Stalis
Introduction
Stalis is a lively resort village that lies between Malia and Hersonissos on the north coast of the island of Crete, just 30km east of the island capital Heraklion and the International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis. Stalis offers a relaxed atmosphere and boasts a long sandy beach as well as a fine array of bars and restaurants.
Stalis became a popular holiday resort back in the 1980s, when tourism in Crete grew dramatically. Until then it was simply the beach where the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages spent their summer holidays. The fact that Stalis did not exist as an autonomous village is obvious from its layout. There is no central square, just the coast road lined on both sides with shops, tavernas and hotels.
In our days and since then the three towns of Hersonissos, Stalis and Malia have merged into a single coastal resort about 10 km long due to this intensive tourist development of the past few decades. Especially if you take the coastal road from Stalis to Malia, it is impossible to see where one resort ends and the other begins. Stalis though differs from them, in that it does not share their wild nightlife. Stalis is more suitable for family holidays, but if you want to dance the night away, Hersonissos and Malia are close by. This does not mean that Stalis has no bars and cafes. There are lots of cafeterias and beach bars along the beach, so you can still have fun, just at a quieter pace than that of the neighbouring resorts.
The beach at Stalis
A beautiful sandy beach stretches across the whole front of Stalis and is divided into two sections, one extending from the western corner of the bay to the Sentido Anthoussa Resort & Spa Hotel and the other from the Anthoussa Hotel to Malia.
The beach slowly shelves into the clear blue sea so there's little to worry about when taking your family for a swim. The water becomes deeper very gradually, so small children are free to enjoy the sea. But since it is exposed to the weather, on windy days you need to be careful and follow the lifeguards' advice.
Lovers of watersports, snorkeling or fishing will have no difficulty in finding what they are after, since the coastline can provide it all! And then for those who wish to enjoy the sun and the sea this is the perfect place to do it at the sunloungers with umbrellas that are offered on the beach!
What to do in Stalis and around it!
The good thing about Stalis is that it is well placed in the middle of the island. So if you want to explore more of Crete, the distances are not deterrent. It takes around 30 minutes by car to get to the capital city of Heraklion and Knossos Palace on the west, or to the beautiful cities of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos on the east.
Starting from the village itself there is a wide array of choices that will enchant all travelers. Spend the day at the beach or just lay back and watch the sun go down with a cocktail in hand. Walk along the main coast road of Stalis in the afternoon with its wealth of shops including leather, fashion and jewellers.
Roughly halfway along is the small Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis which is mentioned on seventeenth-century Venetian maps, when there was hardly anything in Stalis.
For those looking for quiet days but a more vivid nightlife, then Stalis is ideal as it runs directly into the all-night-long party resort of Malia. In Malia you can also stroll through the picturesque alleyways in the old part of the town above the main road, or visit the archaeological site of Malia and admire the Minoan Palace ruled by Sarpedon, brother of Minos. Another option just 5 minutes by car is the cosmopolitan town of Hersonissos with its waterparks and the Crete Golf Club or Gouves with its sandy beaches and the largest aquarium in the Mediterranean.
It is also worthwhile to head up into the mountains on a hot summer day to visit the village of Krassi and cool off in the shade of the huge plane tree next to the running water. Or just drive to Mohos on the mountain behind and to the south of Stalis to enjoy a stunning view of the Sea of Crete, Stalis and Malia. During the summer, Cretan Nights are organized there with live music and traditional dancing in the village square.
Do not miss to visit the Lassithi Plateau with its picturesque windmills and descend into the depths of the earth in the cave of Psychro or Dicteon Andron, where legend has it that Zeus was born.