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Vai Beach — Attraction in Municipality of Sitia

Name
Vai Beach
Description
Vai or more accurately Vaï, Greek for "palm," is a region of east Crete between Cape Sidero and Cape Plaka, just south of the site of ancient Itanus but north of the villages that surround and are part of Palaikastro. Vai does not belong to them nor is it part of any civic unit of the local civic division of Greece.
Nearby attractions
Vai Palm Forest
Palekastro 723 00, Greece
Itanos beach
Epar.Od. Monis Toplous - Vai, Toplou 723 00, Greece
Ancient City Itanos
Sitia 723 00, Greece
Nearby restaurants
Palm Beach Vai Restaurant
Sitia 723 00, Greece
Related posts
Escape the City Plan|Greece🇬🇷|Day 1 Guide to Crete Island
Keywords
Vai Beach tourism.Vai Beach hotels.Vai Beach bed and breakfast. flights to Vai Beach.Vai Beach attractions.Vai Beach restaurants.Vai Beach travel.Vai Beach travel guide.Vai Beach travel blog.Vai Beach pictures.Vai Beach photos.Vai Beach travel tips.Vai Beach maps.Vai Beach things to do.
Vai Beach things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Vai Beach
GreeceRegion of CreteMunicipality of SitiaVai Beach

Basic Info

Vai Beach

Epar.Od. Monis Toplous - Vai, Toplou 723 00, Greece
4.5(3.8K)
Open 24 hours
Save
spot

Ratings & Description

Info

Vai or more accurately Vaï, Greek for "palm," is a region of east Crete between Cape Sidero and Cape Plaka, just south of the site of ancient Itanus but north of the villages that surround and are part of Palaikastro. Vai does not belong to them nor is it part of any civic unit of the local civic division of Greece.

Outdoor
Relaxation
Family friendly
attractions: Vai Palm Forest, Itanos beach, Ancient City Itanos, restaurants: Palm Beach Vai Restaurant
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Phone
+30 2843 340500
Website
cretanbeaches.com

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Reviews

Nearby attractions of Vai Beach

Vai Palm Forest

Itanos beach

Ancient City Itanos

Vai Palm Forest

Vai Palm Forest

4.5

(643)

Open 24 hours
Click for details
Itanos beach

Itanos beach

4.6

(157)

Open 24 hours
Click for details
Ancient City Itanos

Ancient City Itanos

4.6

(142)

Open until 3:30 PM
Click for details

Nearby restaurants of Vai Beach

Palm Beach Vai Restaurant

Palm Beach Vai Restaurant

Palm Beach Vai Restaurant

4.4

(541)

$$

Click for details
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Reviews of Vai Beach

4.5
(3,771)
avatar
2.0
1y

1.I try to give you as objective an opinion as possible.The incredible nature is worth visiting once and that's about it. It is a unique place in Europe, and that would be the only reason to come here. 2.The water is nothing special; you need to check how the air currents are if you don't want to have a day with unbearable waves and wind, which is specific to Crete. If you get a chance to catch a moment without wind, the water is mediocre and deep, and the sand is mostly rocky. ** 3.Crowds during the warm period - it's always full. It is worth mentioning that you used to be able to stay under the palm trees, and people were somewhat spread out even when it was crowded. If you dream of staying under the palm trees, that's no longer possible. 4.Costs compared to other beaches - here you will pay €3 for parking, and for sunbeds, the price is relative; they will charge you as they please. It’s a big scam, and they take advantage of the notoriety. Sunbed prices start somewhere from €18-20 up to €60. Costs for water services are about double compared to other places - jet ski, pedal boat, etc. ** 5.Restaurants - you have two options: one is terrible (you can check the reviews - 3 stars), and the other one is decent with okay food but expensive compared to similar restaurants. ** All things considered, it's worth visiting once for the sake of nature without falling into the trap of...

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avatar
5.0
2y

This beautiful beach on the eastern tip of Crete is surrounded by Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti) trees, native to Crete, and is named after the Greek word Βάι, meaning palm. The forest area behind the beach is Europe's largest natural palm grove. I can say that it is a beach that you must visit with its blue flag clean sea, soft sand and wonderful view. For those who want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the region longer, there is also a hiking route from Vai to Palekastro for about four hours.

Vai beach, a frequent destination for backpackers in the 1970s, has become a chaotic campground and dump. Thereupon, the local government, which fenced the area and expelled the hippies here, was instrumental in the cleaning of the forest and the beach. Today, only the beach part of the palm forest is open, the rest is closed to the public. It is possible to find all kinds of services on the beach for a fee. Although you cannot enter the palm forest, it is a great pleasure to walk around by watching the trees.

Also, according to a Cretan legend, palm trees were formed when Muslim pirates who came here threw the date seeds they ate on the beach. However, the palm trees that grow here are different from the real date palm and their fruits are inedible. For this reason, it is also said that the legend...

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avatar
5.0
2y

I recently had the opportunity to visit Vai Beach in Crete, and it was an absolute paradise. The beach itself is absolutely stunning, with crystal clear waters and soft, sandy shores. It's the perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing, and simply soaking up the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

One of the things that really stood out to me about Vai Beach was the variety of amenities available. There are plenty of umbrellas and sun loungers available for rent, as well as a number of restaurants and cafes nearby. It's the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a refreshing drink or snack while taking in the breathtaking surroundings.

The staff at Vai Beach were also incredibly friendly and helpful. They were happy to answer any questions we had and made sure we had everything we needed to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Overall, I highly recommend Vai Beach for anyone visiting Crete. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing day by the water, with plenty of amenities and a friendly atmosphere to ensure a truly...

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Escape the City Plan|Greece🇬🇷|Day 1 Guide to Crete Island
Olivia MaeOlivia Mae
Escape the City Plan|Greece🇬🇷|Day 1 Guide to Crete Island
Murat YıkılmazMurat Yıkılmaz
This beautiful beach on the eastern tip of Crete is surrounded by Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti) trees, native to Crete, and is named after the Greek word Βάι, meaning palm. The forest area behind the beach is Europe's largest natural palm grove. I can say that it is a beach that you must visit with its blue flag clean sea, soft sand and wonderful view. For those who want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the region longer, there is also a hiking route from Vai to Palekastro for about four hours. Vai beach, a frequent destination for backpackers in the 1970s, has become a chaotic campground and dump. Thereupon, the local government, which fenced the area and expelled the hippies here, was instrumental in the cleaning of the forest and the beach. Today, only the beach part of the palm forest is open, the rest is closed to the public. It is possible to find all kinds of services on the beach for a fee. Although you cannot enter the palm forest, it is a great pleasure to walk around by watching the trees. Also, according to a Cretan legend, palm trees were formed when Muslim pirates who came here threw the date seeds they ate on the beach. However, the palm trees that grow here are different from the real date palm and their fruits are inedible. For this reason, it is also said that the legend is not true.
Monika TeuberMonika Teuber
Vai Beach is absolutely gorgeous! The palm grove right by the shore makes it feel really exotic, and the mix of palms, golden sand and clear water is just amazing. We came on a weekday around 11:00 and there were still plenty of free sunbeds and parking spots. By noon though, it started to get a lot busier, so it’s worth coming earlier if you want a more relaxed vibe. Near the entrance you can rent the fancier sunbeds with soft mattresses (20–40€), but they’re quite close together. If you walk a bit further, the simpler ones (15€) are more spread out and give you extra space and privacy. The beach is a great spot for swimming, chilling out, snapping photos or trying water sports. There are also two places to eat - one with proper Greek dishes and another for quick snacks and drinks. Parking is easy, well organized, and only 3.50€ for the whole day. Honestly, if you’re in this part of Crete, don’t miss it!
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Get the Appoverlay
Get the AppOne tap to find yournext favorite spots!
This beautiful beach on the eastern tip of Crete is surrounded by Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti) trees, native to Crete, and is named after the Greek word Βάι, meaning palm. The forest area behind the beach is Europe's largest natural palm grove. I can say that it is a beach that you must visit with its blue flag clean sea, soft sand and wonderful view. For those who want to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the region longer, there is also a hiking route from Vai to Palekastro for about four hours. Vai beach, a frequent destination for backpackers in the 1970s, has become a chaotic campground and dump. Thereupon, the local government, which fenced the area and expelled the hippies here, was instrumental in the cleaning of the forest and the beach. Today, only the beach part of the palm forest is open, the rest is closed to the public. It is possible to find all kinds of services on the beach for a fee. Although you cannot enter the palm forest, it is a great pleasure to walk around by watching the trees. Also, according to a Cretan legend, palm trees were formed when Muslim pirates who came here threw the date seeds they ate on the beach. However, the palm trees that grow here are different from the real date palm and their fruits are inedible. For this reason, it is also said that the legend is not true.
Murat Yıkılmaz

Murat Yıkılmaz

hotel
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Vai Beach is absolutely gorgeous! The palm grove right by the shore makes it feel really exotic, and the mix of palms, golden sand and clear water is just amazing. We came on a weekday around 11:00 and there were still plenty of free sunbeds and parking spots. By noon though, it started to get a lot busier, so it’s worth coming earlier if you want a more relaxed vibe. Near the entrance you can rent the fancier sunbeds with soft mattresses (20–40€), but they’re quite close together. If you walk a bit further, the simpler ones (15€) are more spread out and give you extra space and privacy. The beach is a great spot for swimming, chilling out, snapping photos or trying water sports. There are also two places to eat - one with proper Greek dishes and another for quick snacks and drinks. Parking is easy, well organized, and only 3.50€ for the whole day. Honestly, if you’re in this part of Crete, don’t miss it!
Monika Teuber

Monika Teuber

See more posts
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