Named after Prince George of Greece, Georgioupoli is a small village on the north-west coast of Crete, where the Almiros River meets the Sea of Crete. It was once just a small fishing settlement and has grown into a bustling tourist town, with an abundance of tavernas and cafes overlooking its pebbly beach.
Kick back beneath an umbrella on Paralia Georgioupolis, an idyllic beach setting for swimming and sunbathing during the summer months. A variety of water sports are available, including paragliding, jet skiing and banana boating. Paddleboards are also available for rent.
Nestled inland is Crete’s only freshwater lake at Kournas, which can be explored along one of the trails that wind through its nature reserve. Pedalos are available for rent if you want to explore the lake at your leisure while keeping an eye out for its resident terrapins. The village of Kournas is renowned for its pottery.
Getting there
Georgioupoli is around 40 minutes’ drive from Chania and just under an hour from Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect to Georgioupoli and the village is small enough to explore on foot.