: buses from Agia Pelagia run only 4 times a day.
Buses to Agia Pelagia from Heraklion depart from the bus terminal (KTEL Irakliou Lasithiou), which is located next to the port. Each bus has a clear schedule. So from the airport you will first have to get to the terminal, and then look for a bus to Agia Pelagia. The route passes by the largest hotels in Agia Pelagia. The journey takes 20 minutes along the highway, another 20 minutes along serpentines, with stops at hotels. Ask the driver where is the best place to get off - they are all very nice and helpful.
The national road of the island of Crete connects Agia Pelagia with Heraklion in the east, Bali, Rethymnon in the west. A taxi from Heraklion will cost an average of 30-35 euros. Or you can try to bargain for 20 euros.
Beaches of Agia Pelagia
- a long, narrow strip of sand stretching along the promenade with taverns, cafes, and shops. Taverns offer traditional Greek and international dishes. Sunbed rental - 2 euros per day. The bottom has sand and pebbles, and here and there a rocky plate protrudes at the bottom, which is favored by children and divers. The beach offers many opportunities for water sports.
Mononaftis Beach located north of Agia Pelagia. Here is a more picturesque bay, at the bottom there is sand and pebbles, the slope of the beach goes more sharply under the water. The beach is equipped with everything you need: sun loungers and umbrellas, and you can also go diving here.
Psaromoura Beach- a popular beach north of the resort center, like all the beaches in this bay, facing east. Thanks to this there is no wind at all. A large rock, typical of the region, is located in the north and protects the beach from the waves. All this, coupled with the picturesque landscapes surrounding the bay, makes the beach very popular among tourists. There are no taverns directly on the beach, but they are all within walking distance. From Agia Pelagia you need to get to the Capsis Hotel, 100 meters west and go down to the beach.
Ligaria Beach located east of the main beach of Agia Pelagia. It takes its name from the old monastery of Panagia Lygarias, the ruins of which are still located here to this day. There is coarse sand and turquoise water, smooth stones and developed infrastructure.
There is an opinion that one of the most beautiful beaches in Agia Pelagia is Philakes. These are small bays with fine sand and clear water, protected by the high cliffs of Cape Suda. The beaches are very beautiful, but so narrow that the tide can cover them completely. You can get here by going down a small cliff. The small pebble beach is also nice Diana.
What to see in Agia Pelagia
If you have already tried all the beaches and taverns of Agia Pelagia, it’s time to explore the surroundings of the island of Crete. Two car rental companies offer cars and scooters for rent. If you don’t want to drive, the local tourist office will help organize excursions.
If you have a car, the whole of Crete is at your disposal: this includes Heraklion with its tourist-filled pedestrian streets, shops and port, and gorges and water parks. Everything is within an hour or two of travel. You can start small by exploring the surrounding bays and other attractions - this is also suitable for hikers. For example, the Savvatyanovsky monastery in Agia Pelagia (south of the sea), the Evrisi cave (according to legend, the icon of Saint Pelagia was found here, and now there is a tiny church measuring only 1 by 1.5 meters). The local beauty and sea views are breathtaking! The secret to the best photos is to climb higher along the serpentine road, from where the best panoramic views of the surrounding area open up.
A local diving school, boat and catamaran excursions and a gym will find something to keep those who have been lying around on the beach busy. Shopping opportunities: Agia Pelagia has souvenir shops, clothing, glass and ceramics, and home decoration.
Hotels in Agia Pelagia
Aia Pelagia is a resort town (like the whole of Crete), so there are a great many hotels here. For every taste and color: apartments, villas, family and luxury hotels, expensive and not so expensive.
If you are flying to Crete during high season, you should choose a hotel in advance. The booking.com website will help you find your option:
Along the main beach of Agia Pelagia there is a promenade line with taverns for every taste. An interesting and pleasant feature of Cretan restaurants: at the end of lunch/dinner you will receive a compliment from the owner. Usually it's a local liqueur or raki, sometimes a fruit plate or dessert. A series of taverns with homemade food stretches one after another, the owners of which are friendly, and the prices are low by European standards. These are Mythos restaurants,
Updated: June 04, 2019Agia Pelagia (Αγία Πελαγία) is a seaside tourist town located on the northern coast of the island of Crete about 20 km from the city of Heraklion. Agia Pelagia is comfortably hidden away from the new national highway E75 in a picturesque bay with a wonderful sandy beach and well-developed tourist infrastructure, which has recently turned a quiet fishing village into a modern tourist resort - one of the most popular today. From the main highway of the island of Crete, three roads lead to the village, descending directly to the center of the village.
Your name Agia Pelagia received from the medieval monastery of St. Pelagia, which was the courtyard of the famous monastery of Savvathianon (Moni Savvathianon) in the Venetian era, located south of the village of Agia Pelagia on the road leading from the village of Rodia. Unfortunately, only the catholicon remains from the monastery of St. Pelagia. It is believed that the ancient city of Apollonia was located here, destroyed by Cydonia in 171 BC. A little north of the bay of Agia Pelagia, in the town of Kladissos, interesting archaeological finds were made. Carved dome-shaped tombs from the late Minoan period, prytanaeum, dating back to the 4th century BC were found in the rocks. ceramic workshop and dwellings built from Middle Minoan to Roman times. But, despite the rich history of the city that was previously located here, the village of Agia Pelagia appeared here not so long ago - only in 1965, when unremarkable lands began to be bought from local residents at very low prices. And no one then could have imagined how popular the village would become decades later. Now there are a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and taverns, pharmacies, rental offices for any type of transport, excursion companies, etc.
Agia Pelagia cannot boast of nightlife, but it is a great place for a relaxing holiday for those who are vacationing with children or want to relax in an atmosphere of tranquility and unity with nature. The infrastructure here is quite well established. There are three ways to get to the village: by bus from Heraklion, by taxi or by rented car. Buses run regularly, but quite rarely (about once every 1-2 hours) and not until late in the evening. The schedule changes periodically, so it is better to check it on the spot.
The main advantage and reason for the active development of the village Agia Pelagia is the protection of the bay from northern winds, which often drive large waves in the coastal zone. Thanks to such a favorable location of the bay, the sea here always remains relatively calm even in a decent storm caused by the north wind. And the wonderful beach allows both adults and the youngest tourists to relax here. However, it is worth considering that the entry into the sea is quite abrupt.
To the north of the main beach of the village there are more secluded pebble beaches that are slightly more exposed to northerly winds: Kladissos, Psaromoura, Mononaftis. To the southeast of the central beach there is a beautiful beach in the village of Lygaria.
In Agia Pelagia you can stay in a large hotel or apartment, or rent a private home or villa. When choosing a hotel or accommodation, you need to take into account the peculiarities of the local landscape. The fact is that Agia Pelagia was built in the form of an amphitheater, and the further the housing is from the sea, the higher it will be above sea level. Therefore, the top hotels will be more suitable for tourists who like to go on foot or for owners of a rented car.
In conclusion, I would like to say that for any tourist, the first acquaintance with the village Agia Pelagia starts from the new national road, running at an altitude of approximately 150-180 meters above sea level, from where the village of Agia Pelagia looks especially beautiful and impressive. This view is really worth stopping at least for a minute on the side of the road and admiring the breathtaking view... White houses gently hugging the bay of the village, a colorful variety of shades of the coastline, yachts and fishing boats at sea, endless sea spaces and indescribable comfort. .. All this becomes the subject for many paintings and photographs taken in these places.
Reference Information:
- Where is? Agia Pelagia is located in the north of Crete, 20 km northwest of the city. Heraklion, 82 km west of the city. Agios Nikolaos and 45 km from the city. Hersonissos.
- Village coordinates Agia Pelagia: DD 35.406274, 25.018031, DMS 35°24"22.6"N 25°01"04.9"E.
- How to get there? Agia Pelagia can be reached by
Agia Pelagia is a small town located on the northern coast of the Greek island of Crete. The main attraction of Agia Pelagia is that it is built in the form of an amphitheater. Thanks to such a comfortable location of the buildings, many hotels offer stunning views of the sea.
When is the best time to relax in Agia Pelagia? Of course in the summer! The warmest months are July, August and September. Agia Pelagia in July and August will greet tourists with truly summer heat of twenty-nine degrees, but September is more gentle for sunbathing, since the thermometer at this time shows twenty-seven degrees of heat. During the warmest and even hottest period of the holiday season, the beaches of Agia Pelagia have the warmest water, which warms up to twenty-six degrees in August, and up to twenty-five degrees in September and July. 
If you are not tempted by a monotonous holiday on the beach, then you can easily visit Agia Pelagia in winter, especially since in winter there are not many tourists and, accordingly, the resort boom in prices is in hibernation. If we talk about winter weather in Agia Pelagia, it should be noted that it is quite difficult to call it winter, since at the height of winter, that is, in the month of January, the air temperature drops to a maximum of fourteen degrees with a positive value. 
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Weather in Agia Pelagia by months:
| Month | Temperature | Cloudiness | Rainy days / Precipitation |
Water temperature in the sea |
Number of solar hours per day |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| During the day | At night | |||||
| January | 14.3°C | 10.4°C | 33.3% | 4 days (60.0 mm.) | 16.6°C | 10 o'clock 5m. |
| February | 15.3°C | 10.8°C | 32.2% | 4 days (59.8 mm.) | 15.9°C | 10 o'clock 55m. |
| March | 16.9°C | 11.4°C | 25.2% | 3 days (34.8 mm.) | 15.9°C | 11 o'clock 59m. |
| April | 19.8°C | 13.6°C | 21.3% | 1 day (18.8 mm.) | 17.1°C | 13:00 6m. |
| May | 23.6°C | 17.0°C | 13.5% | 1 day (22.1 mm.) | 19.7°C | 14h. 2m. |
| June | 27.1°C | 20.4°C | 7.8% | 1 day (15.3 mm.) | 23.2°C | 14h. 30m. |
| July | 29.7°C | 22.3°C | 2.6% | - | 25.6°C | 14h. 17m. |
| August | 29.7°C | 23.2°C | 3.1% | 1 day (10.4 mm.) | 26.4°C | 13:00 28m. |
| September | 28.1°C | 22.2°C | 9.0% | 1 day (22.1 mm.) | 25.5°C | 12h. 23m. |
| October | 23.7°C | 18.8°C | 18.0% | 2 days (22.8 mm.) | 23.2°C | 11 o'clock 17m. |
| November | 19.9°C | 15.7°C | 25.0% | 2 days (31.9 mm.) | 20.7°C | 10 o'clock 19m. |
| December | 15.8°C | 11.9°C | 34.4% | 4 days (52.8 mm.) | 18.3°C | 9 o'clock 49m. |
*This table displays weather averages collected over more than three years
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HOLIDAY PRICES:
Prices for holidays in Agia Pelagia. May 2014.
tour cost
We purchased the tour from Mouzenidis Travel. It was decided to buy a minimum package: flight, transfer, accommodation in a 3* apartment, breakfast, for 10 nights this package cost us 75 thousand rubles. for two adults and a child (1 year old). The price of the tour also included medical insurance and non-flight insurance.
The charter flight Moscow - Heraklion turned out to be very comfortable, the transfer from Heraklion to Agia Pelagia was fast, and it was precisely because of the duration of the transfer that this resort was chosen in the first place.
The only museum we went to during our vacation was the Natural History Museum in Heraklion. Entrance ticket for an adult is 8 euros.
Food and products
Agia Pelagia is a small village, mainly living from tourists, so there are a lot of taverns and shops there, literally at every turn. Prices in taverns practically do not differ from each other: salad - 3-4 euros; main course - 12 - 18 euros; large iced coffee - 1 - 1.5 euros; large pizza - from 6 to 8 euros;
In supermarkets we mainly bought baby food and diapers. "Libero" and "Pampers" -10 - 11 euros for a small package of 22 pieces. Canned purees from Nestlé with chicken and beef - 1.7 - 2 euros per 250 g can.
Souvenirs and other goods
We went to buy toys and children's clothes at the large Jumbo megamarket in Heraklion. Children's bodysuits, cotton, excellent quality - in the range of 0.75 - 1.5 euros. Excellent wooden puzzles and inserts - 1-2 euros
Cost of services and entertainment
Car rental - a new Opel Corso with automatic transmission, child seat and full insurance cost 50 euros per day. A little expensive, of course, but I needed an automatic. Mechanics are much cheaper. We rented the car from a small rental office, not from a large rental company. We didn't book in advance.
Total money spent on vacation
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HOLIDAY REPORTS:
Alla Novikova
Impressions from a holiday in September
It’s just great in September in Crete! Very warm, without extreme heat, but always comfortable warmth. There aren't very many people anymore. There are no schoolchildren or students. Mainly families with small children and pensioners. There were a few couples, but who exactly wanted to relax, since the party is not about this place.
Vacation with children
This is not even a village, but a small tourist settlement. There is practically no entertainment there, which means there is no noise and noisy companies. Measured, sedate rest, unhurried. But this is not a forgotten place. There are shops, cafes and even one party bar for those who still want to diversify their holiday.
What to take with you on vacation?
It is worth taking all the things - there is little to buy on the spot, and the choice is small. Be sure to have a complete first aid kit. You can get to Heraklion in half an hour, but why, if you can take it with you. The right to rent a car - from here it is very convenient to drive around the entire island, it is located almost in the middle.
What to do at the resort?
Nearby is the village of Fodele - the birthplace of the artist El Greco. There is little educational information (only a house dedicated to the artist), but the atmosphere is very atmospheric. Nice quiet park with a playground and huge trees. Especially on sweltering days it’s just wonderful there. Local residents take advantage of the fact that tourists often stop by - there is a whole alley with trading stalls - lace, pottery, wickerwork, other handmade goods, and all sorts of ordinary tourist souvenirs. There are several restaurants, but the food is not very good.
In half an hour you can drive to the capital of the island - Heraklion. It’s not particularly interesting there, you can stroll along the embankment, walk along the long bridge to the fortress.
Just a great beach. It's small, but there aren't many people there. There is sand on the shore, sometimes white pebbles. Sunbeds cost 4 euros. The entry into the sea is not very shallow, but gradual. There are no noisy entertainments on the shore, which is very good. There are catamarans and boats. If you take a catamaran, you can sail to a gorgeous deserted beach - it is to the left of ours, behind the rock.
You can swim in the sea with a mask - there are fish, hedgehogs, and crabs. Very nice variety.
Oh, and in the middle there is a small natural slab, it acts like a breakwater. But it doesn't bother me at all.
In Agia Pelagia itself there is no shopping at all. But in half an hour you can get to Heraklion. There is the main shopping street of Crete - it goes to the square with a fountain. There are all standard world brands, there are also local brands. There is plenty to choose from, but nothing particularly interesting. The prices are normal, you won’t find a super sale.
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About 20 km west of the city of Heraklion is the beautiful tourist village (or town) of Agia Pelagia. Mostly people who come here are lovers of a quiet and relaxing beach holiday without night parties. There is, however, one nightclub, but you can’t hear any noise from it, everything is orderly and cultured.
At the same time, Agia Pelagia has everything you need for a normal holiday. These are taverns, souvenir shops, ATMs and a pharmacy. And the most important thing in Agia Pelagia is the magnificent sandy beaches, which have one advantage - they are located in coves and, therefore, protected from the wind. Therefore, here, as a rule, the sea is always quiet and calm. It warms up faster than in places where waves predominate due to the openness of the space. If you decide to come here with small children, then keep in mind that there is no entertainment for them here. Agia Pelagia is somewhat similar to the neighboring resort village Bali , where there are also no waves and which is also located among small coves.
Agia Pelagia Bay
View of the city beach of Agia Pelagia from above.
The beaches in Agia Pelagia are sandy, with a gentle slope, but a little narrow, which some may find inconvenient in the high season. There is a line of taverns and shops along the beach. There are several beaches in Pelagia. The sparsely populated small-pebble beaches “Kladissos”, “Psaromoura” and “Mononaftis” are located somewhat north of the village, and are not far away on foot. In the opposite direction from the village there is the beach of the village “Lygaria” of the same name. The central beach of Pelagia is always packed to capacity with tourists, especially in high season, but there are changing rooms, showers and toilets here. Renting sunbeds and umbrellas will cost you about 7 euros per set. But no one forbids being on the beach with your own sun umbrella and bedding purchased at the nearest store. There is one not very pleasant moment on the central beach. There is a large stone slab in the water two meters from the shore. However, in calm, windless weather, it does not interfere with swimming at all.
The sand on the beach is very clean and walking on it is very pleasant/
The terrain in the village of Agia Pelagia is quite rugged; many hotels are located on a hill, which is not very comfortable to get to from the beach, especially for older people and mothers with strollers.
From the main national road to Agia Pelagia there are three roads leading to the village. The convenient location of the village, it is located almost in the center of the island, allows you to travel around Crete in all directions. Those. From here it is easy to reach both the west and the east of the island. One of the most popular excursions in Crete is a trip to the island of Santorini, ferries to which depart from Heraklion, and Heraklion is twenty kilometers from Pelagia. After such excursions you will have unforgettable travel reviews
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In the village itself there are several car and motorbike rental offices. The average price for renting a small car is about 30-35 euros per day, depending on insurance.
View of the village of Ag. Pelagia from the beach
This is the clean sea in the village.
Church in the village of Ag. Pelagia.
Taverns of Agia Pelagia. The most famous and popular tavern is called “Cri-Cri”. The prices here are high and there is enough pathos. Nearby there are simpler taverns where you will be fed deliciously, with love, but for less money. On average, lunch in such small taverns will cost you 20-25 euros for two with wine or beer. You can generally order a gyros for an inexpensive price and still have a tasty and satisfying lunch. There are many taverns in Agia Pelagia, for every taste and budget. A very good tavern “Stelios”, where you will really feel the Greek atmosphere and taste of traditional Greek cuisine.
There are a couple of supermarkets in the village, if you can call them that. They can easily buy diapers for babies, baby food and everything you need for a holiday with children. For those who are planning to relax in apartments, there are a couple of meat and cheese shops where you can buy all the necessary products.
Agia Pelagia is truly a unique holiday destination in Crete. Perhaps that is why many famous Russian stars and simply rich people, such as Plushenko, Kirkorov, L. Verbitskaya and many others, vacation here. For example, everyone remembers how Volochkova walked along the streets of Agia Pelagia in 2012, it was a real show.
Have a good holiday everyone!
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