Matala

Seaside village next to the hotel

Matala is a seaside village in southern Crete, close to Phaistos, the second most important Minoan palace on the island. Matala can satisfy visitors of all tastes. Although it has become a famous tourist destination, it still has the charm and the air of the peaceful fishing village it used to be in the early 20th century.

Its reputation grew in the 60s, when hippies from all over the world came here to live in the famous caves of Matala by the beach. Before becoming a home to the hippies, the caves had been empty for thousands of years. There were also some celebrities among those who lived there, such as Janis Joplin and Cat Stevens. All this reminds us of a time when the most popular slogans were “Peace” and “Make love, not war”, accompanied by the V-sign, a gesture symbolizing peace.

Today, thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to see a legendary place and experience the charm of the past.

Matala is one of the four hundred (400) Greek beaches which have been awarded a Blue Flag. This “environmental certificate” is given to beaches which meet stringent criteria of water quality, environmental management and safety.

You can find some wonderful beaches close to the hotel, such as Kommos, Kokkini Ammos, Kalamaki, Kokkinos Pyrgos, Kaloi Limenes etc, where you can also enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Libyan Sea.