🏖️ Why Visit Amoudara, Crete?

This long sandy beach stretches for miles along Crete's northern coast. It's ideal for first-time visitors who want guaranteed sunshine, easy city access, good value, and that classic Greek beach holiday vibe. Just 7km west of Heraklion, Amoudara has evolved from a simple coastal strip into a thriving resort town that knows how to have a good time, without breaking the bank.

Top reasons to visit Amoudara:

🏖️ Massive 7km stretch of sandy beach – plenty of space for everyone
🏛️ Easy access to Heraklion's ancient sites, museums, and authentic Greek culture
🍹 Buzzing strip of beach bars, cafés, and restaurants with something for every taste
✈️ Super convenient – just a short journey from Heraklion Airport

🌊 Top Things to Do in Amoudara

This is where beach life meets city culture. Spend your days perfecting your tan and your evenings exploring one of Greece's most historic cities, or just embrace the resort vibe with beach bars and water sports.

Beach Life & Water Fun

Amoudara Beach - the main stretch with organized sections offering sunbeds, umbrellas, and beach service
Beach volleyball courts and football areas for the more active
Numerous beach bars serving everything from fresh juice to cocktails

Explore Historic Heraklion

Knossos Palace - Europe's oldest city and the heart of Minoan civilization (just 20 minutes away)
Heraklion Archaeological Museum - world's finest collection of Minoan artifacts
Venetian Fortress (Koules) - stunning 16th-century fortress guarding the harbour
Heraklion Market - bustling local market perfect for authentic Greek produce and souvenirs

Nightlife & Entertainment

Beach bars that transform into party venues as the sun goes down
Traditional tavernas serving fresh seafood and local wine
Cocktail lounges with sea views and DJ sets
Easy access to Heraklion's vibrant nightlife scene

Day Trips & Adventures

Winery tours - visit local vineyards in the surrounding hills
Rethymnon - beautiful Venetian town about an hour's drive west
Dia Island - boat trips to this uninhabited island for swimming and snorkelling
Traditional villages - explore authentic Cretan mountain communities

🏨 Where to stay in Amoudara

Zeus Hotels Neptuno Beach - This swanky, All Inclusive, hotel looks out over the Cretan sea, which means you have wonderful views to enjoy as you work your way through as many free drinks as you can! It's a family friendly resort, with an elegant pool, and a range of physical activities avaliable. Perfect for enjoying Amoudara with a touch of luxury.

Yianna Caravel - Adults Only - This hotel is right on the beach itself. It could not be any more perfect for beach lovers. It's ideal for couples and groups of friends and the centre of the resort is only a short walk away so you won't be far from the action.

Castro Hotel - This good value, family friendly, hotel with a pool is only 5km outside the centre of Amoudara meaning you get a good nights sleep, but it's only a short bus, or taxi, ride (or a pleasant stroll) into town when you want to go.

Marilena Hotel - This elegant, mid-range hotel has a central location and is close to the beach (660m). It has a seawater pool and a bar and restaurant serving up Greek hospitality.

Popular Amoudara hotels

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Weather in Amoudara

JAN

12^°C

FEB

12^°C

MAR

14^°C

APR

19^°C

MAY

23^°C

JUN

26^°C

JUL

30^°C

AUG

30^°C

SEP

24^°C

OCT

20^°C

NOV

15^°C

DEC

13^°C

Amoudara, like the rest of northern Crete, enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. It can get very hot during July and August, and temperatures can reach over 40°; Celsius. This is perfect weather for enjoying the beach or cooling off in the sea.

Spring is a nice time to visit, when the climate is slightly cooler and there is lush greenery everywhere, and the autumn is pleasant as the resorts begin to wind down. The winter months from November to February are wet, grey and can get cold - not the best time of the year for your Greece holidays!

Of the many attractions to tempt travellers to Amoudara the biggest is probably the glorious beach. Perfect for sun-seekers and watersports enthusiasts, the resort is also a great base for exploring the local area. Heraklion city centre is close to Amoudara and full of great places to visit with shops, museums and ancient architecture.

South of the city are the ruins of Knossos, the largest of the Minoan Palaces, and many other archaeological sites are dotted around the countryside nearby.

Culture
  Crete, and particularly the area around Heraklion, has a rich history. The Minoans, with their large palace at Knossos, are credited with starting European culture. Successive invaders and occupiers from the Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians have all left their mark on Crete. For an insight into this diverse and often turbulent history visit the museums in Heraklion and the ruins around the city, a fascinating glimpse into the past.
  A cultural highlight is the Heraklion Festival, which takes place in July and August every year, and features drama, film, traditional music and jazz, and is easily reached from the resort. In the city you will find many concerts including players of the Lyra- a traditional Cretan three-stringed instrument. The centre of the religious calendar is Easter and Holy Week. Almost all the villages near Amoudara have celebrations of this very special time of year.
  Amoudara has a wealth of local cuisine you must try when you visit: mezedhes (small plates of snack food), horiatkik salata (traditional Greek salad) and kalamarakia (baby squid) are all delicious!
Nightlife
Amoudara has several beachside bars and clubs that give the resort a fabulous, fun-filled nightlife throughout the summer months. There are many tavernas and restaurants to choose from if you prefer a quieter chilled out evening after a day on the beach. Within Heraklion you will find an endless choice of nightspots, with a lively cluster of bars around the square of Platia Korai. So whatever your taste in nightlife, its all on offer with a holiday in Amoudara.

The pristine blue of the Cretan Sea, and the golden sands of the 5km long beach, dominate the landscape of Amoudara. The beach has been awarded the European Blue Flag, and is ideal for working on you tan, swimming and enjoying the many water sports that are on offer.

There's a fascinating Venetian harbour in Heraklion, and many other great places lie along the coast near the city, with some quieter coves away from the bustle of the resorts. Fodele and Agia Pelagia are also nearby. Inland to the south you will find the bulk of Mount Yiothas rising above the green, rolling hills and vineyards.

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