The fairly newly developed area of Kokkini Hani is located very close to Heraklion city and airport, approx. 14km to the east and serves as an excellent commuter location as well as holiday resort. By car, it can be reached from Heraklion within approx. a 10 to 15 minute drive which is why many city citizens choose this as their favourite beach location in the summer months.

The town developed as a resting place with inns for locals traveling from villages into the city to sell their goods. An inn was called a ‘hani’ hence the area’s current name, offering shelter and safety to travellers and the name Kokkini was that of the owner of the main inn located there. During the battle of Crete, the area was selected by German parachutists as a landing place, leading to many battles there and destruction of the few existing buildings.

Nowadays, it is home to large hotels and offers a lovely long beach which received the blue flag award in 2019, to relax during the summer months or go surfing during the winter. This is also an ideal place to spend time watching the aeroplanes coming in to land at Heraklion airport.

Apart from countless shops, restaurants and hotels, Kokkini Hani is also home to the archaeological site of Niros Villa. It is thought to be the home of a prominent Minoan priest who possibly ruled the local harbour. Many of the artefacts found such as gold stools, beautiful murals and bronze objects from the home, indicate a wealthy resident lived there and have been moved to the Archaeological museum of Heraklion.

If you have a rent a car from Apex Car Rental, you and your family can easily also visit nearby attractions such as the Annapolis Water Park, the Cretaquarium and some of the smaller villages if you head south for a more traditional feeling of island life. Whatever your choice during your holidays, we are here to make them unforgettable and above all, stress-free!