Stalis (aka Stalida) is situated 30km east of Heraklion and it is the link that joins Malia and Hersonissos, the younger and quieter sibling to them. It has become better known for family or couples’ holidays due to its calmer nature and Tripadvisor calls it ‘the laid-back beach town of Crete’. This also stems from its name which derives from the Greek verb ‘stalizo’ which means ‘stop to rest’ as it used to be an area of rest for shepherds and farmers moving between villages. However, this does not mean that there is less to do there for people today.

Stalis spans alongside the coastline, with the long sandy beach and many cafés, bars and restaurants to choose from. In the evenings, the main street is closed to traffic and pedestrians can wonder the shops uninterrupted by cars and bikes. There is no central square but there is a little byzantine church which dates back to 1600 for St. Ioannis (St. John), with a large courtyard and many restaurants surrounding it which resembles a village square.

For the hiking and nature enthusiasts, there is a path from Stalis up to the village of Mochos which is called ‘the Bulgarian path’ because Bulgarian prisoners built it during WWII.  In addition, for the fun-loving crowd, all the beaches have a wide variety of water-sports available.

If all this is not enough – or you don’t really feel like hiking up the trail, Apex Car Rental services are nearby to help you enjoy the island the easy way, making your holiday stress-free!