Things to do in Ierapetra and Chrissi island

Ierapetra is Crete's southernmost town, in the east of the island, and its main draw is a day trip rather than the town itself: the protected islet of Chrissi, also called Gaidouronisi, lies about 15 km offshore and is reached by boat in roughly 50-90 minutes, with tickets typically €25-30 return.

Chrissi is uninhabited, with no hotels, tavernas with rooms, or campsites, so the visit is strictly day-only; it shelters a rare Juniperus macrocarpa forest, and taking sand or shells away is illegal, as at Elafonissi. Boats run May to October only and are cancelled outright in strong wind, which is more common in July and August.

The south coast is usually calmer than the north when the meltemi blows, but the Chrissi crossing itself is the exception and can still be called off.