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Vai Beach Sightseeing Guide
For those visiting the east of Crete a great attraction
for sun worshipers has to be Vai beach near Palekastro. Vai beach has been voted
one of the best beaches in Crete, Greece and Europe.
Vai beach is a mainly sandy beach
with the palm trees that surround the beach offering welcoming shade from the intense
Cretan sunshine and high temperatures.
The beach itself is quite small, and the water
is crystal clear and warm. Be careful entering the water as there can be rocky areas
and its slippery underfoot.
To get to Vai beach you can arrange to book a coach tour
to the beach or hire a car, head to Palekastro and its just a further 8kms away.
The tropical beach of Vai
According to local myth and legend its said that the palm
trees on Vai grew from the stones of dates thrown away by Arab pirates who used to
prey on the island of Crete. Now there are over 5000 trees that have colonised the
area of Vai and make it so popular with holiday makers.
The beach of Vai itself has
been awarded a blue flag for its cleanliness, and there are a few facilities and
cafes offering light refreshments such as cold drinks and crisps.
There are umbrellas
and sunbeds for rent on a daily basis, but most people just bring their own towels
and umbrellas. If your going to visit Vai beach then be prepared for the crowds
of people that visit the area.
The beach in the summer can be quite hectic and busy.
If you fancy exploring a little there are two other small beaches to the North
and the South of Vai, and all it requires is a short walk over some rocky outcrops.
The beaches on either side are much quieter and secluded and do attract naturists
at certain times of the year.
What to do on Vai Beach
There isn't much to do on the beach, apart from what most
people visit for which is sunbathing, but there is a small selection of watersports
available from pedaloes and water skiing.
The price of watersports is minimal and
allows you an hour or so pedaling around the crystal clear waters.
If you have been
to Vai beach in Crete then please feel free to comment on your experiences and rate
the beach so other visitors can gauge if its worth visiting.
Getting to Vai beach
The best way to get to Vai beach is by hiring a car, and the
beach opens from 7am until 9pm, you cant stay overnight as the beach is now a protected
area due to misuse in the 70's and 80’s.
You can also use the public bus services
which will only set you back a euro or 2, the buses run from Sitia and Palekastro
and the average time from Sitia via bus is 1 and a half hours.
The beach of Vai is
well signposted, and remember if you drive to Vai you will have to pay parking of
2 or 3 euros unless you find a free area.
