Things to do in Gouves and Hersonissos

Gouves and Hersonissos sit on the north-coast strip that runs into Stalida and Malia, roughly 20 km of package-tourist coastline on an island that stretches 260 km from Chania to Sitia.

This is not a village escape: it is Crete's most built-up resort belt, dense with all-inclusive hotels, chain restaurants and bars that run late, especially through July and August when temperatures reach 30-35°C and prices peak for the year.

The KTEL coach on the Chania-Rethymno-Heraklion-Agios Nikolaos route serves the area well, and Heraklion, with Knossos 5 km beyond it, is under 30 minutes away by car for a half-day of ruins and the real frescoes in the Archaeological Museum. Come for the beaches, the nightlife and easy transport links, not for a quiet or authentic corner of the island.