Macherida sandy beach lies beside the village of Chorafakia and near Akrotiri; Chorafakia is located 15 kilometres north of Chania. It offers a specific beach attraction in the village’s surroundings when choosing a destination.
Macherida: beach and coastal landscape
The small sandy beach is tucked away in a rocky cove and is suitable for swimming. The water is turquoise, deep and clear. The beach is well protected from summer winds, while currents in the area are constantly changing. A knife-shaped headland lies at the northern edge of the cove.
Cretan cuisine and connections to Chania
Taverna Irene in Chorafakia serves traditional Cretan dishes prepared with extra virgin olive oil and fresh ingredients from its own production. As the menu and operating details may change, check the latest information before your visit.
Regular transport connections to and from Chania make the area around Chorafakia easy to reach.
Culture in the wider destination of Chania
Within the wider destination of Chania, the city’s history is a distinct focus. The historic lanes of Chania’s Old Town include Venetian mansions, old hammams, minarets and churches. The Venetian Harbour was built in the 14th century for trade and protection against pirate raids. Chania’s Δημοτική αγορά is located in the city centre and is considered a landmark by both locals and visitors.
The Archaeological Museum of Chania presents archaeological evidence from the Chania regional unit spanning several centuries. Its permanent exhibition includes three galleries on the ground floor and one gallery upstairs. The city’s cultural offerings thus bring together historic buildings and a museum with archaeological collections from different periods.
Landscape and history in the destination of Chania
Akrotiri has small coves and beaches suitable for recreation and tourism. In the northern hills of Akrotiri, nature remains largely undisturbed by human activity. The landscape features rich, partly endemic flora, as well as land and sea caves with endemic invertebrates. These themes belong to the wider destination of Chania and offer a different landscape focus from nearby Macherida beach itself.
Theriso is part of the historical range of attractions in the wider destination of Chania. During the 1905 Revolution, the historic village served as the seat of the Cretan rebels under Eleftherios Venizelos. The Historical and Folklore Museum of Theriso is housed in the former headquarters building of Venizelos and the 1905 Theriso movement. The historic village of Theriso can be reached through the Eleftherios Venizelos Gorge, which is six kilometres long in total.
The Acropolis of Falassarna is also located in the wider destination of Chania. Finds uncovered there are mainly Archaic artefacts from the central area of the ancient Temple of Demeter. This focus in time thus differs from the archaeological evidence spanning several centuries presented at the Museum of Chania.
Discover more destinations: Galatas, Maleme, Mournies, Topolia, Gavalohori, Dramia, Nomikiana, Georgioupoli.
Back to the wider travel guide: Chania.
