Getting here
From the airport to the beach
Kalamaki is on the south coast, in the Heraklion region, close to the middle of the island. The nearest airport is Heraklion, about an hour and twenty minutes by car. Once here, the rest of Crete is within reach without endless driving: east, west and the mountains are all day trips.
- 1 h 20 from Heraklion airport
- about 3 h from Chania airport
- 15:00 keys from
- Free village car park
Flying into Heraklion
Heraklion airport (HER) is 65 kilometres from Kalamaki. The road heads south over the island to the Messara plain and the sea. Count on about an hour and twenty minutes; in July and August, a little more.
Flying into Chania
From Chania airport (CHQ), in the west, it is about 140 kilometres, or three hours by car. Break the journey somewhere on the way.
Car or no car
Do you need a car?
Only if you want to explore. For a holiday of sea, sun and walks, Kalamaki has everything within a few minutes on foot: the beach, the square, the tavernas and the shops. For Phaistos, Matala, the mountain villages or the markets, a car makes life much easier, because the buses don’t go everywhere. Summer brings more traffic to the roads, so drive carefully.
By bus. There is a bus stop in Kalamaki, with buses to the villages around and on to the cities. The main KTEL line through the Messara links Heraklion, Moires and Matala. The trip from the airport by bus is slower and harder than by car, but possible. Timetables change with the season: check ktelherlas.gr.
On the day
Keys at the shop
Let Irini know when you expect to arrive. From 15:00 she meets you at the family’s shop on the village square, gives you the keys and takes you to your apartment. If your flight lands late, that is fine too: just arrange it with her beforehand. Park on the street or in the village’s free car park. On your last morning, leave by 11:00.
From Kalamaki
Distances at a glance
- On foot Kalamaki square Tavernas, cafés, supermarket, bakery 2 min0.1 km
- On foot Kommos beach Along the sand; the Minoan harbour 30 min2.5 km
- On foot Kamilari tholos tomb 45 minutes to an hour 50 min
- By car Kamilari Pharmacy, the family’s other apartments 10 min3.5 km
- By car Phaistos 15 min7.6 km
- By car Pitsidia 15 min7 km
- By car Tympaki Friday market, doctors 15 min9.5 km
- By car Matala 20 min11 km
- By car Moires Saturday market, health centre 20 min13.6 km
- By car Gortyn 30 min23 km
- By car Agia Galini 35 min22 km
- By car Zaros and Votomos lake 40 min28 km
- By car Heraklion airport 1 h 2065 km
Times are rounded up. In high summer, allow a little extra.
Practical
Shopping, health and markets
In Kalamaki. The village has a supermarket, open about seven months of the year, a bakery and a cash machine. Tavernas and cafés are within the 120 metres between the apartments and the square.
Pharmacy and doctors. The nearest pharmacy is in Kamilari, 2.5 kilometres up the hill. Doctors practise in Tympaki and Moires, and Moires has the health centre for the area. For emergencies, dial 112; for an ambulance, 166.
Markets. Fresh fruit and vegetables come to the street markets of Tympaki on Fridays and Moires on Saturdays. Moires is the big one, drawing villagers from the whole Messara.