The exotic beach of Falassarna is located 59km west of Chania and 17km west of Kissamos. It’s located in the western part of Cape Gramvousa. At the northern end of the beach are the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Falassarna. Falassarna bay is one of the most famous beaches in Greece, which has been awarded as the best beach of Crete and one of the 10 best beaches in Europe in the past. Falasarna spans a huge area and consists actually of five consecutive beaches, with the two most central being the most favorite.

The sand in Falassarna is white, making the water color tropical. Indeed, if you’re lucky and be here on a day that is not blowing from the west, rare in west Crete, you will be enchanted by the beach and its turquoise waters.

The main beach of Falassarna is called Pacheia Ammos (i..e Coarse Sand). It is an exotic beach with a length of 1km and a width of 150m. This beach hosts the most visitors of the area, but because of its length it never seems crowded. The beach offers umbrellas and a few snack bars and cafes where you can get food and water. There are also services for water sports and a beach volley court.

There is another long beach north of the main beach having a length of 800m, identical to the main beach, which is broken into several smaller beaches. This bay is divided in half by a sand dune and a few rocks. The beach is more quiet than Pacheia Ammos and offers no facilities. Nearby, there is the chapel of Agia Paraskevi and a spring with fresh water.

Ancient Falasarna

Ancient Falassarna or Korykos was the main port of the Polyrinia and flourished in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. The ruins of Polyrinia are located 6km south of Kissamos. It is named after the local nymph Falassarni. Falasarna had its own coin, with a woman on one side and the letters ΦΑ to the other.

In the ruined city, north of the beach, you can still see the city walls, ruins of the acropolis, remains of houses, ancient tombs and a stone throne, which is believed that was dedicated to the God of the Sea, Poseidon. Today, the ancient port are located on the shore, probably to the elevation of 6-9 m caused by the strong earthquake of 365 AD. Also, a part of the city seems to be immersed in the sea.

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