Nea Kydonia Holidays

Things are quintessentially Greek around here – that’s how locals and visitors like it. The whole area’s garnished with terracotta-capped townhouses, family-run dinner joints and chilled sunbathing spots. Nightlife translates to lazy evenings beside the waterfront, and authentic cuisine trumps international options across the board. Think olive oil-drizzled feta salads and more meze than you’ll know what to do with.

Blue’s the go-to colour in Greece – you just have to look at the national flag or the famous domed roofs in Santorini to know that. But in Nea Kydonia, the beaches have their own take on the colour, instead showing off their official Blue Flag status. The town’s a short hop from five highly acclaimed strips of sand, including peaceful Kalamaki Beach and watersports-friendly Stalos Beach.

This part of Crete’s as flat as a pancake compared to the mountain-ruffled southern shores, and Nea Kydonia makes the most of the open space. Walking trails are well trodden by visitors, and the beaches are in such good nick that loggerhead turtles wriggle here to nest. Things take a different tack in nearby Chania – one of the island’s most effective tourist magnets. Ancient ruins share the limelight with a torrent of modern restaurants, bars and boutiques.