Agia Marina Crete

holiday report and Crete map

Agia Marina Crete

AGIA MARINA is a busy holiday package tour resort about 9km west of Chania on the northern coast of West Crete. Extensive tourist development and a rash of holiday hotels have erased most of the Cretan charm, although parts of the old town on the hill still retain some character.
The main village of Agia Marina is inland while the beach resort at KATO STALOS straddles the main road that runs along the coast. Both the beach and road are lined with tavernas, bars and cafes jammed between copious tourist souvenir shops.
You can find Greek food at Agia Marina but it will probably come with chips; the staple fare here is burgers or full English breakfast. There is plenty of nightlife to be found in Agia Marina although mainly restricted to music and karaoke bars and a couple of clubs. There is wider and noisier entertainment in nearby Platanias which is just a few minutes walk along the busy road. Offshore is the islet of Agios Theodoros enhances the views.
The best beach at Agia Marina is at Kato Stalos. It is mostly flat sand and is fairly good, deep and long, although it can get a bit scruffy as it is exposed to the northern winds which attract a fair amount of rubbish on the tides.
The sand shelves gently into the sea so it's fine for families and there are all the tourist facilities you would expect on a busy, popular beach. There are watersports and several beach and pool bars.
Agia Marina is as good a place as any if you like holiday crowds. There is easy access to Chania and to other beaches strung out along this part of the Crete coast. Buses into Chania are frequent and the Crete arterial road is only 2km inland if you fancy visiting Crete beaches further afield.